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.
Voices In The Sky
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me what you sing
If you could talk to me
What news would you bring
Of voices in the sky
Nightingale, hovering high
Harmonize the wind
I can hear you sing
Of voices in the sky
Just what is happening to me
I lie awake with the sound of the sea
Calling to me
Old man, passing by
Tell me what you sing
Though your voice be faint
I am listening
Voices in the sky
Children with a skipping rope
Tell me what you sing
Play time is nearly gone
The bell's about to ring
Voices in the sky
Just what is happening to me
I lie awake with the sound of the sea
Calling to me
Bluebird, flying high
Tell me what you sing
If you could talk to me
What news would you bring
Of voices in the sky
Voices in the sky
Voices in the sky
Voices in the sky
The Moody Blues's song "Voices in the Sky" is a beautiful ballad that celebrates nature and its abundant voices that speak to us in many ways. The song starts with a bluebird flying high, and the singer addresses the bird, asking if it could sing and talk, what news would it bring about the voices in the sky. This line is a metaphor that suggests that nature has a voice that speaks to us, but we don't always understand it.
The song continues with a nightingale hovering high, harmonizing the wind, and its melody in the darkness is a symphony to the singer's ears. The lyrics suggest that nature's music is not just a background noise but a harmonious symphony that we can listen and appreciate. The singer hears these voices in the sky and is curious to know what they mean.
The song also mentions an old man passing by, children playing with a skipping rope, and the sound of the sea. These elements of nature have unique sounds that the singer is attuned to, and these sounds speak to his soul. The song ends with the singer asking the bluebird again what news it would bring about the voices in the sky.
Overall, "Voices in the Sky" is a song that celebrates the beauty of nature and how its voices speak to us in many ways. It reminds us to be attentive to the sounds around us and appreciate the melodies that nature has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Bluebird, flying high
The freedom that the bluebird represents is what the singer envies.
Tell me what you sing
The singer wants to understand and interpret life from the perspective of the bluebird.
If you could talk to me
The singer longs for a voice other than their own to help make sense of life.
What news would you bring
The singer is curious if the bluebird has a different viewpoint or information about life they can learn from.
Of voices in the sky
The singer is hearing messages from the universe and the natural world.
Nightingale, hovering high
The singer is calling out to a nightingale to share their perspective on life.
Harmonize the wind
The singer believes that the nightingale can tune into the sounds of nature to help them make sense of life.
Darkness, your symphony
The sounds of nature are music to the singer's ears and a comfort in the darkness of life.
I can hear you sing
The singer is tuned into the music of nature and can hear the messages it has to offer.
Just what is happening to me
The singer is going through something unexplainable and needs answers.
I lie awake with the sound of the sea
The singer is unable to sleep, disturbed by the mysteries of life and the universe.
Calling to me
The singer feels a sense of urgency and importance to the messages they're hearing from the universe.
Old man, passing by
The singer is calling out to an older and hopefully wiser individual for guidance.
Tell me what you sing
The singer wants to hear the older individual's story, philosophy, and interpretation of life.
Though your voice be faint
Even if the older individual's voice is weak, the singer is willing to listen closely to understand what they offer.
I am listening
The singer is eager to hear and learn from the wisdom of the older individual.
Children with a skipping rope
The singer is trying to connect with a younger generation to understand their perspective on life.
Tell me what you sing
The singer wants to hear the children's stories, philosophy, and interpretation of life.
Play time is nearly gone
The singer is aware of the brevity of youth and life, and wants to learn from the children before playtime is over.
The bell's about to ring
The end of playtime and youth, and the beginning of adulthood and responsibility, is approaching, which is why the singer is eager to learn from the children.
Voices in the sky
The messages from the universe and the natural world are clear to the singer.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JUSTIN HAYWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind