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 I
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 I" is a song about the purity and innocence of childhood. The lyrics suggest that when a child wakes up, they are filled with wonder and amazement, as everything in the world is new to them. The song reminds the listener that in order to fully appreciate life, one must try to see the world through the eyes of a child. The idea is that by taking an innocent and simple outlook on life, one can appreciate the small miracles that we often take for granted.
The song continues with lyrics that explain that time has no day in childhood, as everything is new and exciting. The line "No thoughts must deceive him in life he must trust" suggests that as we grow up, we become more jaded and distrustful, whereas a child is free of this. The final verse of the song speaks to the idea of dreams and what is real. The lyrics suggest that a child's dreams are real, as they are pure and untarnished by the harsh realities of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen hear the sound the child awakes
Wake up and listen to the sounds of the world like a child.
Wonder all around the child awakes
Be amazed by everything you see and experience just like a child.
Now in his life he never must be lost
In your life, don't lose your true self.
No thoughts must deceive him in life he must trust
Trust your intuition and don't let negative thoughts take over.
With the eyes of a child, you must come out and see
Look at the world like you did as a child to truly appreciate it.
That your world's spinning 'round and through life you will be
Realize that life keeps moving no matter what and you're just a small part of it.
A small part, of a hope, of a love that exists
You play a small but important role in the love and hope that exist in the world.
In the eyes of a child you will see
Look at the world through the pure and innocent perspective of a child.
Earth falls far away new life awaits
Leave your past behind and embrace the new opportunities life has to offer.
Time it has no day, new life awaits
Time doesn't stand still and you need to seize the moment to start a new life.
Here is your dream and now how does it feel
You have found your dream, so how does it feel to finally achieve it?
No words will go with you and now what is real?
No words can express what you feel now that your dream has become a reality.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: John Charles Lodge
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
June Magoo
Yes this album is truly a wonderful masterpiece. My favorite band is Yes. Been listening to them for 10 years and I am 23 now. So I know fantasy, love, humankind kinda stuff mostly from them. For instance; the album Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes is entirely about spirituality, love for the human race and our history.
From what I understand all of the songs are different, but it has a unifying theme of honoring our ancient human ancestors that have all helped together to create the beautiful and sometimes terrible world we live in now. I am rambling so lemme say this: Tales is my favorite album, as well, of all time.
One day I found this brown record in my closet in a record box from my various relatives. I instantly recognized it as one of the moody blues albums I hadn't heard and to be honest I never was really too into them. I only knew threshold and DOFP.
So I throw this puppy on the record player and sit down to smoke a fat ass bowl as i always do. I literally, PHYSICALLY, and instantly get my head blown off by the begginging of this record. I always blast my records and this begginging is an explosion so hahaha. Anyway by the time this song and then beyond hits you are on a whole nother level of musical existence.
When it takes you on the cosmic swirling trip through beyond and then blasts you out into space completely with Out and In... holy shit man. Hearing that for the first time was so unreal and brought me so much joy because I rarely get to hear such good prog fresh anymore.
This album is one of the only prog albums that I would consider close to the level of Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes. What's even more amazing, is it was released in the 60s.
Peace.
June Magoo
Yes this album is truly a wonderful masterpiece. My favorite band is Yes. Been listening to them for 10 years and I am 23 now. So I know fantasy, love, humankind kinda stuff mostly from them. For instance; the album Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes is entirely about spirituality, love for the human race and our history.
From what I understand all of the songs are different, but it has a unifying theme of honoring our ancient human ancestors that have all helped together to create the beautiful and sometimes terrible world we live in now. I am rambling so lemme say this: Tales is my favorite album, as well, of all time.
One day I found this brown record in my closet in a record box from my various relatives. I instantly recognized it as one of the moody blues albums I hadn't heard and to be honest I never was really too into them. I only knew threshold and DOFP.
So I throw this puppy on the record player and sit down to smoke a fat ass bowl as i always do. I literally, PHYSICALLY, and instantly get my head blown off by the begginging of this record. I always blast my records and this begginging is an explosion so hahaha. Anyway by the time this song and then beyond hits you are on a whole nother level of musical existence.
When it takes you on the cosmic swirling trip through beyond and then blasts you out into space completely with Out and In... holy shit man. Hearing that for the first time was so unreal and brought me so much joy because I rarely get to hear such good prog fresh anymore.
This album is one of the only prog albums that I would consider close to the level of Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes. What's even more amazing, is it was released in the 60s.
Peace.
Reed Paranormal Research
"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"
RoseWood1488
Lots of great rock bands from the 60's and 70's, but the Moody Blues are for eternity.
Team penguins 🐧
They are because they have tapped into man's spirituality
mike maurer
their music is ALWAYS relevant and meaningful
Greg Jeffcoat
Amen to that 😃🌞
david goodsell
The Moody's are in a totally separate category from any other group. I've heard it called cosmic rock and I think that's as close as it gets. They promote humankind as a whole.
If we could live as these guys wanted, the world would be a wonderful place to live.
Coloradream understands and illustrates those feelings.
June Magoo
Yes this album is truly a wonderful masterpiece. My favorite band is Yes. Been listening to them for 10 years and I am 23 now. So I know fantasy, love, humankind kinda stuff mostly from them. For instance; the album Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes is entirely about spirituality, love for the human race and our history.
From what I understand all of the songs are different, but it has a unifying theme of honoring our ancient human ancestors that have all helped together to create the beautiful and sometimes terrible world we live in now. I am rambling so lemme say this: Tales is my favorite album, as well, of all time.
One day I found this brown record in my closet in a record box from my various relatives. I instantly recognized it as one of the moody blues albums I hadn't heard and to be honest I never was really too into them. I only knew threshold and DOFP.
So I throw this puppy on the record player and sit down to smoke a fat ass bowl as i always do. I literally, PHYSICALLY, and instantly get my head blown off by the begginging of this record. I always blast my records and this begginging is an explosion so hahaha. Anyway by the time this song and then beyond hits you are on a whole nother level of musical existence.
When it takes you on the cosmic swirling trip through beyond and then blasts you out into space completely with Out and In... holy shit man. Hearing that for the first time was so unreal and brought me so much joy because I rarely get to hear such good prog fresh anymore.
This album is one of the only prog albums that I would consider close to the level of Tales From Topographic Oceans by Yes. What's even more amazing, is it was released in the 60s.
Peace.
Daniel Finkler
One of the finest bands of all time!
Starry&Bohemian
"To Our Children's Children's Children" is officially my favourite Moody Blues album
Art Kaliel
Ditto that…
Briar Rose
This song just popped out of my memory bank tonight and I found this…Ah yes, it is just like that. In 1969 I was 18. Now I am 64. I loved this song then, and I love it now. I sent a link to a dear friend who is much beloved by her grandchildren... because she has never forgotten how to see with the eyes of a child.