The band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s with singer and guitarist J. Geils (born February 20, 1946; died April 10, 2017), bassist Danny Klein (Dr. Funk) and harpist Richard Salwitz (stage name Magic Dick). The band formed under the name Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels while Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters. In 1967 the band switched focus, starting to play electric guitar and bass and recruiting drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and fast-talking ex-disc jockey singer Peter Wolf, born Peter Blankenfeld, both from Boston. The following year Seth Justman joined as an organist, and the group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.
The J. Geils Band first received FM radio airplay with the live single "First I Look at the Purse", then had several hit singles in the 1970s, the most successful of which was "Must Of Got Lost" (1974). Later in the 1970s, the band signed with EMI America Records.
The band had good success covering soul singles. Besides the well-known aforementioned "First I Look at the Purse" from The Contours, they covered the more obscure "I Do" from The Marvelows and "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" from The Showstoppers.
The group's commercial fortunes improved in the early 1980s, first with the humorous "Love Stinks", then with their great success with the Freeze Frame album which included "Centerfold" (#1 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100) and then the title cut (#4). Wolf left the group in 1983 for a solo career not long after, over disagreements about whether to continue to take the band in more of a popular direction, or continue with the purist tradition.
The band went on to record one more album of new material, You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd, after Wolf left. He was not replaced, and Seth Justman took over most of the vocal duties. The album produced only one single - "Concealed Weapons", a song about breasts - and was not a success. The band toured in support of the album, but never again recorded anything new. The group then disbanded in 1985 after contributing the title song to the 1985 horror film Fright Night.
The group was not reunited with Wolf until 1999, and subsequently broke up again when ticket sales proved extremely disappointing. Wolf continues to tour with his own backup band, and the rest of the Geils band makes occasional appearances. Since the semi-retirement of the band, Geils has been restoring sports cars in Massachusetts.
On 22 May 2006, the six original members had a surprise reunion, the first time they had all played together in over 20 years, at bassist Danny Klein's 60th birthday party at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston.
Since 2009 they are reunited once more.
The band disbanded in 2017 after the death of bandleader J. Geils.
Insane Insane Again
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
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Panic rules the moment with no mercy or desire
Ran across the blackened sand to get a soft ice cream
And now my mouth is burning crimson in a long and bloody dream
Sometimes I wonder 'bout these physical disorders
My only contact is with TV news distorters
Glancing over quickly at the words from brain to pen
Relax, relax, relax, relax, relax, relax
Puppets with directions they whisper in my ears
Circled stairs around me drip with long forgotten tears
Nothing done without a motive, proving they were smart
Every path they traced for me another kind of chart
Corporate Christie says it all the meeting is a-twist
My pulse is fading quickly you can feel it on my wrist
Glancing over quickly at the words from brain to pen
All that I can tell you, I'm insane, insane again
Relax, relax, relax, relax, relax, relax
I need some breathing room
I need some breathing room
I need some breathing room
I need some breathing room
Open fire, shell shock, knee jerk, lock step
Shrink rap, clap trap, mind bend, echo send
Chicken coop, drug soup, nerve food, solitude
Back track, meat rack, cardiac, yakety, yakety, yak
Breathing room, I need some breathing room
Relax, relax, relax, relax, relax, relax
Mama, won't you tell me please, please what is goin' on?
I have seen with madhouse vision
No conclusions can be drawn
My mind is inside out and all the clarity is gone
Glancing over quickly at the words from brain to pen
All that I can tell you, I'm insane, insane again
Bending over backwards in a rush to comprehend
Help me, help me, mama, I'm insane, insane again
The J. Geils Band's song "Insane Insane Again" has lyrics that are quite cryptic and open to interpretation. The song seems to capture a feeling of panic and confusion. The opening line of the song, "Mad dog in the hallway and my head is filled with fire," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is experiencing anxiety and feels a sense of danger all around. The line "Ran across the blackened sand to get a soft ice cream, And now my mouth is burning crimson in a long and bloody dream" implies that the singer is in a surreal state of consciousness, where even familiar things are making no sense.
The lyrics also talk about the influence of the media and how it can distort our perception of reality. The line "My only contact is with TV news distorters" suggests that the singer is isolated and has no one to turn to except the media, which is also unreliable. The lines "Puppets with directions they whisper in my ears, Circled stairs around me drip with long-forgotten tears" suggest that the singer is being manipulated by others, and they feel trapped in their current state.
The chorus of the song, "All that I can tell you, I'm insane, insane again, Relax, relax, relax, relax, relax, relax," captures a sense of unease and the need to calm down. The repetition of "relax" suggests that the singer is trying to calm down, but their mind is racing with thoughts and emotions that they cannot control.
Overall, "Insane Insane Again" is a song that explores the theme of mental instability, anxiety, and the confusion that it brings. The lyrics are full of metaphors and imagery that speak to the experience of being overwhelmed and the challenge of finding peace and clarity.
Line by Line Meaning
Mad dog in the hallway and my head is filled with fire
I am feeling overwhelmed with panic and stress, like there is a wild animal chasing me and my mind is racing with intense thoughts.
Panic rules the moment with no mercy or desire
I am completely consumed by feelings of anxiety and have no control over the situation.
Ran across the blackened sand to get a soft ice cream
I made a hasty, irrational decision and now I am experiencing the consequences of my actions, which are causing me more discomfort.
And now my mouth is burning crimson in a long and bloody dream
I regret my previous decision and am now feeling the pain and discomfort of that choice.
Sometimes I wonder 'bout these physical disorders
I question my own sanity and wonder if my mental state is causing me to experience physical symptoms.
My only contact is with TV news distorters
I am isolated from reliable sources of information and must rely on sensationalized news to understand the world.
Glancing over quickly at the words from brain to pen
I am trying to quickly capture my chaotic thoughts on paper before they slip away.
All that I can tell you, I'm insane, insane again
My thoughts and actions feel erratic and crazy, and I can't seem to escape this feeling.
Relax, relax, relax, relax, relax, relax
I wish I could calm down and find peace in the midst of this madness.
Puppets with directions they whisper in my ears
I feel as though outside forces are controlling my every move and decision, leaving me feeling powerless.
Circled stairs around me drip with long forgotten tears
The world around me feels haunted by sadness and despair, adding to my feelings of hopelessness.
Nothing done without a motive, proving they were smart
I believe that everyone around me must have ulterior motives and that no one can be trusted.
Every path they traced for me another kind of chart
Even though I feel like I have no control, I also feel like my every move is being tracked and monitored.
Corporate Christie says it all the meeting is a-twist
I am confused and disoriented by the people and systems around me, leaving me feeling out of touch and ill-informed.
My pulse is fading quickly you can feel it on my wrist
I am experiencing physical symptoms of stress, and they are becoming more and more intense.
I need some breathing room
I need space and time to myself in order to regain my bearings and find a sense of calm.
Open fire, shell shock, knee jerk, lock step
I feel like I am under attack and my response is instinctual, leaving me feeling vulnerable and unstable.
Shrink rap, clap trap, mind bend, echo send
I am constantly bombarded by confusing and contradictory messages, leaving me feeling even more lost and disorientated.
Chicken coop, drug soup, nerve food, solitude
I feel trapped and overwhelmed by the world around me, and the only way to escape is to isolate myself from it.
Back track, meat rack, cardiac, yakety, yakety, yak
I am spinning my wheels and going nowhere, physically and mentally exhaustively trying to keep up with everything.
Mama, won't you tell me please, please what is goin' on?
I feel lost and alone and am desperately seeking guidance and connection from someone who can help me make sense of the world around me.
I have seen with madhouse vision
I have a distorted perception of reality and feel like I'm stuck in a crazy world that I can't escape from.
No conclusions can be drawn
Despite everything that has happened to me, I still don't understand anything and feel lost as ever.
My mind is inside out and all the clarity is gone
My thoughts and feelings are confused and chaotic and I am unable to find any sense of cognitive clarity.
Bending over backwards in a rush to comprehend
I am tirelessly trying to make sense of my life and my experiences in order to find some form of stabilization.
Help me, help me, mama, I'm insane, insane again
I am reaching out for help and understanding, desperate for someone to ease my pain and suffering.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: SETH JUSTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind