1. a sixties be… Read Full Bio ↴There are/were at least two bands named The Motions:
1. a sixties beat band from The Hague, The Netherlands
2. a youthful rock band from Columbus, OH, United States
1. The Motions were one of the earliest and more popular bands from the thriving The Hague beat scene in The Netherlands. Founded in 1964, The Motions were effectively a continuation of Shadows-esque guitar combo, Ritchie & The Ricochets (who supported The Rolling Stones in The Hague in 1964), but under the new name they focused on typical sixties beat, with Rudy Bennett (real name: Rudy van den Berg) as their lead singer and Robbie van Leeuwen as their guitarist and songwriter.
Major Dutch chart hits include Wasted Words (#3 in 1965) and Why Don't You Take It (#3 in 1966), whereas their début LP, Introduction To The Motions (1966), is regarded as a Dutch beat classic.
The succesful line-up of 1964-1967 fell apart when Van Leeuwen left the band to form the hugely successful Shocking Blue. More line-up changes followed and The Motions eventually called it quits in 1971. They never had great chart success in The Netherlands post-Van Leeuwen, but 1969's Freedom (penned by Leo Bennink and Sieb Warner) was a modest hit in both the United States and Japan.
The Motions most successful line-up (1964-1967) was:
Rudy Bennett - vocals
Robbie van Leeuwen - guitar
Henk Smitskamp - bass
Sieb Warner - drums
During The Motions' existence, as well as after the 1971 break-up, frontman Rudy Bennett recorded as a solo artist. Robbie van Leeuwen and Henk Smitskamp moved on to Shocking Blue, whereas drummer Sieb Warner had a brief stint (1969-1970) with Golden Earring.
2. In a world full of assumptions and predeterminations, everything about The Motions encourages skepticism. The first, and most obvious, observation is the average age of it's members can't be more than 18. (It's 17.) Next, they come from Columbus, MS...and nobody ever mistook that town for being a musical hotbed. Finally, you think back to who you were when you were that age, and you're quite certain that most folks that age can barely get their homework done, much less write original music and impress a crowd. And right then, that's when Toby, Max, Kyle and Miles walk on stage, plug in their instruments and proceed to blow away every preconcieved notion you might have had. In fact, that's what The Motions have been doing for a while now, and they've captured that spirit on their debut, self-titled album. Sure, it's a record with the classic trappings of youth-- it's got your yearning, it's got your enthusiasm, it's got your emotion and it's got your wide-eyed observations. But it also displays a remarkable understanding of what it takes to make a great rock record. It draws from it's influences, but creates something new and vibrant. It demands repeated listens--and respect. Yes, respect is something that The Motions are finally getting--but it's not stopping them from continuing to seek out new influences and grow as a musical outfit. And all that respect isn't stopping first-timers from being skeptical. As a matter of fact, you can find evidence of both at their next show. Just look for the folks with their jaws on the floor.
Wasted Words
The Motions Lyrics
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The slogans they cry aren't wrong
But these are wasted words, only wasted words
Oh Lord, let the good times come
The greatest fighter is Martin Luther King
And when he speaks you see that they're gonna sing
But these are wasted words, only wasted words
Everyone asks the President to use his rule
He got power but it seem that he should too
So these are wasted words, only wasted words
Oh Lord, let the good times come
Where's the end of the fight for freedom
It could turn out ruight and all I hope and long
That there'll be no wasted words, no wasted words
Oh Lord, let the good times come
The lyrics of The Motions' song "Wasted Words" reflect the social and political climate of the 1960s in America. The first verse alludes to the Civil Rights Movement, acknowledging the struggle for freedom that black Americans were facing. The lyrics suggest that the slogans and cries for freedom are not wrong, but perhaps not enough, as they are "wasted words". The refrain, "Oh Lord, let the good times come", expresses a desire for positive change and progress.
The second verse praises Martin Luther King Jr. as the greatest fighter for civil rights, but again, the lyrics suggest that his speeches and words may not be enough. The repetition of "wasted words" implies a frustration with the lack of immediate action and tangible results. The third verse alludes to the President's power and suggests that even with that power, his words and actions may not be enough to effect real change.
The final verse seems to reflect a glimmer of hope for the end of the fight for freedom, but acknowledges the possibility of more "wasted words". The desire for no more wasted words and no more struggle is expressed in the final refrain.
Overall, "Wasted Words" is a song that speaks to the frustration and desire for change during a time of great social and political upheaval in America.
Line by Line Meaning
In the States negroes fight for freedom
The African Americans in the United States are fighting for their rights.
The slogans they cry aren't wrong
The messages they convey are truthful and deserving of attention.
But these are wasted words, only wasted words
Unfortunately, their pleas for freedom often fall on deaf ears and are ignored.
Oh Lord, let the good times come
We hope for a future where true equality and justice can be achieved.
The greatest fighter is Martin Luther King
Martin Luther King Jr. is regarded as one of the most influential leaders in the fight for civil rights.
And when he speaks you see that they're gonna sing
He inspires change and hope in the hearts of those who hear him.
But these are wasted words, only wasted words
Unfortunately, even with such powerful leaders, the struggle for civil rights can still feel futile.
Oh Lord, let the good times come
We hope for a future where true equality and justice can be achieved.
Everyone asks the President to use his rule
People believe it is the President's duty to help promote equal rights and end discrimination.
He got power but it seem that he should too
The President has the ability to make change happen and should use his power for good.
So these are wasted words, only wasted words
However, sometimes it can feel like the President does not prioritize issues of civil rights.
Oh Lord, let the good times come
We hope for a future where true equality and justice can be achieved.
Where's the end of the fight for freedom
Will there be a time when all people are truly equal?
It could turn out right and all I hope and long
We hope that one day our society will achieve true equality and justice.
That there'll be no wasted words, no wasted words
We hope that our cries for civil rights will no longer fall upon deaf ears.
Oh Lord, let the good times come
We hope for a future where true equality and justice can be achieved.
Contributed by Parker S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
otm Doup
Luisterend naar de tekst: we zijn na 40 jaar nog maar heel weinig opgeschoten. Wat een geweldig nummer, laten we maar volop genieten van de muziek uit vervlogen jaren.
Renelig energil
en na50 jaar nog niet
Durk
Yeah when life was pure by mental freedom and individual development. Not this mass shit of today. Hugs folks.
Ben Raven
Geweldig nummer roept het gevoel op van een tijd dat er nog veel goede nederlandese bands waren.
dimitri berkhout
ik kom uit 74 en ben vroeger als kind opgegroeid met deze muziek door mijn vader die deze tijd heel bewust heeft meegemaakt. Ik had dit nummer al jaren niet meer gehoord totdat mijn vader dit nummer op zijn hyvespagina had geplaatst. De rillingen liepen over mijn lijf toen ik dit nummer weer hoorde.
TMNL
I came here to see and hear the music of guitarist Robbie van Leeuwen, who I heard about. He has been a brilliant guitarist and is now 78 years old and one of the great Dutch musicians that has ever existed.
Marc Van Hecke
Wat voel ik me een bevoorrecht mens dat ik de jaren 60 volledig mocht beleven. Deze song is een zoveelste juweeltje uit die gloriejaren. Die tijden komen, helaas, nooit meer terug.
Tjeu1952
Ja, idd een voorrecht.
Peter Biesbroek
Marc, alles leeft voort in onze herinneringen, gelukkig maar...yep, those were the days...
Willem Aartman
dit is gewoon onwijs goed en daar moeten we trots op zijn