The Hollies are a well-respected British beat and pop band that formed in t… Read Full Bio ↴The Hollies are a well-respected British beat and pop band that formed in the early 60s. Initially they had a squeaky-clean image and were famous for their rich vocal harmonies, rivaling those of The Beach Boys. Between 1964 and 1969, only two Hollies songs failed to reach the UK Top 10. Their most famous member was Graham Nash, who left in 1968 to form the folk supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash. Two of the core members, drummer Bobby Elliott and lead guitarist Tony Hicks, still perform with The Hollies into the new millennium.

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)

Layin' To The Music
The Hollies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bright light city's high
Maybe we're gonna fly
Get on the scene
King and Queen
Layin' to the music if you know what I mean

Downtown get around
Searching for a mean sound

Itchy feet
Want to dance to the beat
Layin' to the music if you know what I mean

Coming on strong
Won't be long
Reaching out to where I belong
I'm in my stride
Good music to ride by
Horse riders in the sky

Coming on strong
Won't be long
Reaching out to where I belong
I'm in my stride
Good music to ride by
Horse riders in the sky

Drinking wine from a slipper shoe
Baby, can we boogaloo
Move to the right
Slip in tight
Layin' to the music all night

Layin' to the music, it's all right
Layin' to the music all night

Overall Meaning

The Hollies’ song Layin’ To The Music is a celebration of 1960s counterculture and the joys of dancing and getting lost in good music. The song starts in a bustling city that’s potentially New York, as the singer marvels at the bright lights and anticipates taking flight. They’re on the hunt for a “mean sound,” and after hitting downtown, their feet are “itchy” for a beat to dance to. The singer is in their “stride” now and feels that they’re reaching out to where they belong. The infectious chorus repeats the song’s title and encourages the listener to lay back and enjoy the music. The verse “Horse riders in the sky” references the famous western song “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” which has been covered many times over the years.

The second verse takes a playful turn, with the singer jokingly suggesting they’ll drink wine from a slipper shoe and inviting their partner to “boogaloo” with them. The chorus repeats again, and the song ends with the singer reassured that they’ll be “layin’ to the music all night” and that it’s “all right.”

Layin’ To The Music is a fun and lighthearted song that’s easy to dance to and celebrates the joy of losing yourself in good music. With its catchy chorus and references to popular music and culture of the time, the song remains a favorite of many.

Line by Line Meaning

Bright light city's high
The energetic atmosphere of the city is exhilarating.

Maybe we're gonna fly
There's a sense of excitement and possibility in the air.

Get on the scene
Be present and immerse oneself in the environment.

King and Queen
The ones who are confident and command respect.

Layin' to the music if you know what I mean
Enjoying the music to the fullest extent.

Downtown get around
Exploring the city center.

Searching for a mean sound
Hunting for the perfect music to dance to.

Itchy feet
A strong desire to dance.

Want to dance to the beat
Craving to move one's body in time with the music.

Layin' to the music if you know what I mean
Fully enjoying the music experience.

Coming on strong
Exuding confidence and boldness.