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.
When a Child Is Born
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A tiny spark lights up way up high
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born
A silent wish sails the seven seas
The winds of change whisper in the trees
And the walls of doubt crumble, tossed and torn
This comes to pass when a child is born
You've got the feel you're on solid ground
For a spell or two, no one seems forlorn
This comes to pass when a child is born
It's all a dream, an illusion now
It must come true, sometime soon, somehow
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a child is born.
The Moody Blues's song When A Child Is Born is a beautiful expression of the universal hope and joy that a newborn baby brings to the world. The opening lines of the song describe the hope that comes into the world with the baby's arrival. The lyrics describe the light that comes into the world with the baby's birth, and the way that this light illuminates the entire world, bringing with it the promise of new beginnings and endless possibilities.
The next verse of the song talks about the power of a baby's silent wish. The winds of change whisper through the trees, and the walls of doubt crumble, making way for a new era of hope and positivity. The arrival of a child has the power to transform even the darkest corners of the world, and the song suggests that this transformative power is one of the greatest gifts that a child can bring to the world.
The final verse of When A Child Is Born speaks to the idea that the hope and optimism that comes with the arrival of a child is fleeting. It is a fleeting glimpse of a better world, a world made brighter and more hopeful by the presence of a brand new life. However, the song suggests that this hope is not a mere illusion, but rather a powerful force that can bring about real change in the world.
Overall, the song is a beautiful ode to the transformative power of new life and the hope that a newborn baby can bring to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
A ray of hope flickers in the sky
The birth of a child signifies a glimmer of hope and optimism, similar to how a ray of light shines in the sky.
A tiny spark lights up way up high
The birth of a child ignites a powerful and enduring flame of love and happiness within the hearts of those around them.
All across the land dawns a brand new morn
The arrival of a child represents a new beginning and the potential for positive changes and growth, both for the child and for those in their lives.
This comes to pass when a child is born
The transformative power of a child's birth and the hope and promise it brings are inevitable and undeniable.
A silent wish sails the seven seas
The birth of a child inspires a sense of wonder and possibility, and it feels like dreams and desires might finally come true.
The winds of change whisper in the trees
A child's birth signals change and growth in the world, much like a light breeze stirring the leaves of a tree.
And the walls of doubt crumble, tossed and torn
The birth of a child shakes up old, limiting beliefs and doubts that have held people back, creating an opportunity for transformation and growth.
A rosy hue settles all around
The joy of a child's birth adds a warm and comforting glow to everything, making life feel more beautiful and meaningful.
You've got the feel you're on solid ground
The grounding and centering effect of a child's birth makes it feel like everything will be okay, and that there is a strong foundation to build upon.
For a spell or two, no one seems forlorn
The birth of a child brings temporary respite from pain and sadness, making it feel like everything is good and right in the world.
It's all a dream, an illusion now
The magical and transformative experience of a child's birth can feel like a dream that is too good to be true, but it is real and tangible.
It must come true, sometime soon, somehow
The hope and joy that come with a child's birth are so profound that it feels like they must be shared and manifested, no matter what obstacles might stand in the way.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alberto Salerno, Bembo A Baldan, Ciro Dammicco, Francesco Specchia, Maurizio Seymandi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind