Their best known songs include "Summer In The City", "Do You Believe In Magic?", "Darling Be Home Soon", and "Daydream". The band reunited in 1991 and continue to perform without Sebastian, who has declined to participate, and Yanovsky, who died in 2002.
The band's name was inspired by lyrics from Mississippi John Hurt's "Coffee Blues" and drew influence from contemporary folk and psychedelic music while also inspiring later rock bands.
A more complete history of this seminal New York band can be found on their official site: lovinspoonful.com
The Prophet
The Lovin' Spoonful Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Light the night for me
Use the road when the prophet go
Though your eyes can’t see
I wonder why you cruel inside her
And back when you find no one
Alone and cried, you stayed to die
Rest your oars and drift ashore
Let yourself let out and run
Step us in, na na na...
Sweetly filled from the tender well
Drink to all you need
I hear you cry while you’re preaching crime
To the ways love should’ve been done
Be the smile, and open wide
Lift your face into the sun
Na na na...
The Lovin' Spoonful's song The Prophet is a poem-like song with an evocative and mystical tone. The lyrics of the song suggest that the singer might be addressing someone who is seeking guidance and advice without being able to see clearly. The opening line, "Ask the children what you want to know," could imply that the singer wants the person to look at things from a childlike perspective or to get answers from pure and honest sources.
The lines "Light the night for me" and "Use the road when the prophet go, Though your eyes can’t see" could refer to the idea of following a sage or a leader who might enlighten the person's path, even though they might not understand or comprehend the reasons behind it. The song might also be suggesting that somebody who is cruel inside might be misguided and confused and seeks solace and salvation from an external source.
The line "Drink to all you need" might allude to the idea of finding nourishment and fulfilment from simple things and enjoying life to the fullest. The closing line, "Be the smile, and open wide, Lift your face into the sun," encourages the person to be positive, kind, and optimistic while facing life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Ask the children what you want to know
Seek knowledge from those who are innocent and uncorrupted
Light the night for me
Guide me through the darkness
Use the road when the prophet go
Follow the path of those who have insight or wisdom
Though your eyes can’t see
Even if you don't have a clear understanding
I wonder why you cruel inside her
I question why you are being unkind to her
And back when you find no one
When you are alone and have no one to turn to
Alone and cried, you stayed to die
You suffered alone and chose to remain in that state
Working hard and having no fun
Putting in effort but not enjoying life
Rest your oars and drift ashore
Take a break and allow yourself to be carried to a new destination
Let yourself let out and run
Allow yourself to let go and enjoy freedom
Step us in, na na na...
Let us move forward, with a sense of joy or excitement
Sweetly filled from the tender well
Satisfied and content from a source of nourishment
Drink to all you need
Take in what is essential for you
I hear you cry while you’re preaching crime
I detect your hypocrisy or insincerity
To the ways love should’ve been done
Regarding the proper expression of love
Be the smile, and open wide
Choose to show happiness and welcome others
Lift your face into the sun
Enjoy the warmth and light of life
Na na na...
An expression of happiness or excitement
Contributed by Eva R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rorick Sellers
on 4 Eyes
4 Eyes: After "Mister up in middle classes" is the line: LET YOUR BABY CHOOSE HIS GLASSES ... [for some reason, this line in all caps is omitted ON EVERY WEBSITE that has the lyrics to this song. Weird.]