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)
Look at Life
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said you'd be there for my call
Did I do right by staying home tonight
All I know is I'm so alone
You made a date said you wouldn't be late
That's when my hopes started to rise
I didn't really know you
And I believed that look in your eyes
Oh, well, you gotta give me life
You gave me life
You gotta give me life with that look in your eyes
Oh, well, you gotta give me life
You gave me life
You gotta give me life with that look in your eyes
Went out on the street just a chance we might meet
The chance well it came to order
I saw you standing there, baby, without a care
Giving the same line to a guy on the corner
Don't know your name
Don't know your game
It's such a shame, oh yeah
Don't know your name
Don't know your game
It's such a shame, oh yeah
You gotta give me life
You gave me life
You gotta give me life with that look in your eyes
Oh, well, you gotta give me life
You gave me life
You gotta give me life with that look in your eyes
Oh, well, you gotta give me life
You gave me life
You gotta give me life with that look in your eyes
"Look at Life" is a song about unrequited love and a deceptive love interest. The song starts with the singer calling their love interest and finding out that they are not there even though they promised to be. The singer wonders whether they made a mistake by staying at home and begins to feel lonely. The second verse describes how the love interest had made plans with the singer and how the singer's hopes had risen at the thought of spending the evening with them. However, the singer admits that they didn't really know the love interest and had only believed what they saw in their eyes. The chorus begins with the singer asking the love interest to give them life and then repeats this phrase, emphasizing the importance and urgency of the request.
In the third verse, the singer goes out onto the street, hoping to run into the love interest. By chance, they do see them, but the love interest is seen using the same line on another guy, making the singer realize that they are not special to them. The final chorus repeats the request for the love interest to give them life with that look in their eyes.
The song is an interesting take on the theme of unrequited love, as it is not only about the sadness of being rejected but also about the deceitful nature of the love interest. The singer's vulnerability is highlighted as they admit to not really knowing the love interest and only believing what they wanted to hear. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the desperation of the singer's situation and their need for the love interest to validate them.
Line by Line Meaning
Picked up the phone called there's no one at home
I called you but you're not there, making me feel lonely.
You said you'd be there for my call
You promised to be there for me when I call, but you're not.
Did I do right by staying home tonight
I wonder if it was a good decision to stay at home tonight, waiting for you.
All I know is I'm so alone
The only thing I am certain of is that I feel very isolated and deserted without you here.
You made a date said you wouldn't be late
We planned a meeting and you assured me that you wouldn't be late.
That's when my hopes started to rise
I started to feel optimistic and expectant about our upcoming meeting upon hearing that you wouldn't be late.
I didn't really know you
I lack adequate knowledge or information about who you are as a person.
You said 'I want to show you'
You expressed a desire to reveal some aspect of yourself to me.
And I believed that look in your eyes
I had faith in the expression in your eyes that conveyed a message of sincerity.
Went out on the street just a chance we might meet
I went out on the street with the hope that we could randomly encounter each other.
The chance well it came to order
Fortunately, that chance encounter actually happened.
I saw you standing there, baby, without a care
I saw you standing there looking carefree and at ease.
Giving the same line to a guy on the corner
You were also talking to another guy standing nearby and saying the same thing to him.
Don't know your name
I do not know what your name is.
Don't know your game
I am uncertain about your intentions and motives.
It's such a shame, oh yeah
It's too bad that the situation turned out this way.
You gotta give me life
You have to provide me with the energy and enthusiasm I need to move on from this heartbreak.
You gave me life
You previously gave me that spark of life and zest for living.
You gotta give me life with that look in your eyes
You need to give me that same energy and excitement that you conveyed through your eyes earlier.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN CLARKE, TERRY SYLVESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n00se
Look at life, take a look around you
Look at life, doesn't it astound you
See the colours of the sky
Watch the colours of a rainbow
We're so lucky, you and I
Look at life.
It's there for us
So why don't we use it
Four seasons of the year
All you do is choose it
Warm summers bring the sun,
And with the falling leaves the autumn
All the new things come with spring
Look at life
Warm summers bring the sun,
And with the falling leaves we get the autumn,
The autumn
You see a young boy pick a flower
Why does he do it
He picks it for the one he loves
That's why he does it
He sees the colours of the sky,
Watches the colours of a rainbow
We're so lucky, you and I
Look at life
Look at life [6x]
Diane Winkles
Tony stated in an interview that he felt he was not a good singer, so he didn't push it. I think this is a BEAUTIFUL song, well done and has a fantastic meaning. Take a minute and look around you and see all the amazing beauty this world offers. Tony, don't underestimate your singing ability, there is nothing wrong with it at all.
veraluciasc
Adoro essa música!!! Seu vídeo está demais Syl!!! Saudades de você !!!
Yolanda Galvan
musica hermosa,relajante letra,inolvidables Hollies
waterfalls bengie
Love the Hollies! I must admit that I never heard this one before. Thanks for posting. I'll add this one to my many collections. Lol :)
irmatru73
love this music, so sorry we do not have this music today.
n00se
Look at life, take a look around you
Look at life, doesn't it astound you
See the colours of the sky
Watch the colours of a rainbow
We're so lucky, you and I
Look at life.
It's there for us
So why don't we use it
Four seasons of the year
All you do is choose it
Warm summers bring the sun,
And with the falling leaves the autumn
All the new things come with spring
Look at life
Warm summers bring the sun,
And with the falling leaves we get the autumn,
The autumn
You see a young boy pick a flower
Why does he do it
He picks it for the one he loves
That's why he does it
He sees the colours of the sky,
Watches the colours of a rainbow
We're so lucky, you and I
Look at life
Look at life [6x]
skynyrdfan56
A surprising good song, though, it`s in the Hollies style - and this style was always great.
SaraPomar144
@wraparound2000 I Love The Hollies Too My Dear, and that song is my favorite !!! Thanks for your comment!! Always very good to meet another Hollies Fan! Hugs a Lot !!!!
anna Nardo
Tony Hicks is &%%$^% GORGEOUS. CAN'T TAKE MY EYES OFF THIS MAN. HE'S 2 BEAUTIFUL 4 WORDS. He's so unassuming. a real +,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,He's SUPER TALENTED & GORGEOUS. He's better than winning any lottery.
Maureen McGovern
I Love his sense of humor.