The Hollies are a well-respected British beat and pop band that formed in t… Read Full Bio ↴The Hollies are a well-respected British beat and pop band that formed in the early 60s. Initially they had a squeaky-clean image and were famous for their rich vocal harmonies, rivaling those of The Beach Boys. Between 1964 and 1969, only two Hollies songs failed to reach the UK Top 10. Their most famous member was Graham Nash, who left in 1968 to form the folk supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash. Two of the core members, drummer Bobby Elliott and lead guitarist Tony Hicks, still perform with The Hollies into the new millennium.

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)

Open Up Your Eyes
The Hollies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Open up your eyes looking at the people
Wouldn't it be nice if they were always smiling
Open up your eyes looking at the people
Wouldn't it be nice if they were always smiling smiling

Wake in the morning
Look out of my window
Down on the street as the people pass by

Wonderful faces awake but asleep
Rushing around with appointments to keep
Rushing around with appointments to keep

Bald-headed banker with bowler on head
Credit for debit but still in the red
Schoolgirl in pigtails and freckly nose
Trying to remember her Latin prose
Trying to remember her Latin prose

[Chorus]
Open up your eyes open up your eyes
Open up your eyes open up your eyes
Isn't it surprising what you'll find

Open up your eyes open up your eyes
What are they thinking
What's on their minds
Are they all looking for something to find
Decreasing circles running around
Searching for something they've already found
Searching for something they've already found

[Chorus]

Open up your eyes looking at the people

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to the Hollies' song "Open Up Your Eyes" ask listeners to do just that and take a closer look at the people around them. The song starts by highlighting the desire for people to always be smiling, evoking a sense of happiness and positivity. As the song progresses, the lyrics observe the different types of people we might encounter in our daily lives, from the bald-headed banker to the schoolgirl trying to remember her Latin prose. The chorus urges us to open up our eyes and take in the world around us, to look for what people are thinking and what's on their minds.

The song's meaning goes beyond simply observing the people we see every day. It encourages us to see them as individuals, each with their own story and perspective. The song suggests that we may be missing out on something by not paying close enough attention. The lyrics point out that people may be searching for something they've already found, highlighting the idea that we may be overlooking the good things we already have in our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Open up your eyes looking at the people
Take a good look at the people around you

Wouldn't it be nice if they were always smiling
It would be great if people were always happy

Open up your eyes looking at the people
Take another good look at the people around you

Wouldn't it be nice if they were always smiling smiling
It would be wonderful if people were always joyful

Wake in the morning
After awakening from sleep

Look out of my window
To gaze out of a window

Down on the street as the people pass by
Observing the people as they move along the street

Wonderful faces awake but asleep
Though their faces are wonderful, they seem to be going through the motions

Rushing around with appointments to keep
Hastening to meet their scheduled obligations

Bald-headed banker with bowler on head
A banker with no hair wearing a bowler hat

Credit for debit but still in the red
Having more debts than credits