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)
Romany
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sailing on with Romany wandering
To and fro on icy mornings
Feeling calm to have an old friend 'round
Feeling warm to see the wind blow down
Take me home
where the saints and children laughing
Feeling safe to reach the harbor sound
Feeling warm to see the wind blow down
Take me home
Leave the galley sailors talking
Leave the bridge and captain's walking
Feeling naked on the covered ground
Feeling warm to see the wind blow down
The wind blowed
down in the moonless night
the sea was dark
the breeze was light
Everyone's thoughts were their own
Caught by the ocean thief
The bow hit on a coral reef
Romany sank like a stone
chorus
verse 1
The Hollies's song "Romany" is a dreamy and nostalgic tune that depicts the journey of a sailor who longs to return home, sailing the seas along with his old friend, a Romany wanderer. The lyrics are evocative, and the imagery used is both beautiful and vivid. The sailor expresses how he feels calm and warm to have his old friend around while sailing through icy mornings, feeling the wind blowing down upon him. He wants to reach his home port, where saints and children laugh while telling the Dutchman ships are passing, and he feels safe and warm.
As the song progresses, the sailor longs to leave the galley sailors talking and the bridge and captain's walking in search of a peaceful and covered ground. He feels naked and vulnerable, but the warmth he feels from the wind blowing down keeps him going. However, suddenly, in the moonless night, the wind blows down heavily, and the sea becomes dark and treacherous. Caught by the ocean's thief, the boat hits a coral reef, and Romany sinks like a stone.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me home
The singer longs to return to a place of comfort and familiarity
Sailing on with Romany wandering
The singer is traveling with a wanderer named Romany on a ship
To and fro on icy mornings
The ship is traveling back and forth in cold weather
Feeling calm to have an old friend 'round
The artist finds comfort in the company of their friend Romany
Feeling warm to see the wind blow down
The artist feels a sense of peace when the wind calms down
Take me home
The singer repeats their longing to return home
where the saints and children laughing
The singer desires to be in a place of happiness and innocence
Tell the Dutchman ships are passing
The artist wants to inform others of the ships passing
Feeling safe to reach the harbor sound
The artist feels secure upon arriving at the sound of the harbor
Feeling warm to see the wind blow down
The artist repeats their sense of peace when the wind calms down
Take me home
The singer once again expresses their desire to go home
Leave the galley sailors talking
The artist wants to distance themselves from idle chatter in the kitchen
Leave the bridge and captain's walking
The singer wants to be away from the command center of the ship
Feeling naked on the covered ground
The singer feels exposed even when in a covered area
Feeling warm to see the wind blow down
The singer still finds comfort in the calming of the wind
The wind blowed
The wind picks up again after some time
down in the moonless night
This happens in the middle of the night with no moonlight
the sea was dark
The sea was too dark to see in
the breeze was light
Despite the dark, the wind was not too strong
Everyone's thoughts were their own
Each individual on the ship kept their own thoughts
Caught by the ocean thief
The ship was hit by an unexpected force from the ocean
The bow hit on a coral reef
The bow of the ship was damaged by a collision with a coral reef
Romany sank like a stone
Romany's ship quickly sank and went under the water
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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.