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)
Marigold / Gloria Swansong
The Hollies Lyrics
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I started to read
I found a small marigold
pressed between leaves
And in that small marigold,
well, I found a note
saying, "Please won't you write to me
So I'm going to write back today
Yes, I'm going to write right away
I started "Dear Marigold,"
not knowing her name
"I just had to write to you
'cause I feel the same
"You sound like the marigold
that I found today
The beauty was there to be found
but fading away
"So I'm writing to you today
Yes, I'm writing to you right away
As I started writing,
well what can I say
I got to thinking
where are you today
Brown leather cover,
ripped, tattered, and torn
It's been such a long, long time
since the flower was born
There's no need to write back today
I'm not going write right away
Just like a swan she is gliding,
drifting from here unto there
She has no thoughts of dying,
winter does not mean despair
Warm summer nights left behind her,
thinking of things that she's done
Once were her friends all around her,
but now she is only one
Swan, swan keep your feet off the ground
Keep flying around
It's lonely you've found
You were left on your own
You didn't do right
not to take off and fly
when your friends left that night
There's no need to write back today
I'm not going write right away
Someday I know you'll see something
that will bring back the memories of gold
You'll meet the friends that did leave you
No more to be left in the cold
And just like a swan you'll be gliding,
drifting from here unto there
You'll have no thoughts of dying
'cause winter did not mean despair
The song "Marigold/Gloria Swansong" by The Hollies tells the story of a person who discovered a small marigold pressed in a book. Inside the marigold was a note asking the person to write back because the writer was feeling alone. The person decides to write back, beginning with a "Dear Marigold" even though they did not know the name of the writer. They continue to describe how the beauty of the marigold was fading away and how they feel the same. They wonder where the writer is and what they are doing now. The letter ends with a statement that they will not write back right away.
The second part of the song, "Gloria Swansong," tells of a swan that is alone, gliding from place to place without any thoughts of dying. The swan is no longer surrounded by friends and is left to fly on her own. The song ends with the hope that someday the swan will find something that will bring back the memories of gold, that she will meet the friends she had lost, and that she will continue to glide and drift without any thoughts of dying.
This song explores the feelings of loneliness and isolation that many people experience. The writers use the image of a marigold and a swan to evoke feelings of beauty, fragility, and freedom. The song is a reminder that no matter how alone we may feel at times, there is always hope that we will find our way back to the friends and memories that we have lost.
Line by Line Meaning
The book I bought yesterday
I bought a book yesterday
I started to read
I started reading the book
I found a small marigold
I discovered a small marigold
pressed between leaves
that was pressed between the leaves of the book
And in that small marigold,
Inside the flower,
well, I found a note
I discovered a handwritten message
saying, "Please won't you write to me
Asking for a response:
'cause I'm so alone"
"Because I feel lonely"
So I'm going to write back today
I plan to reply today
Yes, I'm going to write right away
I will respond promptly
I started "Dear Marigold,"
I began writing: "Dear Marigold,"
not knowing her name
Though I didn't know who wrote the message
"I just had to write to you
I had to write to you
'cause I feel the same
Because I share your feelings
"You sound like the marigold
"In many ways you remind me of the flower
that I found today
I discovered today in the pages of my book
The beauty was there to be found
Though the beauty was fading
but fading away
It was slowly disappearing
"So I'm writing to you today
"So I am writing to you now
Yes, I'm writing to you right away
I am responding immediately
As I started writing,
As I went on to write the letter,
well what can I say
I wasn't sure what to say
I got to thinking
I pondered
where are you today
About where you might be
Brown leather cover,
I noticed the leather cover
ripped, tattered, and torn
Which was worn down and torn
It's been such a long, long time
It had been such a long time
since the flower was born
Since the flower was new
There's no need to write back today
You don't have to write back today
I'm not going write right away
I won't be writing back immediately
Just like a swan she is gliding,
Just as a swan glides
drifting from here unto there
Moving from one place to another
She has no thoughts of dying,
The swan isn't concerned about dying
winter does not mean despair
Winter doesn't bring despair
Warm summer nights left behind her,
The warm summer nights that are now behind her
thinking of things that she's done
Reflecting on her past experiences
Once were her friends all around her,
Once there were many of her friends
but now she is only one
Now she is alone
Swan, swan keep your feet off the ground
Swan, keep flying and stay in the air
Keep flying around
Keep moving and don't stay in one place
It's lonely you've found
I know you're feeling lonely
You were left on your own
Your friends left you alone
You didn't do right
You did nothing wrong
not to take off and fly
for not leaving and flying away
when your friends left that night
When your friends abandoned you that night
There's no need to write back today
You don't have to respond today
I'm not going write right away
I won't be writing back immediately
Someday I know you'll see something
One day you'll see something
that will bring back the memories of gold
That will remind you of the happy times
You'll meet the friends that did leave you
You'll meet the friends who abandoned you
No more to be left in the cold
You won't be left alone again
And just like a swan you'll be gliding,
And you'll be gliding, like a swan,
drifting from here unto there
Moving from one place to another
You'll have no thoughts of dying
You won't worry about dying
'cause winter did not mean despair
Because winter won't bring you despair
Contributed by Chase K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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.