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.
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes I feel a little mad
But don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel
When things go wrong I feel real bad.
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that, all I have to do is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy, I want you to know,
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems, and I get my share,
And that's one thing I never mean to do
Cause I love you,
Oh,
Oh, oh, oh, baby - don't you know I'm human
I have thoughts like any other one
Sometimes I find myself, Lord, regretting
Some foolish thing, some little simple thing I've done
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
The Moody Blues's song "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is a compelling expression of the fear of being misjudged in a relationship. The singer is pleading with his lover to understand him, even when he is not at his best. He begins by asking, "Baby, do you understand me now?" suggesting that he has experienced a lack of understanding in the past. He confesses that he can feel mad at times, but that no one is perfect and that when things go wrong, he feels bad.
The chorus of the song is a plea to be seen for who he is, a "soul whose intentions are good." The line "Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood" is repeated, emphasizing the singer's fear of being judged or misinterpreted. He goes on to explain that sometimes he is carefree and joyous but that worrying can bring out his other side. He urges his partner to understand that sometimes he can seem edgy, but that he never means to take it out on them.
The closing lines suggest that the singer is aware of his flaws and vulnerabilities but wants his partner to accept them. He acknowledges that he is just a human with thoughts like anyone else and can sometimes regret his actions. Ultimately, he is asking his lover to see the best in him and not judge him based on his worst moments.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, do you understand me now?
Do you comprehend my actions and motivations at this moment?
Sometimes I feel a little mad
I experience moments of irrationality and anger occasionally
But don't you know that no one alive can always be an angel
It's impossible for anyone to be perfect all the time
When things go wrong I feel real bad.
I get upset and remorseful when things don't go as planned
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
I have good intentions and a positive attitude
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I hope that people don't misconstrue my intentions or actions in a negative way
Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
I can be very joyful without any worries on my mind
With a joy that's hard to hide
My happiness is apparent and difficult to conceal
And sometimes it seems that, all I have to do is worry
Occasionally, it feels like I have endless problems to fret over
And then you're bound to see my other side
During difficult times, my negative side might become more visible
If I seem edgy, I want you to know,
When I'm irritable or anxious, please don't take it personally
That I never mean to take it out on you
I never intend to project my negative feelings onto you
Life has its problems, and I get my share,
I experience life's struggles, just like everyone else
And that's one thing I never mean to do
I never mean to be a burden on you or create additional problems
Cause I love you,
I want to reassure you that I care for you deeply
Oh, oh, oh, baby - don't you know I'm human
I'm human and therefore make mistakes and have flaws
I have thoughts like any other one
It's normal for me to have thoughts, even if they're not always positive
Sometimes I find myself, Lord, regretting
There are occasions when I feel remorseful and wish I could go back in time
Some foolish thing, some little simple thing I've done
It could be minor or insignificant, but sometimes I regret things I've said or done
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
I want to emphasize that my intentions are positive and my heart is in the right place
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Above all, I hope that people understand my intentions and don't misinterpret them in a negative way
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell, Sol Marcus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Stroudtucson
Wow. Never saw this before. Justin delivers a soulful and powerful performance, of course! Love it and thanks so much Taranberk. It made my day.
@pricla777
Justin's voice is like a Stradivarious! So pure and so fine!
@ladyhecate9450
Justin does a fantastic job singing the Animal's song. Eric Burden gave the Moody Blues a stack of singer/lead guitar player and Justin was in that list.
@chargrave6004
Never heard their version of this before, different from Gary Moore's and Santa Esmeralda's versions. Another uncovered gem
@senamartinec7328
What a great song from their early days! I have this song on the Live From the BBC 2 disc CD set (which was not easy to find). SOOO glad Justin didn’t join The Animals! 💙💙
@bennyjazzful
WOW
Wonderful version of a great tune by one of the world's best groups ever!
Amazing sounds & so,so good.
@60s70sVintageRock
I never knew that they covered this. Done in true Moodies fashion! Thanks for posting, Taran :)
@donwilson7166
I could close my eyes and play this video without being told who the band is and hear Justin Hayward's voice, Ray Thomas's flute, and know it is the Moody Blues instantly.
@billskalicky5400
Ray is singing his heart out here!
@x00p3
Amazing version.