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.
This Morning
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is there none of your love alive?
If every door you open closes on me
I don't know if I can survive, I don't know if I can survive
Long is the road that takes you from home
My baby, oh my darling sleepless are the hours
And lonely is the night for the poor tormented soul
This morning I opened my eyes
I knew from the silence that something was wrong
Turning I realized I wanted to cry
When I knew I was alone
But where will you go and who will be your guide
And which way will you turn the waters are so wide
'cause I never told you no you'll never really know
I need you so
Now the sun is rising on your freedom my child
Is there none of your love alive?
Every door you open closes on me
I don't know if I can survive knowing part of your love was lies
Long is the road that takes you from home
My baby oh my darling sleepless are the hours
And lonely is the night the poor tormented soul
Who is searching for the light
The moment I opened my eyes
I knew from the silence that something was wrong
Turning I realized I wanted to cry
When I knew I was alone
But where will you go and who will be your guide
And which way will you turn the waters are so wide
'cause I never told you no you'll never really know
I need you so
The Moody Blues’s song “This Morning” is a heartrending ballad that explores the pain and confusion of love and loss. The lyrics allude to an individual (“my child”) who is leaving home and moving forward towards a future that is both uncertain and unfathomable. Whilst the individual embarks on an exciting journey of discovery, the singer of the song is left to grapple with feelings of sadness, loneliness, and despair. The chorus repeats the poignant refrain, “Where will you go and who will be your guide, and which way will you turn the waters are so wide.” This suggests that the journey ahead is both daunting and unpredictable, and the singer is unsure how to move forward because they have never been without this person before.
The song is a rumination on the bittersweet nature of love, and how it can twist and turn in ways we cannot predict. The lyrics express a great deal of sadness and longing, as the singer wonders if they will ever recover from the separation. They are left with a sense of confusion and heartache, as they question the authenticity of the love they once shared. Ultimately, the singer is grappling with the challenge of healing from the trauma of a failed relationship, and trying to find a way to move forward in the wake of this loss.
Line by Line Meaning
As the dawn is breaking on your future my child
The future is uncertain, and the singer is concerned about the addressee's well-being.
Is there none of your love alive?
The singer is asking if the addressee's feelings for them still exist.
If every door you open closes on me
The singer is feeling rejected and hurt by the addressee's actions.
I don't know if I can survive, I don't know if I can survive
The artist is expressing desperation and fear about the consequences of the addressee's actions.
Long is the road that takes you from home
The artist acknowledges that the addressee is on a difficult journey of self-discovery.
My baby, oh my darling sleepless are the hours
The singer is feeling emotional and restless, likely due to missing the addressee.
And lonely is the night for the poor tormented soul
The singer is feeling isolated and sad without the addressee's companionship.
Who is searching for the light
The artist is searching for hope and guidance in a difficult situation.
This morning I opened my eyes
The artist is starting a new day with fresh perspective.
I knew from the silence that something was wrong
The artist is sensing that there is a problem or a change in the air.
Turning I realized I wanted to cry
The singer is overwhelmed by emotion and is experiencing feelings of sadness.
When I knew I was alone
The artist is realizing that the addressee is no longer present and is feeling lonely.
But where will you go and who will be your guide
The singer is worried about the addressee's safety and well-being as they continue on their journey.
And which way will you turn the waters are so wide
The singer is acknowledging that the addressee is facing a difficult and uncertain path.
'cause I never told you no you'll never really know
The singer is regretting not being more clear or communicative in the past, which may have contributed to the current situation.
I need you so
The artist is expressing their strong feelings of love and dependence on the addressee.
Now the sun is rising on your freedom my child
The artist is acknowledging that the addressee is making progress and moving forward with their life.
Is there none of your love alive?
The singer is concerned that the addressee may have moved on and no longer has feelings for them.
Every door you open closes on me
The singer feels rejected and hurt by the addressee's actions, which seem to shut them out.
I don't know if I can survive knowing part of your love was lies
The artist is expressing fear and uncertainty about the authenticity of the addressee's feelings towards them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JASON TOOP COOPER, PERRY BAMONTE, ROBERT JAMES SMITH, ROGER O'DONNELL, SIMON GALLUP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Virginia Miller
Lake Havasu, place with Red Rocks
Oboe is nice, instead of always flute.
It is the soaring guitar that "takes you there".
Nicer as the Moodies.
John singing along is so perfect this is just not the same solo
Graham's drumming, etc is really good on this tune.
Not as good, solo.
Really beaute of a tune.
Makes me miss the Moodies- and I'm not really a concert goer- clostrophobic, hate getting stuck in crowds, despise walking through" mob" to get to car.
This is a good album cut.
Glad I heard it both ways.
Impersonal, solo effort and Masterful Moodies take on it.
Miss the Moodies, so mucho.
jrich$
I'm named after Mr Hayward. As a kid i was drowned in this music and hated it. At 35, his music has touched my life in a way i can't quite put into words. The blue jays album is one of the greatest pieces of work ever written. Thanks dad.
p A
I love Justin and The Moodies work and I'm only 29, because of LPs in and around our house - that drew me in!
John Beckham
Justin Hayward is a top rated and wonderful musician indeed!
Albertus Jansen
@Steven Haywood , Trespass was the first Album I ever bought, wow,., great.
Justin Shannon
Jrich, my parents too named me after JH, me being Justin Hayward Shannon. Was raised on the Moodies above all else. Loved it as a kid, still do, my fav. Nice to meet a fellow Hayward. 🙌
Steven Haywood
jrich$ , I took the name Haywood as a surname when I was 21, after Justin Hayward! I love this song and this album is my second favourite album after Trespass by Genesis!
sttgaegoaktd
bricebu
This is a monumentally underrated track.
Lydeke Heideman
Ik heb een lief gedichten voor je my Darling I love You kus
TheEvilDrR
@Peter Agricola I have the album. Sadly, not really that great. 2 tracks on it really stand out, but not it's realy not up to the standards of Moody Blues albums. Still, this is a very haunting tune.
Colin Miller
In 100 yrs from now they're going to think christ, I wish I could have been around then