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)
Not That Way at All
The Hollies Lyrics
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Rocking to and fro, high and low
Where we'd go no one'd know
Thousands of tin soldiers were at my command
Dressed in red dressed in blue
Each command always followed through
No it's not that way at all
Now I've changed and I have aged
Left here with just memories
How I wish to be young again
But it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
When I was a kid I had a rocking horse
Rocking to and fro, high and low
Where we'd go no one'd know
But it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
The Hollies's song Not That Way At All is a nostalgic reflection on the passage of time and the loss of innocence that comes with aging. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about his childhood, when he had a rocking horse that took him on magical adventures. He also had an army of tin soldiers at his command, and every command was followed through. These toys symbolize the carefree, imaginative world of childhood, where anything is possible and the future is full of promise.
However, as the song progresses, the singer acknowledges that he has changed and aged. He is left with only memories of his past, and he longs to be young again. The chorus repeats the phrase "No it's not that way at all," emphasizing the contrast between the past and the present. The repetition of the chorus also underscores the finality of aging and the impossibility of going back to the innocence of youth.
Overall, Not That Way At All is a wistful and poignant song about the impermanence of childhood and the inevitability of growing up. The image of the rocking horse and the tin soldiers evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time that can never be recaptured.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a kid I had a rocking horse
In my childhood, I had a toy horse on rockers that I used to move back and forth while sitting on it.
Rocking to and fro, high and low
I would move the rocking horse forward and backward, up and down in a rhythmic motion.
Where we'd go no one'd know
While I played on the rocking horse, I could imagine myself going to different places, and no one would know what I was thinking or where I was going in my imagination.
Thousands of tin soldiers were at my command
I had toys of tin soldiers that I could control and order around.
Dressed in red dressed in blue
The tin soldiers were dressed in red and blue outfits, which were their uniforms.
Each command always followed through
Whenever I gave instructions to the tin soldiers to do something, they would always obey and carry out my orders perfectly.
But now it's not that way at all
However, things have changed now and it's not like that anymore.
No it's not that way at all
It's definitely not like that anymore.
Now I've changed and I have aged
As time has passed, I have grown up, and my thoughts and beliefs have changed.
Left here with just memories
All that remains now are my memories of those happy and carefree days.
How I wish to be young again
I long to relive those joyful moments of my childhood again and be carefree and happy once more.
No it's not that way at all
Unfortunately, things are not like that anymore.
No it's not that way at all
It's just not the same now.
No it's not that way at all
Those happy moments of the past are gone forever.
No it's not that way at all
I can never go back to those days when life was simple and carefree.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN CLARKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ManzannaSaotome43
Me intrigó mucho saber de ellos gracias al internet. Poca o nula difusión suya. Nadie te cuenta sobre ellos lejos de "He Ain't Heavy" o "Long Cool Woman"... ojalá un dia sean reconocidos como lo son, los Beatles o los Stones
Alejandro Fabbri
Hermoso tema. Siempre me gustó. Lo escuchaba en Buenos Aires, en 1969. Los años pasan y pesan...
n00se
When I was a kid I had a rocking horse
Rocking to and fro, high and low
Where we'd go no one'd know
Dozens of tin soldiers were at my command
Dressed in red dressed in blue
Each command always followed through
But now it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
Now I've changed and I have aged
Left here with just memories
How I wish to be young again
But it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
But no it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all [2x]
When I was a kid I had a rocking horse
Rocking to and fro, high and low
Where we'd go no one'd know
But it's not that way at all
No it's not that way at all
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Townshend909
The Amazing B-Side to the Great Sorry Suzanne!!