Rhythm guitarist Dave Pritchard, bass guitarist Greg Masters and drummer Roger Spencer were the core of a band initally known as Billy King and the Nightriders, then later known as Mike Sheridan and the Nightriders and briefly as just The Nightriders.
In 1966 they advertised for a new guitarist/vocalist, Jeff Lynne applied and joined the band. After releasing one single they changed their name to Idle Race. Under Jeff Lynne's leadership they released two albums that sold poorly, despite support from John Peel and Kenny Everett.
In 1970, Jeff Lynne decided to join The Move so he and Roy Wood could work on what would eventually become Electric Light Orchestra
The remaining members of The Idle Race recruited 2 new members and released one further album. After Greg Masters left the group they became The Steve Gibbons Band.
Days Of The Broken Arrows
The Idle Race Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her years have passed, but all in vain
The birds have fallen from the trees
And it is told in these old memories
Birds on the wing at the end of the day
The trees of green and brown you see
Have suddenly turned grey
Don't be too sad when you're waiting for death
The message on the garden wall Says Mickey Mouse is bad
Ooh, need, I need, I need, I need her
The broken arrows in the door, there's lots of Indians
Ooh, need, I need, I need, I need her
The grass has grown above her hair
The pretty patterned teddy bear
Ah, ah, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Her baby cries in the heat of the night
Footsteps up the stairs
Her mother's there to hold her tight
Happy young child and his dog running wild
Spring is in the air and they've been running for a mile
Remember when that girl was 5 years old
Now she's grown older with the lie she told
Why did this happen, where did I do wrong?
I know that now I'm home
I'm not too young and then I'm gone
Ooh, need, I need, I need, I need her
The broken arrows in the door, there's lots of Indians
Ooh, need, I need, I need, I need her
The grass has grown above her hair
The pretty patterned teddy bear
Ah, ah, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Birds on the wing at the end of the day
The trees of green and brown you see
Have suddenly turned grey
The Idle Race's song Days of the Broken Arrows is a melancholic reflection on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The opening lines introduce us to a little girl who is now grown up but whose life has been wasted. The birds in the trees have fallen, representing the loss of beauty and vitality in the world. The singer reflects on old memories, maybe of a time when life was much simpler and full of promise.
However, this sense of nostalgia is tinged with sadness as the lyrics remind us that our time on earth is limited. The message on the garden wall says "Mickey Mouse is bad", perhaps a reference to the idea that even the happiest things in life have a dark side. The broken arrows in the door suggest a battle has been fought, and the singer needs the girl to make it through, maybe indicating a sense of longing for something that is lost.
Throughout the song, the imagery of nature is used to convey a sense of change and transience. Trees that were once green and brown have suddenly turned grey, and even the birds on the wing at the end of the day can't escape the passing of time. The overall message is one of sadness and loss, but also a recognition that life goes on, and we must make the most of the time we have.
Line by Line Meaning
There goes that little girl again
The girl from the past is back again.
Her years have passed, but all in vain
She has grown old, but with no significant achievement.
The birds have fallen from the trees
The birds have lost their homes and can't fly anymore.
And it is told in these old memories
These memories are all that's left of the past.
Birds on the wing at the end of the day
The birds are flying away from their homes at sunset.
The trees of green and brown you see
The trees have leaves of different colors.
Have suddenly turned grey
Everything has lost its vibrant color.
Don't be too sad when you're waiting for death
Don't despair when waiting to pass on.
The message on the garden wall
A writing on the garden wall.
Says Mickey Mouse is bad
The message is a critique of a cartoon character.
Ooh, need, I need, I need, I need her
The singer has a strong desire for someone.
The broken arrows in the door, there's lots of Indians
There's a fight going on, with lots of casualties.
The grass has grown above her hair
The girl is buried under the grass.
The pretty patterned teddy bear
A beautiful teddy bear with patterns on it.
Ah, ah, ah, yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of emotion.
Her baby cries in the heat of the night
The baby cries when the air is hot.
Footsteps up the stairs
Someone is coming up the stairs.
Her mother's there to hold her tight
The mother is supporting and comforting her daughter.
Happy young child and his dog running wild
A happy child and his dog are running freely.
Spring is in the air and they've been running for a mile
It is springtime, and they've been running for a while now.
Remember when that girl was 5 years old
The singer has a memory of a girl when she was five.
Now she's grown older with the lie she told
The girl has grown older but with a deception in her past.
Why did this happen, where did I do wrong?
A question about a mistake or a regret.
I know that now I'm home
The singer is finally home.
I'm not too young and then I'm gone
The singer is not too young anymore and aware of their mortality.
Contributed by Bailey J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.