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)
Memphis
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help me find a party tried to get in touch with me
She did not leave her number but I know who placed the call
My uncle took the message and he wrote on the wall
Help me information get in touch with my Marie
She's the only who'd call me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the south side high up on a ridge
Help me information more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the times we had
But we were torn apart because her ma did not agree
She tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Help me information more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the times we had
But we were torn apart because her ma did not agree
She tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Last time I saw Marie she was waving me goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, oh information please
Try and put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
The Hollies’s song Memphis is a classic song about a man desperately trying to reach out to the woman he loves in Memphis, Tennessee. The song describes how he received a message without any contact information except for the fact that she was calling from Memphis, Tennessee. He asks for help to find out who she is and how he can reach her so that he can reconnect with her. The chorus expresses his longing for her and how he misses her, but how their relationship was torn apart by her mother's disapproval, causing them to lose their happy home. The last verse discusses how Marie, the woman he loves, is only six years old, and he pleads for someone to help him reach her so he can connect with her once again.
The song showcases the struggles of long-distance relationships and how a lack of communication can tear two people apart. The desperation and longing conveyed in the lyrics, along with the fantastic melody, make the listener feel a sense of sorrow and empathy for the man singing the song. The melancholic tone coupled with the haunting harmonies in the chorus has a timeless quality that has resonated for years since its 1964 release.
Line by Line Meaning
Long distance information give me Memphis Tennessee
Asking for help to find an address in Memphis, which is far away
Help me find a party tried to get in touch with me
Asking for assistance to track down someone who contacted him
She did not leave her number but I know who placed the call
He recognizes the caller but needs help with the contact information
My uncle took the message and he wrote on the wall
The message was left with his uncle and he wrote it down to remember
Help me information get in touch with my Marie
Asking for help to locate Marie
She's the only who'd call me here from Memphis Tennessee
Marie is the only one who would have contacted him from this area
Her home is on the south side high up on a ridge
Marie's residence is located on the elevated southern side, likely with a nice view
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge
The location is close to the Mississippi bridge, possibly providing easy access to other locations
Help me information more than that I cannot add
He doesn't have any additional information to provide, aside from his desire to find Marie
Only that I miss her and all the times we had
Expressing his longing for Marie and their time together
But we were torn apart because her ma did not agree
Their relationship was ended by Marie's mother who didn't approve
She tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Marie's mother caused their relationship to end and it disrupted their home life
Last time I saw Marie she was waving me goodbye
Remembering the last time he saw Marie, when she was saying goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie was crying when saying goodbye and hoping for his speedy return
Marie is only six years old, oh information please
Marie is quite young and he is desperate for information to locate her
Try and put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
Asking to be connected with Marie, to finally be reunited with her
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAT MC LAUGHLIN
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.