Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
If You See Her
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One look is all you'd need to see the mood I'm in.
Perhaps then you'd realize I'm still in love with you.
If you could see me now, you'd find me being brave
And trying awfully hard to make my tears behave
But that's quite impossible, I'm still in love with you.
You'll happen my way on some mem'rable day
I'll try to smile but can I play the part
Without my heart behind the smile?
The way I feel for you I never could disguise
The look of love is written plainly in my eyes.
I think you'd be mine again if you could see me now.
The Hollies's song "If You See Her" is a soulful ballad about unrequited love. The opening lines sets a melancholic mood as the singer wishes for his lost lover to see him now so that she can understand how blue he has been. The temptation of seeing his lover again becomes unbearable, and he hopes that she can see the look of love in his eyes that he could never disguise. The singer promises to be brave when she finally walks into his life again, but he knows he'll struggle to hide his heartbreak behind the smile. The haunting chorus repeats the idea that the singer is still in love with his ex-lover and the only way they could reconcile is if she could see him now.
The second verse adds a little hope into the mix. The singer believes that there will come a memorable day where his former love will cross his path, and it would be in May. He will try to put on a brave face and pretend that everything is okay, but he worries that his heart will show through the smile. He concludes that the way he feels for his former lover was always written on his face, and she would be his again if she could see him now. The song ends in a hopeful yet sorrowful note, leaving the listener wondering whether the singer will ever move on from the love that he has lost.
Line by Line Meaning
If you could see me now, you'd know how blue I've been
My sadness is so obvious, a single look would reveal the depth of my despair
Perhaps then you'd realize I'm still in love with you.
I hope that seeing my sorrow would make you understand that my feelings for you have not faded
If you could see me now, you'd find me being brave
In spite of my heartache, I am putting on a front of courage and composure
And trying awfully hard to make my tears behave
I'm doing my best to keep my emotions in check and not break down in tears
But that's quite impossible, I'm still in love with you.
Despite my best efforts, my love for you is overwhelming and impossible to hide
You'll happen my way on some mem'rable day
Someday, by chance or fate, you will come back into my life
And the month will be May for a while.
When we reunite, it will feel like the joyous season of spring, and that feeling will last for a time
I'll try to smile but can I play the part
Even though I'll try to put on a happy face, it will be difficult to pretend that everything is okay
Without my heart behind the smile?
It will be a hollow expression, lacking the true emotion that comes from my heart
The way I feel for you I never could disguise
I have always been transparent with my love for you, never attempting to hide it
The look of love is written plainly in my eyes.
My eyes convey the depth of my affection for you, so much so that anyone can see it with just one glance
I think you'd be mine again if you could see me now.
I believe that if you saw me at this moment, you would remember our love and want to be with me again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CARL SIGMAN, TADD DAMERON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Carrie Anne
A nice and catchy song by The Hollies.
Philip Kassabian
on Bus Stop
Yet another great Hollies song.
Philip Kassabian
on Stop Stop Stop
One of the best bands from the 60's no doubt.