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.
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The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The changing of the autumn tide
The hopes that live, the dreams that die
If I could have you by my side, I'd give it all away
You, you and I, we must hold on, we must try
To reach beyond that far off cloud
Along the road we're travellin' now
Oh, running water, don't care what people say
We live to love another day
Oh, running water, don't throw your love away
We live to love another day
Time hurries on, turn around and it's gone
If only we could hold that dream
If only life was what it seemed
I know my darling what you mean, I've seen it slip away
Oh, running water, don't care what people say
We live to love another day
Oh, running water, don't throw your love away
We live to love another day
The Moody Blues's song "Running Water" speaks to the fleeting nature of time and the desire for love and companionship. The opening lines, "Time hurries on, look and it's gone / The changing of the autumn tide / The hopes that live, the dreams that die," sets the tone for the song, highlighting the brevity of life and the cyclical nature of its changes. The chorus, with its repetition of "Oh, running water, don't care what people say / We live to love another day," captures the essence of the song's message: that the pursuit of love and connection is what gives life meaning, even in the face of adversity or disapproval from others.
The lyrics paint a picture of longing and regret, with lines like "If only we could hold that dream / If only life was what it seemed," expressing a desire for something more substantial and lasting than the transience of existence. The song's title itself, "Running Water," is a metaphor for the passage of time, as water flows continuously forward, never stopping or returning to its source. However, the phrase is also used as a call to action, encouraging listeners to not "throw your love away" and to "hold on" to what is important.
The Moody Blues often used symbolism and abstraction in their lyrics, focusing on themes of spirituality, philosophy, and the human experience. "Running Water" is no exception, with its poetic language and expressive melodies creating a memorable and moving work of art.
Line by Line Meaning
Time hurries on, look and it's gone
Time passes quickly, and before we know it, the present becomes a past memory.
The changing of the autumn tide
The changing of the seasons reflects the changes that occur in life.
The hopes that live, the dreams that die
We hope for great things in life, but some of our dreams may not come to fruition.
If I could have you by my side, I'd give it all away
Love is worth more than any material possessions.
You, you and I, we must hold on, we must try
We must persevere and strive towards our goals and aspirations.
To reach beyond that far off cloud
We must aim for the impossible and believe in our capabilities to achieve the improbable.
Along the road we're travellin' now
Our life journey is unique and personal to us, and we must embrace it.
If I could only show you how, I need you there with me
The support and presence of loved ones can make the journey of life more fulfilling and enjoyable.
Oh, running water, don't care what people say
The freedom to love and live happily should not be hindered by others' opinions.
We live to love another day
Our purpose in life is to love and be loved in return.
Time hurries on, turn around and it's gone
Time marches on, and we cannot slow it down or stop it.
If only we could hold that dream
We all have aspirations and desires that we wish to fulfill in life.
If only life was what it seemed
Life can be unpredictable and challenging, not always how we envisioned it.
I know my darling what you mean, I've seen it slip away
The singer empathizes with their loved one's experiences of loss and missed opportunities.
Oh, running water, don't throw your love away
Do not waste the opportunity to love and be loved.
We live to love another day
We should cherish each day as another opportunity to love and be loved.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Fintage House Publishing
Written by: STAN GETZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertlamkin5648
My first guitar hero as a boy - upon hearing 'You and Me'. Almost 50 years later that blue guitar is still my favorite to hear.
@mickbal
you have taste for good music greetings from holland
@driftwoodms14ms
The Moodies are the best band period.
@darlacanney5799
Just listened again! Got totally transported to another realm! Music is enchanting....video is awesome!!
@Love2Dive4
Beautiful, well done. The great Instrumental music of the Moody Blues with the breath taking views of our greatest gift planet Earth.
@puppetlady1
Refreshing: having the power to restore freshness, vitality, energy, etc. Thank-you.
@hollycatable
Very nicely done video. I've got the DVD Amazing Caves and it's a very interesting DVD to watch. Pete
@darlacanney5799
LOVE THIS!!!!❤
@HufftownGirl
I ✨ L💙VE ✨ MY ✨ M💙💙DY BLUES!
@franciscoespinosamagana7658
Hermosa canción