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)

Slow Down
The Hollies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[verse 1]
Got to stop from running
Got to make myself slow down
If I need some loving
Got to find some love around

[verse 2]
I can't hold on

It's been so long
And I'd do anything
To find some love good love
If I slow down
If I take a look around
Maybe I'll come across
Some home sweet home

[chorus]
If I slow down
Yeah if I slow down
If I slow down
Yeah if I slow down

[verse 2]

[verse 1]
[chorus]

Overall Meaning

The Hollies's song "Slow Down" is a contemplative song about the importance of taking a step back and slowing down in life. The song's verses and chorus are themed with the idea of needing love and finding a comforting home, but first, the singer must stop running and take a breath. The first verse speaks to the need for the singer to put an end to their running and make themselves slow down. Otherwise, they won't have the energy or time to find the love they need. The second verse dives deeper into the singer's mind and recognizes that they can't keep going on this way. They've been searching for love for so long and are willing to do anything to find it. However, they acknowledge that by slowing down and taking a look around, they might just find that sweet home they're searching for.

In essence, "Slow Down" is a song about the importance of self-care, the theme of which is still relevant even today. One must take a break and slow down to find what they are looking for, to relax and cool off, to rest and recharge. The lyrics suggest that the singer's problem is caused by their tendency to "run" emotionally, like keeping themselves busy with activities, relationships, or anxieties, which can cause them to neglect what they need. Therefore, taking a step back and allowing oneself to breathe and process can lead to finding love, comfort and a place to call home.

Line by Line Meaning

Got to stop from running
I must stop chasing after things and take a break

Got to make myself slow down
I must remind myself to take things slow and not rush

If I need some loving
If I'm feeling lonely and need affection

Got to find some love around
I need to seek love and connection from the people around me

I can't hold on
I can't keep up this pace and maintain my current mindset

It's been so long
I've been running for so long that I'm exhausted

And I'd do anything
I'm willing to try anything to find some genuine love

To find some love good love
To find true and fulfilling affection

If I slow down
If I take a break from my busy life

If I take a look around
If I pause to observe my surroundings

Maybe I'll come across
Perhaps I'll stumble upon