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.
Highway
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Will this road of life lead me to someone
Who sees the world in a grain of sand
Who holds the future in the palm of their hand, aaah
No one else can see things like I do
It's a long, long highway
Looking for a home where the seed was sown
Will this road of life lead me to someone, someone
The rays of sun and the light of dawn
My inspriation since the day I was born, aaah
No one else can see things like I do
It's a long, long highway
But don't make the start on an empty heart
When you think you've begun
Let the road of life lead you to someone, someone
Nothing is serious to me
I live for what will be (listen to me)
I can always be a dreamer
So trust your heart
Don't fall apart
You'll see
At your journey's end
You will find a friend in me
It's a long, long highway
Will this road of life lead me to someone
You touched the dream that was in your eyes
You took so long only to realize oooh
No one else can love you like I do
It's a long, long highway
Looking for a home where the seed was sown
And my harvest was young
Will this road of life lead me to someone
It's a long, long highway
But don't make a start
On an empty heart
It's a long, long highway
Let this road of life lead you to someone, someone
The Moody Blues's "Highway" is a song that revolves around the idea of life being a never-ending journey on a long, long highway. The singer is in search of someone who sees the world in a grain of sand and holds the future in the palm of their hand. He is looking for a home where the seed was sown and the harvest was young. He is on a quest to find a friend who loves him like no one else can.
The song's message is about the importance of pursuing our dreams and staying true to our hearts. The singer inspires the listener to follow their heart and let the road of life lead them to that special person who can love them like no one else does. He also warns that one must not make a start on an empty heart and must let their inspiration guide them.
Overall, the song's message is positive and encouraging. It speaks to the universal human experience of searching for meaning and purpose in life, and the hope of finding that special someone who can make the journey worthwhile.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a long, long highway
Life is a long journey full of twists and turns
Will this road of life lead me to someone
Is there someone out there who understands me and shares my unique perspective?
Who sees the world in a grain of sand
Who can appreciate the beauty and complexity of small things
Who holds the future in the palm of their hand, aaah
Who can guide me towards a prosperous and fulfilling future
No one else can see things like I do
I have a unique perspective on life that is unparalleled by anyone else
Looking for a home where the seed was sown
Searching for a place where I feel a deep connection to my past and roots
And the harvest was young
And everything felt possible and full of potential
The rays of sun and the light of dawn
The beauty and inspiration of everyday life
My inspriation since the day I was born, aaah
The things that have motivated and inspired me since I was born
But don't make the start on an empty heart
Don't embark on this journey without being open to love and connection
Let the road of life lead you to someone, someone
Trust that life will bring you the people you need to grow and thrive
Nothing is serious to me
I try to approach life with a light heart and not get bogged down by worry or stress
I live for what will be (listen to me)
I focus on the future and all the possibilities it holds
I can always be a dreamer
I maintain an optimistic outlook and keep my imagination alive
So trust your heart
Believe in yourself and your intuition
Don't fall apart
Don't let setbacks or obstacles keep you from moving forward
You'll see
Just keep going and you will eventually find what you are looking for
At your journey's end
When your life is complete
You will find a friend in me
You will find a kindred spirit who understands and supports you
You touched the dream that was in your eyes
You have achieved the goals and aspirations that you once only dreamed of
You took so long only to realize oooh
It may have taken a long time, but you finally found what you were looking for
No one else can love you like I do
The people who love us truly understand us and accept us for who we are
Let this road of life lead you to someone, someone
Be open to the people and experiences that come into your life and trust that they are leading you where you need to go
Lyrics © Fintage House Publishing, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JOHN CHARLES LODGE, JUSTIN HAYWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cynthiasmith4130
Just beautiful from Justin... He is just an artist and poet.. I love him singing, he is just lovely!!!! 💙💙💙💙.....
@lindaarmstrong2436
This song is so beautiful ❤
@barbarazabelny7874
Justin has the knack for touching my mind and my soul.
Just wonder if he know how important he is to people?
@laurzoid
This was my favorite song on Disc 4 of the Time Traveler compilation, and it inspired me so much when I was a kid to always be a dreamer. I'm so thrilled to find it again. ❤️
@cethereas
They're an inspiration to many ❤️
@makaalastone9061
Aloha from the Island of Maui, SMK! I hope he has come to know That Someone is none other than Jesus Christ! For only He can Love us like that, for He is Love!
@Johndale0
One of my very favorite of Justin's songs. Especially that little verse he fit in about "You touched the dream...". Very poetic and gets the attention, for sure. He's so good at doing that.
@cethereas
That's what I love about the Moody Blues in the first place
@makaalastone9061
Aloha from the Island of Maui, SMK! Only Jesus can fulfill the longing in our hearts that Justin sings so wonderfully about! Can you "see" Him in many of the Moody Blues music? I hope and pray that all of us can "see" Him like I do!
@senamartinec7328
Wow! Talk about an incredible song! This was a little hard to find. I made up my mind to collect everything the Moody Blues had ever done (including all of Justin’s solo projects). Highway turned up on Time Traveler, Timeless Flight (both the 4 and 17 disc sets) and as a bonus track on Keys of the Kingdom from the 8 disc set The Polydor Years. Love the Moodies!! 💙💙