In mid-1977 the band moved to the UK, where it became apparent that they and their label had different ideas as to how they should be marketed. EMI planned to sell The Saints as a typical punk band complete with ripped clothes. The Saints insisted on wearing collared shirts and sweaters, and left their hair long. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Chris Bailey, guitarist Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay on drums with Kym Bradshaw and later Algy Ward on bass.
Kuepper, Hay and Ward left the band in 1978, but Chris Bailey continued touring and recording as The Saints with a revolving line-up of musicians throughout the 80's including the late Janine Hall on bass. The Saints' commercial breakthrough into the US came in 1986 with the album "All Fools Day", with the video for "Just Like Fire Would" receiving airplay on MTV.
After releasing a couple of records under his own name, Bailey reformed The Saints in 1996. Once again without any of the other founding members but they have reunited occasionally to perform live. The Saints music could often be heard in the background during episodes of Neighbours in the 1990's!
The current line-up is:
Chris Bailey - Guitar and vocals
Caspar Wijnberg - Bass
Peter Wilkinson - Drums
Other bands:
2) A Reggae Band.
3) Polish klezmer band from Cracow.
4) Saints (sans The) is an experimental group from Goleta, CA.
5) '60s British band recorded by Joe Meek.
6) An American 60's uptown soul group.
Ballad
The Saints Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone goes on first
Lowest on the bill
Doesn't mean you're the worst
Setting up our amps
At the front of the stage
Wait until the end of the night
Just in case we get paid
Tonight we're opening, for the opening band
Tonight we're opening, for the opening band
We got better songs, but we don't have an agent
If we were better looking, we'd already have made it
It's who you are, and who you know
How's your Facebook skills, can you get her to the show?
Don't blow it now, Chris in the front row
Don't blow it now, Chris in the front row
Don't blow it now
Don't blow it now
Don't blow it now
Tonight we're opening, for the opening band
Tonight we're opening, for the opening band
The bass player's not melodic
The drummer's too robotic
Guitarist can't wail
Singer needs to do more scales
Sound man quit before sound check
Feedback Feedback, the first song's wrecked
My best friend showed up late
Missed the set, but he said we were great
Tonight we're opening, for the opening band
Tonight we're opening, for the opening band
Can you give us hand?
Cause we've got big plans
Maybe one day our name will be on top of the marquee
But tonight we're together
Even if we're not the band you came to see
"The Ballad" by The Saints is a song about a band that's trying to make a name for themselves, but they are still playing opening slots for other bands. The opening line of the song, "Someone goes on last, Someone goes on first," sets the tone that while this band has aspirations of being in the headline spot, they are not there yet. They may not have the best set on the bill or be the most popular band, but they are trying their best to make an impact.
The song also touches on the harsh reality of the music industry, as the band laments that they don't have an agent and suggests that being attractive would have helped them get further faster. The line "It's who you are, and who you know" reflects the common belief that success in the music industry often comes down to connections rather than sheer talent. The band also name-drops Facebook, highlighting the growing importance of social media in promoting oneself as a musician.
The chorus of the song, "Tonight we're opening, for the opening band," is a declaration of their position on the bill, but despite this, the band is looking for validation from the audience. The line "Can you give us a hand? 'Cause we've got big plans," suggests that they believe they are destined for bigger things, and they're asking the crowd to help them get there.
Overall, "The Ballad" is a song about perseverance, highlighting the struggles of a band trying to make it in the industry. It's a relatable message for any aspiring musician who has had to start at the bottom and work their way up.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone goes on last
Order of performance matters, and some bands will get a longer set than others.
Someone goes on first
Order of performance matters, and some bands will get a shorter set than others.
Lowest on the bill
Not having a high status in the music scene or lineup doesn't mean a band's value or talent is low.
Doesn't mean you're the worst
Just because a band is lower on the bill doesn't mean they are less talented than those higher up.
Setting up our amps
Preparing for the performance and getting everything in place to play our music.
At the front of the stage
Optimizing the location of our setup.
Wait until the end of the night
Hoping we'll get paid for our performance by the end of the show.
Just in case we get paid
We're not guaranteed payment, but we hope we will be.
Tonight we're opening, for the opening band
We're not the center of attention tonight and are performing before the main act.
We got better songs, but we don't have an agent
We're proud of our talent but don't have the connections necessary to go further in our career.
If we were better looking, we'd already have made it
Conveying frustration that the music industry values appearance over talent in some cases.
It's who you are, and who you know
Making connections often matter more than pure talent in the music industry.
How's your Facebook skills, can you get her to the show?
Having social media know-how can help you connect with relevant industry figures and promote your performances.
Don't blow it now, Chris in the front row
Encouraging audience members to give us a chance and recognize our talent.
The bass player's not melodic
Identifying a specific weakness of the band members.
The drummer's too robotic
Identifying a specific weakness of the band members.
Guitarist can't wail
Identifying a specific weakness of the band members.
Singer needs to do more scales
Identifying a specific weakness of the band members.
Sound man quit before sound check
Unfortunate circumstance and hoping it doesn't hurt the performance.
Feedback Feedback, the first song's wrecked
Technical difficulties that have a direct impact on the performance and the band's reputation.
My best friend showed up late
Disappointment when someone important to you misses something significant you're involved in.
Missed the set, but he said we were great
A silver lining in the disappointment when someone misses a performance but still thinks highly of the band.
Can you give us a hand?
Asking for support from the audience, either through applause or something more concrete.
Cause we've got big plans
Hopeful and optimistic about the band's future and potential.
Maybe one day our name will be on top of the marquee
Setting a long-term goal for the future that encompasses success and recognition.
But tonight we're together
Acknowledging the special and meaningful experience of playing music with others.
Even if we're not the band you came to see
Recognizing that not everyone in the audience may be there specifically to see us, but we still hope to leave a positive impression on them.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: James Slusarek
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tommy Strummer
En cual album viene esta canción, muy buena rolaa ...
Matt Fresta
Best Saints song
Petrabianca
Ow souvenir, you're so cruel !