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)
One Way Ticket
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where is the polestar, the devil I know?
Too many choices, signals and lies
The more I struggle, I'm paralyzed
Troubled and tense; must I navigate in the dark?
Lost and spinning, it goes on and on
Trying to see the daylight, but there's only fog
Take me up, take me all the way
Let me see through the labyrinth
I will fight to keep my eyes open
I will find a way
My body's saying what my mind won't hear
I'm stumbling in the dark, my head's not clear
I feel my blind spot, it's right over there
I'm trapped in a feeling it feels unfair
My mind says go, my body says don't
Each leads to the unknown
Lost and spinning, it goes on and on
Trying to see the daylight, but there's only fog
Nothing's familiar, no dawn liaison
Take me up, take me all the way
Let me see through the labyrinth
I will fight to keep my eyes open
I will find a way
Unseen forces
Spirals turning round
Wind of silent voices
Learn to trust the sound
Something's familiar
Daybreak liaison
Lost and spinning, it goes on and on
Trying to see the daylight, but there's only fog
Nothing's familiar, no dawn liaison
Take me up, take me all the way
Let me see through the labyrinth
I will fight to keep my eyes open
I will find a way
The lyrics of The Hollies's song "One Way Ticket" depict a sense of being lost and disoriented, both mentally and physically. The imagery of being lost at sea, trying to find a polestar, and being paralyzed by too many choices and lies, creates a feeling of confusion and lack of direction. The singer feels like they are spinning in circles, unable to find their way in the fog. The song highlights the struggle between the mind and the body- the former urging the singer to go, while the latter tells them not to, leading them to the unknown. The lyrics suggest that the only way out of this labyrinth is to fight to keep one's eyes open and search for a way.
The chorus of the song is a plea for someone, or something, to take the singer up and show them the way through the labyrinth. The repeated phrase "take me all the way" underscores the singer's desperation to find a way out of their confusion. The bridge of the song introduces the idea of unseen forces and wind of silent voices, asking the singer to trust the sound that is familiar to them, perhaps indicating that they need to trust themselves and their instincts to navigate through the confusion. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, suggesting that the singer is still searching for a way out.
Overall, "One Way Ticket" is a song about feeling lost, confused, and disconnected, but also about the determination to find a path through the confusion. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they could also be seen as a metaphor for life's journey, which can often be uncertain and unpredictable, but where the only way forward is to find the courage and determination to navigate through the confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost at sea, in a dream state undertow
Feeling aimless and unsure in a situation where everything seems to be pulling you down
Where is the polestar, the devil I know?
Feeling lost and wanting guidance from something familiar, even if it's not necessarily good for you
Too many choices, signals and lies
Overwhelmed by the abundance of options and struggling to differentiate between what's true and false
The more I struggle, I'm paralyzed
Trying harder seems to make things worse and causes you to feel stuck
Troubled and tense; must I navigate in the dark?
Feeling anxious and uncertain about how to proceed when there's no clear direction or guidance
Take me up, take me all the way
Asking to be lifted up and given a clear path forward
Let me see through the labyrinth
Desiring clarity and understanding amidst confusion and uncertainty
I will fight to keep my eyes open
Determined to stay alert and aware in order to find a way out of the situation
I will find a way
Positively thinking that you'll be able to navigate through the complications and come up with a solution
My body's saying what my mind won't hear
Instinctively knowing what to do, but unable or unwilling to acknowledge it mentally
I'm stumbling in the dark, my head's not clear
Struggling to see the situation clearly, caused by confusion or stress
I feel my blind spot, it's right over there
Aware of something that could be important but unable to see it or address it
I'm trapped in a feeling it feels unfair
Feeling stuck in an unjust and unfavorable situation
My mind says go, my body says don't
Experiencing conflicting desires and not knowing which one to follow
Each leads to the unknown
Regardless of which choice is made, the result is uncertain
Unseen forces
Influences that can't be seen but still impact the situation
Spirals turning round
Feeling stuck in a cycle of uncertainty and confusion
Wind of silent voices
Picking up on subtle cues or messages that are difficult to discern
Learn to trust the sound
Encouraging oneself to rely on instinct and intuition in order to find a way forward
Something's familiar
Finding comfort in something familiar amidst overwhelming change and confusion
Daybreak liaison
A hopeful and promising reminder that the darkness won't last forever, and that a new opportunity for success might be just around the corner
Trying to see the daylight, but there's only fog
Struggling to find clarity and optimism amidst the confusion and complexity of the situation
Nothing's familiar, no dawn liaison
Feeling completely unsure and disoriented, without any recognizable points of reference
Take me up, take me all the way
Asking for guidance and support to help navigate the complicated and uncertain situation
Let me see through the labyrinth
Desiring the ability to see the situation clearly and find a way forward without becoming overwhelmed or lost
I will fight to keep my eyes open
Determining to stay alert and focused in order to find a way out of the situation
I will find a way
Believing in oneself and one's ability to navigate the complicated and chaotic situation
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Holly Freeling, William Belote
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.