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.
Going Nowhere
The Moody Blues Lyrics
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Now I'm alone left counting the cost
Once more sweet child of middling years
Basted again in bitter-sweet tears
I will survive the solitude
But come alive
Although the new
Somebody tell me you care
I've got a heart full of giving
Going nowhere (going nowhere)
Daylight will come and steal the night sights
Starlight on black replaced with gray light
Now I must go and set my best pace
Running all day in the human race
But now I know the good news
Before you win you have to lose
Somebody tell me you love me
Somebody tell me you care
I've got a heart full of giving
Going nowhere going nowhere
How much longer must I travel on
Looking for someone to help me sing my song
How much longer will it be
I need to find someone
For the love
From me
Somebody tell me you love me
Somebody tell me you care
I've got a heart full of giving
Going nowhere (going nowhere)
The Moody Blues’ song Going Nowhere reflects on the pain of lost love and the search for someone to share life with. The lyrics express a deep sense of loneliness and a longing to find love and connection. The first stanza begins with the singer reflecting on the cycle of loving, laughing, and losing. The pain of being left alone is felt deeply, and the singer is left counting the cost of loving again. The second stanza reflects on the fleeting nature of happiness and how it can often turn to sadness. The singer still holds out hope for surviving the pain and coming out stronger. The chorus speaks directly to the desire for someone to love, to care, and to share life with, and the frustration of feeling like everything is going nowhere.
The third stanza speaks to the exhaustion of searching for love and the need for someone to join the singer on the journey of life. The singer is looking for a companion to help them sing their song and share the love that they have to give. The overall message of the song is that although love can be painful and the search for it can feel never-ending, the hope for finding it keeps us going. The chorus repeats the desire for someone to love and care for, and the singer feels like they are going nowhere without that connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Once more I've loved I've laughed and I've lost
Once again, I've experienced love and joy and also loss and heartbreak.
Now I'm alone left counting the cost
I'm presently alone dealing with the emotional and psychological consequences of my actions and the subsequent loss of companionship.
Once more sweet child of middling years
Again, I'm facing the struggles associated with middle age.
Basted again in bitter-sweet tears
I'm experiencing mixed emotions that are both painful and joyful.
I will survive the solitude
I'm determined to overcome the challenges of loneliness.
But come alive
However, I'm hoping to revive my spirits.
Although the new
Despite starting anew.
Somebody tell me you love me
I need someone to express love to me.
Somebody tell me you care
I need someone to care about me.
I've got a heart full of giving
I'm capable of loving deeply and sharing generously.
Going nowhere (going nowhere)
Despite my internal compass of emotions, I feel stuck and stagnant in my current state.
Daylight will come and steal the night sights
Time moves on, bringing new opportunities and experiences.
Starlight on black replaced with gray light
The brightness and wonder of the night sky is replaced by the mundane reality of day-to-day life.
Now I must go and set my best pace
I must persevere and put forth my best effort.
Running all day in the human race
Endlessly striving and competing in the race of life.
But now I know the good news
I have learned some positive information or have come to some realization.
Before you win you have to lose
In order to achieve success, one must first experience failure or loss.
How much longer must I travel on
How much longer do I have to continue on this journey through life?
Looking for someone to help me sing my song
I'm seeking companionship and someone to share my joys and challenges with.
How much longer will it be
When will my journey reach a conclusion?
I need to find someone
I require someone to fill the void and loneliness in my life.
For the love
For the positive emotions and experiences that come with loving and being loved.
From me
I am capable of and willing to give love and receive it in return.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GRAEME EDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind