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.
Eyes Of A Child Part One
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wonder all around the child awakes
Now in his life he never must be lost
No thoughts must deceive him in life he must trust
With the eyes of a child, you must come out and see
That your world's spinning 'round and through life you will be
A small part, of a hope, of a love that exists
Earth falls far away new life awaits
Time it has no day, new life awaits
Here is your dream and now how does it feel
No words will go with you and now what is real?
With the eyes of a child, you must come out and see
That your world's spinning 'round and through life you will be
A small part, of a hope, of a love that exists
In the eyes of a child you will see
The Moody Blues's song Eyes Of A Child Part One invites us to discover the world from a child’s perspective. The child awakens into a new world full of curiosity and wonder. The song urges us to view the world around us through the eyes of a child, with hope and love. The child’s innocence and purity are emphasized as we are told that we must trust in life and not let deceptive thoughts cloud our judgment.
As the song progresses, we are transported to a world where time has no day and life is lived without words. The child now exists in a dreamlike state where reality may seem uncertain. However, the child’s trust in life and their hope and love continue to guide them on their journey.
This song is a reminder that we must never lose our inner child and to always view the world with wonder and hope. Even when reality may seem uncertain, we must trust in life and ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen hear the sound the child awakes
Pay attention to the sound that signifies a child's awakening
Wonder all around the child awakes
The child is curious about everything in their surroundings upon waking
Now in his life he never must be lost
Throughout his life, the child must always find his way and not get lost in the journey
No thoughts must deceive him in life he must trust
False beliefs must not cloud his thoughts and he must have faith to succeed in life
With the eyes of a child, you must come out and see
Observe with the innocence and curiosity of a child
That your world's spinning 'round and through life you will be
Realize that your life is part of the constantly moving world
A small part, of a hope, of a love that exists
You're just a small piece of the love and positivity that exists in the world
In the eyes of a child you will see
See the world through the innocence of a child
Earth falls far away new life awaits
Leave your old life behind and begin anew
Time it has no day, new life awaits
Time is irrelevant in starting afresh
Here is your dream and now how does it feel
You've achieved your goal, how does it make you feel?
No words will go with you and now what is real?
You can't take your achievements with you, so what really matters in life?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: John Charles Lodge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind