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.
It Ain't Necessarily So
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ain't necessarily so.
Things you're liable
To read in a bible
Ain't necessarily so.
Little David he was small, alright,
Yeah, now David he was small alright,
Lay dying then he dieth,
Oh he was small, alright.
Little Moses he was found in a stream.
Yeah Moses now he was found in a stream
When that Pharaoh's sweet daughter
She came by and fished that boy out from the water,
Fished him, she said, from a stream.
Now Jonah now he lived in a whale.
Yeah Jonah he lived in a whale
Yet he made his home in that
Fish's abdomen.
Jonah he lived in a whale.
I said, ain't necessarily so.
No, ain't necessarily so.
The things you're liable
To read in a bible
Ain't necessarily so.
Ain't necessarily so.
No, it ain't necessarily so.
The Moody Blues's song "It Ain't Necessarily So" is a powerful and thought-provoking anthem that challenges the unquestioning belief in religious teachings and biblical stories. The repetition of the phrase "Ain't necessarily so" serves as a constant reminder to question and critically analyze the information presented in religious texts.
The lyrics begin by stating that the things written in the Bible should not be taken as absolute truths. They suggest that one should not blindly accept everything they read, as the contents of the Bible may not always be accurate or applicable to everyone's lives. This challenges the notion that the Bible is the ultimate authority and highlights the need for individual interpretation and discernment.
The lyrics then proceed to discuss the stories of biblical figures such as David, Moses, and Jonah, presenting alternative viewpoints to their narratives. The mention of David being small like Goliath before defeating him challenges the traditional portrayal of David as an underdog. Similarly, the story of Moses being found in a stream by Pharaoh's daughter contradicts the religious narrative of Moses being directly chosen by God.
The song concludes with a repetition of the phrase "Ain't necessarily so," emphasizing the central theme of questioning religious teachings and encouraging listeners to think critically and form their own beliefs.
Overall, "It Ain't Necessarily So" by The Moody Blues is a rebellious and thought-provoking song that challenges the dogmas and unquestioning acceptance of religious teachings, encouraging individuals to think independently and question what they read in the Bible.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't necessarily so.
Not always true or accurate.
Things you're liable
Things you're likely or prone
To read in a bible
To come across or encounter in a Bible
Ain't necessarily so.
Not always true or accurate.
Little David he was small, alright,
The boy named David was indeed very small,
Yeah, now David he was small alright,
Yes, it's true that David was small,
Just like Goliath
Similar to Goliath
Lay dying then he dieth,
He died while Goliath lay dying,
Oh he was small, alright.
He was certainly small in size.
Little Moses he was found in a stream.
The young boy Moses was discovered in a stream.
Yeah Moses now he was found in a stream
Indeed, Moses was found in a stream
When that Pharaoh's sweet daughter
When the kind daughter of Pharaoh
She came by and fished that boy out from the water,
She approached and rescued that boy from the water,
Fished him, she said, from a stream.
She claimed to have caught him, from a stream.
Now Jonah now he lived in a whale.
Now Jonah, he resided inside a whale.
Yeah Jonah he lived in a whale
Indeed, Jonah lived in a whale
Yet he made his home in that
However, he established his dwelling in that
Fish's abdomen.
Abdomen of a fish.
Jonah he lived in a whale.
Jonah resided inside a whale.
I said, ain't necessarily so.
I stated, it's not always true or accurate.
No, ain't necessarily so.
No, it's not always true or accurate.
The things you're liable
The things you're likely or prone
To read in a bible
To come across or encounter in a Bible
Ain't necessarily so.
Not always true or accurate.
Ain't necessarily so.
Not always true or accurate.
No, it ain't necessarily so.
No, it's not always true or accurate.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Heyward, Dubose Edwin Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dejael Long
Ray Thomas doing lead vocals. One of the Moodies' best songs from their R&B years 1964-66.
John Ries
Best Laine Era Moody track, bar none; as well as Ray Thomas' best vocal performance.
bassavino
Umm the Gershwins' song, dude. If you knew this tune from Porgy and Bess, esp w/Cab Calloway, then it sounds like one weird cover.
juha vesanen
Really indeed...!
Andy Peace
Terrific version.
KCAG
What a unique recording from an awesome band in either lineup! Rest in peace, Ray. :(
HeartoftheDragonColo
RIP Ray, at least you got to learn the Magnificent Moodies are going to the Hall of Fame.
Jaime Paul Lamb
hands down, my favorite version of this tune.
The New Horizons
Gotta love Ray Thomas! He's the man!
Brenda Zierden
This song came out when I was a baby. I didn't discover this song til much later. I have always enjoyed this song. Hope Ray is singing among the angels with his magic flute.