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)
Indian Girl
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear the drumbeat callin'
I am just only lonely Indian girl
I sit at every pow-wow
I fought a million men for Indian girl
Ten hides and twenty horses
That's what the tribal law says
Too much for me to pay for Indian girl
Oh, sun shine on sun shine on
And take my darkness away
Oh, sun shine on sun shine on
And bring this girl my way
Far from her lonely teepee
Wind sends her sweetness to me
Too much for me to bear my Indian girl
Gather your things together
And bring your wedding feather
We'll steal away forever Indian girl
Oh, sun shine on sun shine on
The path that [Incomprehensible]
Oh, sun shine on sun shine on
This our brightest day
The lyrics to The Hollies' song "Indian Girl" tell a story of love and bravery. The singer is infatuated with an Indian girl and describes her as lonely. He acknowledges that she must be stronger than any of the men in her tribe - "braver than all the braves" – because she sits at every pow-wow. The singer emphasizes his passion for her by stating he has fought a million men for the Indian girl. However, the tribal law states he must pay ten hides and twenty horses as a bride price, an amount too much for him to afford. He implores the sun to shine down on him and take away his darkness and bring the Indian girl to him.
Despite the distance between them, the singer's love for the Indian girl remains strong. He can feel the wind blowing her sweet fragrance towards him, and it is too much for him to bear. He urges her to gather her things and bring her wedding feather so that they can elope and be together forever. Finally, he ends the song by asking the sun to shine down on their path, making it the brightest day.
Overall, the lyrics to "Indian Girl" can be interpreted as a representation of love that transcends all boundaries, including cultural and societal ones.
Line by Line Meaning
I see the snowflakes fallin'
I perceive the snowflakes falling from the sky.
I hear the drumbeat callin'
I listen to the beat of the drum, summoning me.
I am just only lonely Indian girl
I am an Indian girl who feels isolated and desolate.
Braver than all the braves now
I display more courage than any of the warriors now.
I sit at every pow-wow
I attend every pow-wow, a gathering of Indigenous people.
I fought a million men for Indian girl
I fought against one million men to defend my tribe and community.
Ten hides and twenty horses
To obtain me as a bride, the cost is ten hides and twenty horses, as dictated by tribal law.
That's what the tribal law says
The dictates of tribal law specify and outline the necessary rites and rituals of the community.
Too much for me to pay for Indian girl
The required payment for my hand in marriage is too costly and expensive.
Oh, sun shine on sun shine on
Oh, sun continue to shine and disperse light.
And take my darkness away
Eliminate the darkness that clouds my mind and spirit.
And bring this girl my way
Bring this girl closer to me and guide her towards me.
Far from her lonely teepee
The Indian girl is far from her solitary tent or dwelling.
Wind sends her sweetness to me
The gentle breeze carries her pleasant and appealing scent to my location.
Too much for me to bear my Indian girl
The magnitude of my affection and love for the Indian girl is too much for me to bear.
Gather your things together
Collect and consolidate your possessions.
And bring your wedding feather
Bring the symbolic feather used in Indigenous wedding ceremonies.
We'll steal away forever Indian girl
We'll elope and escape forever, Indian girl.
The path that [Incomprehensible]
The path that leads us to our future is uncertain and unclear.
This our brightest day
This marks the beginning of our brightest and most promising day.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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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.