The band grew out of an earlier skiffle group formed by McNally, with his friends Brian Dolan (guitar) and Tony West (bass). When the other two members lost interst McNally was joined by his guitarist neighbour Mike Prendergast. They soon recruited Tony Jackson with his home-made bass guitar and amplifier and styled themselves Tony and the Searchers with Joe Kelly on drums. Kelly soon left to be replaced by Norman McGarry and it is this line-up—McNally, Pender (as he soon became known), Jackson and McGarry—that is usually cited as the original foursome.
McGarry did not stay long, however, and in 1960 his place was taken by Chris Crummey (who later changed his name to Curtis). Later that year Big Ron had a successful audition with Mecca and became a ballroom singer. He was replaced by Billy Beck, who changed his name to Johnny Sandon. The band had regular bookings at Liverpool's Iron Door Club as Johnny Sandon and the Searchers.
Sandon left the band in late 1961 to join The Remo Four in February 1962. The group settled into a quartet sharing the vocal lead and billed simply as The Searchers. They continued to play at the Iron Door, The Cavern, and other Liverpool clubs. Like many similar acts they would do as many as three shows at different venues in one night. They negotiated a contract with the Star-Club in the St. Pauli district Hamburg for 128 days, with three one-hour performances a night, starting in July 1962.
The band returned to a residence, at the Iron Door Club and it was there that they tape recorded the sessions that led to a recording contract with Pye Records with Tony Hatch as producer.
Hatch played piano on some recordings and wrote "Sugar and Spice"—the band’s second number one record—under the pseudonym Fred Nightingale; a secret he kept from the band at the time.
After scoring their monumental hit "Needles and Pins", bassist Tony Jackson went solo and was replaced by Hamburg pal Frank Allen of Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.
Chris Curtis left the band in 1966 and was replaced by the Needles and Pins-influenced John Blunt, who in turn was replaced by Billy Adamson in 1970.
As musical styles evolved, the Searchers could not keep up and as a result, the hits ran out and while they continued to record for Liberty Records and RCA Records, ended up on the British "Chicken in a Basket" circuit although they did score a minor US hit in 1971 with "Desdemona".
The group continued to tour through the 1970s and were rewarded in 1979 when Sire Records signed the band to a multi-record deal. Two albums were released by them, The Searchers and Play for Today (retitled Love's Melodies outside the UK). Both records garnered great critical acclaim but did not break into the charts. They did however revitalize the group's career. According to John McNally, the band were ready to head into the studio to record a third album for Sire when they were informed that due to label reorganization, their contract had been dropped.
In 1981, the band signed to PRT Records (formerly Pye, their original label) and began recording an album but only one single, "I Don't Want To Be The One" backed with "Hollywood", saw the light of day at that time. The rest of the tracks would be released as part of 2004's 40th Anniversary collection.
Soon after the PRT release, Mike Pender left the group amidst great acrimony and now tours as Hollywood. McNally and Allan recruited former First Class vocalist Spencer James to fill Pender's shoes.
In 1988, Coconut Records signed The Searchers and the album Hungry Hearts was the result. A very contemporary sounding release, it featured modern sounding remakes of "Needles and Pins" and "Sweets For My Sweets". While the album was not a major hit, it did keep the group in the public eye.
The band continues to tour with Eddie Rothe replacing Adamson on drums and is considered to be one of the most popular 1960s bands on the UK concert circuit.
for more info see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Searchers_%28band%29
Take Me For What I'm Worth
The Searchers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah, and in the end you'd wind up being hurt
I'm a man with too many problems that keep pounding on my brain
So if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
I don't pretend to be a saint, my sins they are many
But there's no-one perfect in this universe
And though you think I'm weird, don't try and change me dear
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
Hear a howling wind outside my door, there's restlessness within
Oh, I'm like a raincloud that one day may burst
We both know I'll be leavin' and if one little tear you grieve
Ah, it's all right 'cause that's all I'm really worth
(it's all right 'cause that's all I'm really worth)
And if you think about me in your lonesome hours
Ah, and on your lips there's a sweet word and not a curse
Ah, then I'll be comin' back one day when my wandering is over
Ah, if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
Ah, if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
The lyrics of The Searchers' song "Take Me For What I'm Worth" convey a sense of self-awareness and acceptance. The singer warns his lover not to try and understand him because she will only end up hurt. He acknowledges that he is flawed and burdened with many problems. Rather than trying to change him or judge him for his imperfections, he asks that she take him for what he's worth. He recognizes that he may not be worth much, but he hopes that she will understand that he is doing the best he can.
The song's message is one of honesty and vulnerability. The singer is not pretending to be someone he's not, and he's not asking his lover to do the same. He is willing to be himself, flaws and all, and he hopes that she can accept him for who he is. The lyrics also touch on themes of restlessness and wandering. The singer compares himself to a raincloud that may burst at any moment, indicating that he feels a sense of unease or uncertainty. He notes that he may leave at some point, but if his lover can accept him for what he's worth, he may come back one day.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't try and understand me, you never could do that
Trying to understand me is futile, as you will never succeed.
Ah, and in the end you'd wind up being hurt
If you persist in trying to understand me, you will only end up being hurt by my problems.
I'm a man with too many problems that keep pounding on my brain
I am a man who has a lot of problems that constantly weigh on my mind.
So if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
If you truly want to be with me, you must accept me for who I am and what I am worth.
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
I don't pretend to be a saint, my sins they are many
I am not perfect and have made many mistakes in my life.
But there's no-one perfect in this universe
No one is perfect in this world.
And though you think I'm weird, don't try and change me dear
Even if you find me odd, you must not try to change me.
Cause if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
If you truly want to be with me, you must accept me for who I am and what I am worth.
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
Hear a howling wind outside my door, there's restlessness within
I feel restless and uneasy, like the howling wind outside my door.
Oh, I'm like a raincloud that one day may burst
I feel like a raincloud that may suddenly burst with emotions.
We both know I'll be leavin' and if one little tear you grieve
We both know that I will leave eventually, and if you shed a tear for me, it will be okay.
Ah, it's all right 'cause that's all I'm really worth
It is okay because I am not worth much anyway.
(it's all right 'cause that's all I'm really worth)
And if you think about me in your lonesome hours
If you think of me when you are lonely,
Ah, and on your lips there's a sweet word and not a curse
You will say kind words and not curse my name.
Ah, then I'll be comin' back one day when my wandering is over
If you remember me kindly, I may return to you one day when I have finished my wandering.
Ah, if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
If you truly want to be with me, you must accept me for who I am and what I am worth.
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
Ah, if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
If you truly want to be with me, you must accept me for who I am and what I am worth.
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: P. F. Sloan, Steve Barri
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marinacarles9443
Don't try and understand me, you never could do that
Ah, and in the end you'd wind up being hurt
I'm a man with too many problems that keep pounding on my brain
So if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
I don't pretend to be a saint, my sins they are many
But there's no-one perfect in this universe
And though you think I'm weird, don't try and change me dear
Cause if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
Hear a howling wind outside my door, there's restlessness within
Oh, I'm like a raincloud that one day may burst
We both know I'll be leavin' and if one little tear you grieve
Ah, it's all right 'cause that's all I'm really worth
(it's all right 'cause that's all I'm really worth)
And if you think about me in your lonesome hours
Ah, and on your lips there's a sweet word and not a curse
Ah, then I'll be comin' back one day when my wandering is over
Ah, if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
Ah, if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth
(if you want me you'll take me for what I'm worth)
@lrmtastyeyeball3125
The guitar intro here always sends a shiver down my spine.... This is one of those songs that makes you feel you can almost reach out and touch those days again. The days of youth when everything was possible, mistakes hadn’t been made, paths blocked, friends and lovers were still here. Sigh..
@josephinerimmer6888
I know exactly what you mean.
@donaldhowson9638
This band was underrated in the 60s they was just as good as other top groups
@abejakosalem9797
Yaa same , when I was a kid with limited access to music which only the radio can provide, usually I can only hear part of the song not intro Wich I also love ha ha ha very frustrating
@user-jn3yd7ts3e
I still remember travelling by car with my parents during 1965 Xmas and listening to this song on the radio....what a great memory!
@user-sz7bo6jn2k
Great times, wish i were there
@angusmount3913
The story of my life I'm 76 now and it still applies
@phredflypogger4425
Ah those were the days weren't they? I'm 72 and I know exactly what you mean.
@robinwilson1433
A Searchers classic,written, like so many other good songs, by P.F. Sloan
@lincolnclay4456
This reminds me of driving to the F.I. with Giorgi
I miss New Bordeaux 💜