After the initial success of The Merseybeats had waned, the band folded, and in 1966 founding members Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley formed a vocal duo called The Merseys. They had a major hit with their first single Sorrow, which became a Sixties classic and has since been covered by many other artists (although it was itself a cover, having previously been a B-side by The McCoys). A line from this song is included in The Beatles' song It's All Too Much, released in 1969 on the Yellow Submarine soundtrack album. David Bowie recorded a single version in 1973 which reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart.
The duo split in 1968, with Crane and Kinsley both going on to front a number of other bands. During the 1970s Crane continued to tour and perform live as Tony Crane and the Merseybeats, with various line-ups. Under the banner Liverpool Express, Kinsley returned to the UK Singles Chart in the summer of 1976, with the Top 20 single You Are My Love. This group enjoyed moderate chart success for the next couple of years. Kinsley and Crane re-formed The Merseybeats in 1993, and after celebrating 45 years in the music business in 2006, they still continue to tour and perform live on the successful "Sixties circuit," and at venues in the UK and across Europe.
Sorrow
The Merseys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The only thing I ever get from you
Is sorrow, sorrow
You're actin' funny spendin' all my money
You're out there playin' your high class games
Sorrow, sorrow
Somethin' tells me you're the devil's daughter
Sorrow, sorrow
Ah, ah, ah
I tried to fight her but I can't resist her
I never knew just how much I missed her
Sorrow, sorrow
With your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue
The only thing I ever got from you
Was sorrow, sorrow
Ah, ah, ah
With your long blonde hair
I couldn't sleep last night
With your long blonde hair
and your eyes of blue, The Merseys's "Sorrow" tells the story of a man who is stuck in a toxic relationship with a woman who only brings him sorrow. The lyrics are simple, but they are powerful and communicate the agony of someone who is deeply in love with someone who is bringing them heartache. The opening verse sets the scene with an image of a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and blue eyes, but despite her stunning appearance, the only thing the singer ever gets from her is sorrow. The second verse reveals that the woman is spending all of his money and playing high-class games.
The third verse suggests that the woman has a dark side, and the singer is fully aware that she is the devil's daughter. In the chorus, the singer laments that he cannot resist her and how much he has missed her. The song concludes with a repetition of the opening verse, indicating that even though he knows this woman is trouble, he is still drawn to her.
Line by Line Meaning
With your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue
Describing the physical appearance of someone who brings the singer sorrow.
The only thing I ever get from you
The negative emotion and feeling of distress is all the singer receives from this person.
Is sorrow, sorrow
The repeated emotion that this person brings is one of sadness and regret.
You're actin' funny spendin' all my money
This person is behaving in a strange and suspicious way, taking advantage of the singer financially.
You're out there playin' your high class games
This person is engaged in activities or behaviors that are seen as pretentious or elitist.
You never do what you know you oughta
This person is not doing what is right or necessary, despite knowing what should be done.
Somethin' tells me you're the devil's daughter
The singer has a strong intuition or suspicion that this person has evil or malevolent qualities.
Ah, ah, ah
A repeated vocalization that signifies the singer's inner turmoil and anguish.
I tried to fight her but I can't resist her
Despite attempting to resist or oppose this person, the singer is unable to do so.
I never knew just how much I missed her
The singer was not aware of how much they longed for or wanted this person back in their life.
With your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue
Repeating the physical description of this person as a reminder of the source of the singer's sorrow.
The only thing I ever got from you
Repeating the idea that this person only brings negative emotions and pain to the singer.
Was sorrow, sorrow
Repeating the central theme of the song, that this person is a source of sadness and misery in the singer's life.
Ah, ah, ah
Repeating the vocalization of the singer's inner turmoil and distress.
With your long blonde hair
A partial repetition of an earlier line, again emphasizing the physical appearance of this person.
I couldn't sleep last night
The singer is experiencing insomnia, likely due to their emotional distress.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Richard Gottehrer, Jerry Goldstein, Bob Feldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@georgerussellgiltrap5320
I was the Drummer for the Merseys....when they practised this song at the Granada Rehearsal rooms....Deptford in the 60`s....
@georgerussellgiltrap5320
Long time ago now...but they were all great guys to work with...the Hipsters and Flares were no good for my build tho!!!..
@yuniyonson
Must have been so great to have been part of the scene
@georgerussellgiltrap5320
At the time it was "normal"..now looking back...it was a Fantastic time..never to be repeated...The 60`s were really special... :)
@CaptainJimKirk
+George Russell Giltrap If only we'd realised what an unbelievable time we were living in then... a time that we would never see again...
@robinjohn33
+CaptainJimKirk I live in hope that we get the chance to go around again and re-live the life we all miss so much. It as so much fun, even politics was so much in the background. I have some fantastic memories.
@mykeyoh1536
Of course The Beatles brought me here. What a GREAT FUCKING SONG!! Wish The Jam would've covered this one !!! Can still see Paul Weller diving into this one today. Beat Surrender !!! 👏👏👍👍👍👍🍻🍻👏👏😎😎
@pgh45rpms
"Sorrow" was written by the New York songwriting team of Bob Feldman, Jerry Goldstein & Richard Gottehrer, who also performed as the Strangeloves. FG&G produced early recordings by the McCoys, who used "Sorrow" as the b-side of "Fever". The following year, 1966, the Merseys in the UK recorded it as an a-side (released in the US on Mercury, but no chart activity). Then David Bowie updated the song in late '73.
@joannicholson3030
It was great to be a teen in the 60s 😊
@wasteofspace20
One of the great gems of Mersey Beat, easily one of the 20 greatest songs to come out of the entire explosion, and probably the most underrated of any of them.