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.
Life's Not Life
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Says you're lonely
Hidden deep inside
Of you only
It's there for you to see
Take a look and be
Burn slowly the candle of life
Says we're only
In the hands of time
Falling slowly
It's there for us to know
With love that we can go
Burn slowly the candle of life
So love everybody
And make them your friend
So love everybody
And make them your friend
Something you can't hide
Says you're lonely
Hidden deep inside
Of you only
It's there for you to see
Take a look and be
Burn slowly the candle of life
Something there outside
Says we're only
In the hands of time
Falling slowly
It's there for us to know
With love that we can go
Burn slowly the candle of life
The Moody Blues's song "Candle Of Life" conveys a message of hope and love, despite the inevitability of life's fleeting nature. The somber tone of the song is evident in the opening lines which suggest that there is an unspoken sadness or loneliness within oneself. However, the lyrics also suggest that we have the power to recognize and overcome these feelings by taking a closer look at ourselves. The candle metaphor represents the fragility of life and the need for us to cherish every moment. It reminds us that we must appreciate the beauty in our existence, even if it is temporary.
As the song progresses, the lyricist mentions the passing of time, highlighting the idea that we are all at the mercy of its grip. This serves as a reminder to the listener to live life to the fullest and make the most of every moment. The final chorus encourages the listener to embrace love and make amends with those around them. In doing so, they will have a fulfilling life and leave a positive impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Something you can't hide
There are aspects of your true self that you cannot conceal from others.
Says you're lonely
It appears that you are feeling isolated and alone.
Hidden deep inside
These emotions are buried within you, not easily expressed or shared.
Of you only
These feelings belong solely to you, and cannot be attributed to anyone else.
It's there for you to see
However, these emotions are perceptible to you, and you can choose to acknowledge them.
Take a look and be
Reflect upon your feelings and allow yourself to experience them fully.
Burn slowly the candle of life
Live your life at a measured pace, always mindful of your emotions and experiences.
Something there outside
There are external factors that can impact our lives.
Says we're only
These factors suggest that we are limited in our abilities and choices.
In the hands of time
Time is an unstoppable and inevitable force that we must accept and respect.
Falling slowly
As time passes, we must acknowledge that aspects of our lives will slowly fade away.
It's there for us to know
We must recognize this phenomenon and learn from it, rather than fight against it.
With love that we can go
By embracing love and compassion, we can find peace and acceptance as we move through life.
So love everybody
The key to a fulfilling life is to love and cherish those around you.
And make them your friend
Treat those around you with kindness and respect, building connections and friendships that enrich your life.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN CHARLES LODGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind