The band began by playing rhythm and blues music. After some early lineup changes, the band settled on a line-up of Pinder, Thomas, Edge, guitarist Justin Hayward and bassist John Lodge, which would stay together for most of the band's "classic era" through the late 1960s-early 1970s. Their second album, "Days of Future Passed", released in 1967, was a fusion of rock with classical music and established the band as pioneers in the development of art rock and progressive rock. Days Of Future Passed has been described as a "landmark" and "one of the first successful concept albums".
The Moody Blues became known internationally by recordings of songs including "Go Now", "Nights in White Satin", "Tuesday Afternoon", "Question" and "Your Wildest Dreams". The band has been awarded 18 platinum and gold LP’s. The band sold 70 million albums worldwide. The Moody Blues were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018.
The Moody Blues formed in 1964 in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham in the county of Warwickshire. Ray Thomas, a young John Lodge and (occasionally) Mike Pinder had been members of El Riot & the Rebels. They disbanded when Lodge, the youngest member, went to technical college and Pinder joined the army. Pinder then rejoined Thomas to form the Krew Cats. Back from a disappointing spell in the Hamburg region a few months later, the pair recruited guitarist/vocalist Denny Laine and band manager-turned-drummer Graeme Edge. Pinder and Thomas initially approached their former El Riot bandmate John Lodge about being the bass player, but Lodge declined as he was still in college. They instead recruited bassist Clint Warwick. The five appeared as the Moody Blues for the first time in Birmingham in 1964. The name developed from a hoped-for sponsorship from the M&B Brewery which failed to materialise, the band calling themselves both "The M Bs" and "The M B Five", and was also a subtle reference to the Duke Ellington song "Mood Indigo". In an interview it was revealed that the band was named "Moody Blues" because Mike Pinder was interested in how music changes people's moods and due to the fact that the band was playing blues at the time. Around this time the band were the resident group at the Carlton Ballroom, later to become rock music venue Mothers on Erdington High Street.
The Moody Blues' "rich symphonic sound" influenced groups such as Yes, Genesis, the Electric Light Orchestra and Deep Purple. They also helped make synthesizers and philosophy "part of the rock mainstream".
The Moody Blues became members of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2013, readers of Rolling Stone Magazine voted for them as one of the ten bands that should be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ultimate Classic Rock called them "perennial victims of an unaccountable snubbing" and inducted them into its own Hall of Fame in 2014.
Writing for The Guardian in 2015, Rob Chapman described the band as "psychedelia's forgotten heroes". He stated: "Despite their success, rock critics rarely took the Moody Blues seriously, a pattern that continued for the next 45 years." He also wrote: "Despite the critical disapproval, the best of the Moody Blues music between 1967 and 1970 possessed grace and beauty. Like The Beatles, they understood how pop songs worked as ensemble pieces. None of them were particularly virtuosic or showy as musicians and their music is refreshingly free of the noodling longeurs that characterised the output of their more self-indulgent contemporaries."
In December 2017, the band were announced as inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. On 14 April 2018, they were inducted as part of the 2018 class. During his acceptance speech in Cleveland, OH, Justin Hayward said, "If you didn't know already, well we're just a bunch of British guys, but of course to us and to all British musicians, this is the home of our heroes and we all know that..." acknowledging the inspirational role of America's rock and roll icons. During the ceremony, Ray Thomas was included as a star that was lost in the past year.
On 11th November 2021 Graeme Edge died. Upon Edge's death, Justin Hayward announced that The Moody Blues had no longer been active since Edge had retired in 2018 (Edge being the only member to remain with the band from formation to ending). Founding member Denny Laine died on 5 December 2023.
22000 Days
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Me and my dreams
That drive me so let me go please
Let me go onto tomorrow
One day at a time
Now I know the only foe is time
22,000 days, 22,000 days it's not a lot,
It's all you got 22,000 days
So start the show and this time
Feel the flow and get it right
Now the time when I first saw you is over and gone
Then I knew my life with you would go on
Knowing you so much longer
I've change in mind change for you
You have changed to mine
22,000 days, 22,000 days it's not a lot,
It's all you got 22,000 days
22,000 nights, 22,000 nights, it's all you know
So start the show and this time
Feel the flow and get it right
Everybody knows, it always shows
Wasting time's an aggravation
Got no time for confrontation
You want to take a lot
By love by law or stealth
Time's the only real wealth you have got
Even tho' I know it's only me and my dreams
That drive me so let me go please
Let me go onto tomorrow
One day at a time
Now I know the only foe is time
22,000 days, 22,000 days it's not a lot,
It's all you got 22,000 days
22,000 nights, 22,000 nights, it's all you know
So start the show 22,000 days
22,000 days, 22,000 days it's not a lot,
It's all you got 22,000 days
22,000 nights, 22,000 nights, it's all you know
So start the show 22,000 ways
The Moody Blues's song "22000 Days" is a contemplation on time and living life to the fullest. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency for the singer to pursue their dreams and make the most of their time. The repetition of the phrase "22,000 days" emphasizes the idea that life is short and that each day should be cherished. The singer acknowledges that time is their only real foe and encourages the listener to feel the flow of life and to get it right.
The second verse of the song reflects on a relationship that has endured over time. The singer notes that they and their partner have changed over the years but have adapted to each other. This suggests that relationships can be a source of consistency and stability in the midst of life's changes.
The bridge of the song emphasizes the importance of time as a valuable resource. The singer suggests that wasting time on meaningless pursuits is an aggravation and that time is better spent pursuing love, law, or stealth. This line echoes the overall message of the song that time is precious and should be used wisely.
Overall, "22000 Days" by The Moody Blues is a reminder to live in the moment and to appreciate the time we have on earth. It encourages listeners to pursue their dreams, cherish their relationships, and use their time wisely.
Line by Line Meaning
Even tho' I know it's only
Despite being aware that my motivation comes solely from within me
Me and my dreams
My personal aspirations and ambitions
That drive me so let me go please
Allow me the freedom to pursue my passions
Let me go onto tomorrow
Permit me to focus on the future
One day at a time
Living in the present and approaching each day individually
Now I know the only foe is time
I understand that time is the only obstacle to achieving my goals
22,000 days, 22,000 days it's not a lot,
The span of 22,000 days may seem small in the grand scheme of things
It's all you got 22,000 days
However, it's the only time we have to accomplish our objectives
22,000 nights, 22,000 nights, it's all you know
Similarly, we only have a limited amount of nights to live our lives
So start the show and this time
Therefore, it's critical to begin taking action towards our goals and making the most out of each day
Feel the flow and get it right
Get in tune with your aspirations and execute your plan to achieve them successfully
Now the time when I first saw you is over and gone
Reflecting on the past when I first met you and fell in love
Then I knew my life with you would go on
I recognized that this love would be a long-lasting commitment
Knowing you so much longer
Having spent a considerable amount of time together
I've change in mind change for you
My perspective and priorities evolved because of our relationship
You have changed to mine
In the same way, your priorities and perspectives shifted to align with mine
Everybody knows, it always shows
Our internal motivations and desires are evident to others
Wasting time's an aggravation
Time is valuable, and squandering it is frustrating
Got no time for confrontation
I have no desire to waste time in conflict
You want to take a lot
You may have aspirations that require significant effort and time
By love by law or stealth
Regardless of the approach, the desired outcome requires effort
Time's the only real wealth you have got
Time is the ultimate asset and the one valuable resource that cannot be replenished
22,000 days, 22,000 days it's not a lot,
The amount of time we have to achieve our objectives is limited
It's all you got 22,000 days
Make the most of the limited time available to you
22,000 nights, 22,000 nights, it's all you know
Each night is an opportunity to make an impact in your life and others' lives
So start the show 22,000 days
Begin taking action today to reach your goals
22,000 days, 22,000 days it's not a lot,
The amount of time we have is precious
It's all you got 22,000 days
Therefore, it's essential to live each day to the fullest and make the most out of every opportunity and experience you encounter
22,000 nights, 22,000 nights, it's all you know
Similarly, each night is an opportunity to reflect on your day and prepare for the next
So start the show 22,000 ways
There are countless ways to utilize our time and talent, and it's up to us to discover them
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GRAEME EDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind