Lead singer Sky Saxon had a musical career that went back to pre-Beatle music days, when he recorded a few 45-rpm singles under the name Richie Marsh. Born in Salt Lake City, he was based in Los Angeles from the early 1960s. The Seeds were formed in 1965 with Saxon joining as a response to an advertisement. Keyboardist Daryl Hooper was a major factor in the band's sound; the band was one of the first to utilize keyboard bass. Guitarists Jan Savage and Jeremy Levine with drummer Rick Andridge completed the original quintet, but Levine left shortly after the first recording sessions for personal reasons. Although Sky Saxon is usually credited as bass player, he did not play bass on any of the Seeds' recordings. This was handled by session men, usually one Harvey Sharpe. On stage, keyboardist Daryl Hooper would handle the bass parts via a separate bass keyboard, in the same way as Ray Manzarek later did with The Doors.
The Seeds' first single Can't Seem to Make You Mine was a regional hit in southern California in 1965. The song was also played regularly on AM rock stations in northern California (and probably elsewhere), where it was well received by listeners. The band had their only national Top 40 hit, Pushin' Too Hard, in 1966. Three subsequent singles, Mr. Farmer (also 1966), a re-release of Can't Seem To Make You Mine (1967), and A Thousand Shadows (1967) achieved more modest success, although all were most popular in southern California. Musically uncomplicated and dominated by Saxon's vocal style and flair for simple melodic hooks, their first two albums are today considered classics of '60s garage music. A later album (Future, 1967) was full-blown psychedelic rock, with ornate flower-themed graphics to match, and another was devoted to the blues (with liner notes by Muddy Waters).
By mid-1968, with their commercial popularity flagging, the group's personnel began to change; the band was renamed "Sky Saxon and the Seeds" in 1969, by which point Bob Norsoph, guitar, and Don Boomer, drums, had replaced Savage and Andridge. Saxon continued to use the name “The Seeds”, using various backup musicians, at least through 1972; the last major-label records of new material by the Seeds—two non-charting singles on MGM records—were released in 1970.
After the dissolution of the Seeds, Sky Saxon joined the Yahowha religious group, inspired by their leader Father Yod. Although a member of the Source Family for several years, Saxon did not participate in any of the albums released by Yahowha 13 in the mid 1970s. He does appear on the "Golden Sunrise" album by Fire Water Air, which was a Yahowha 13 offshoot, and later recorded the "Yod Ship Suite" album in memory of the deceased Father Yod. In the 1970s, Saxon also released the solo LPs "Lovers Cosmic Voyage" (credited to Sunlight) and "Live At The Orpheum" credited to Sunlight Rainbow. In the 1980s, Saxon collaborated with several bands—including Redd Kross and The Chesterfield Kings—before reforming the original Seeds in 1989 to headline "The Summer of Love Tour", along with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Arthur Lee and Love, The Music Machine, and The Strawberry Alarm Clock.
The Seeds remained dormant again until 2003, when Saxon reformed them with original guitarist Jan Savage and newcomers Rik Collins on bass, Mark Bellgraph on Guitar and Dave Klein on keyboards. This new version of the Seeds went through several incarnations, with Savage departing midway through their 2003 European tour due to his health. Saxon remained the only original member of The Seeds, which continued to tour Europe and the United States. Saxon died on June 25, 2009 of heart and renal failure.
On July 24, 2009, members of The Smashing Pumpkins, Love, and The Electric Prunes performed a tribute concert at the Echoplex in Los Angeles in memory of Sky Saxon.
A documentary film about The Seeds has been prepared by GNP Crescendo Records President Neil Norman, the son of the label's founder Gene Norman. Filming began in 2007, and draws on first-hand knowledge of the band, interviews and concert footage. The film titled Pushin' Too Hard, directed by Norman and produced by Alec Palao, premieres August 16, 2014 at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles. A DVD release will follow later in the year.[4][5]
Some lyrics in Frank Zappa's album "Joe's Garage" refer to "Pushin' Too Hard": "You're plooking too hard/ Plooking too hard on ME".
The Seeds were a 1960s rock and roll band based in Los Angeles, California, United States, whose raw and abrasive energy, and simple, repetitive lyrics came to exemplify the garage rock style. The band was active from 1965 to 1972. The group reunited in 1989, split again in 1993 and reunited once more in 2003. The band's future is in question after the June 2009 death of its only constant member, singer Sky Saxon.
Lead singer Sky Saxon was heavily influenced in style and appearance by Mick Jagger, and the group promoted the fact that Blues great Muddy Waters once called them "America's own Rolling Stones." Keyboardist Daryl Hooper was a major factor in the band's sound; the band was one of the first to utilize keyboard bass; guitarist Jan Savage and drummer Rick Andridge completed the original quartet. Vocalist Saxon also played bass guitar.
The Seeds' first single, "Can't Seem To Make You Mine," was a regional hit in southern California in 1965. The band had their only national top-40 hit, "Pushin' Too Hard", in 1966. Two subsequent singles, "Mr. Farmer," (also 1966) and "A Thousand Shadows" (1968) achieved more modest success. Though musically primitive, one album was devoted to the Blues (with liner notes by Muddy Waters), and another (Future, 1967) was full-blown psychedelic rock, with ornate flower-themed graphics to match. The original Seeds disbanded in 1970, shortly after the release of Raw and Alive at Merlin's Music Box.
Sky Saxon joined the Yahowa religious sect, inspired by their divine leader Father Yod, released several albums as the Yahowa 13 in the mid-70s. Members of the sect went their separate ways after Father Yod died in a hang gliding accident in 1974, although Saxon continues to collaborate with various members of the Yahowa to this day.
In the 1980s, Saxon collaborated with several bands—including Redd Kross and The Chesterfield Kings—before reforming the original Seeds in 1989 to headline "The Summer of Love Tour", along with Big Brother and the Holding Company, Arthur Lee and Love, The Music Machine and The Strawberry Alarm Clock. The Seeds remained dormant again until 2003, when Saxon reformed them with original guitarist Jan Savage and newcomer Rick Collins on bass. This new version of the Seeds has gone through several incarnations, with Savage departing mid way through their 2003 European tour due to his health. Saxon now remains the only original member of The Seeds, currently augmented by the aforementioned Collins as well as organist Ryan Maynes, guitarist Nate Greely, and drummer Justin Smith. The band continues to frequently tour Europe and the United States.
"Pushin' Too Hard" was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
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The Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew you'd find me, 'cause I longed you here
Are you my destiny?
Is this how you'll appear?
Wrapped in a coat with the tears in your eyes?
Well take that coat babe, and throw it on the floor
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?
My soul has comforted and assured me
That in time my heart it will reward me
And that all will be revealed
So I've sat and I've watched an ice-age thaw
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?
Out of sorrow, entire worlds have been built
Out of longing great wonders have been willed
They're only little tears, darling, let them spill
And lay your head upon my shoulder
Outside my window the world has gone to war
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?
Oh we will know, won't we?
The stars will explode in the sky
But they don't, do they?
Stars have their moment and then they die
There's a man who spoke wonders, though I've never met him
He said, "He who seeks finds and who knocks will be let in"
I think of you in motion and just how close you are getting
And how every little thing anticipates you
All down my veins my heart-strings call
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?
The Seeds's song "Pushin' Too Hard" is a high-energy garage rock tune that expresses the frustration of the singer in the face of the constant pressure of someone who wants to control him. The lyrics are straightforward, with a chorus that repeats the title in a catchy melody to emphasize the point. The singer sets the tone immediately, accusing the other person of being demanding and intrusive, asking for more than he is willing to give. He claims that all he wants is to be free, to live his life as he sees fit, without someone telling him what to do or how to behave. However, the other person is pushing too hard about everything, talking too much, and not giving him any space to breathe.
The singer gives a warning that the other person needs to listen to him, or they are finished. He asks her to stop playing games and stop running around town, saying that there are plenty of other fish in the sea, and he can find someone else who will stay with him without demanding too much. The song captures the mood of the era of rebellion and counterculture, where individuals wanted to break free from social norms and live a life of self-expression and experimentation.
Line by Line Meaning
You're pushin' too hard, uh-pushin' on me
You are exerting too much force on me.
You're pushin' too hard, uh-what you want me to be
You are demanding me to fit into a certain mold.
You're pushin' too hard about the things you say
You are excessively insisting on your opinions.
You're pushin' too hard every night and day
You are constantly placing pressure on me.
You're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
You are causing me to feel overwhelmed.
Well all I want is to just be free
Live my life the way I wanna be
All I desire is to have the liberty to live my life as I please.
All I want is to just have fun
Live my life like it's just begun
All I yearn for is to enjoy myself and live life as if it's just starting.
But you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
However, your intense demands are not allowing me to do so.
Well, better listen girl to what I'm tellin' you
You better listen girl, or we are through
You need to heed my warning or else our relationship will end.
You better stop all your foolin' around
Stop your runnin' all over town
You should cease your unacceptable behavior and wandering around excessively.
'Cause you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Your pushiness has become unbearable for me.
Well I know there's a lotta fish in the sea
I know some would-uh stay by me
I am aware that there are many other options available to me.
So if you don't think I'm gonna try
You better ask yourself the reason why
If you doubt my commitment, then you should question why.
'Cause you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Because you are forcing me to do things I'm not ready or willing to do.
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
The chorus emphasizes that the pushiness has become overwhelming and suffocating.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nicholas Cave
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
lynn pehrson
This has aged unbelievably well
graham foster
Well i was just bout born or a twinkle !!
Jake C
The album and the band has this pretty crazy energy, the songs are kind of hypnotizing
hela2
yess im 25
Nik Jaric
one of the greatest bands in history and they opened for alot of the big names but here at the bottom of the world theyre still on community radio
elleboucher
Saw them at my first concert with Buffalo Springfiled. They were different from anyone else at that time. LOVED them.
Robert Pattison
"The Seeds" n "Buffalo Springfield" Wow!
Martin Splichal
Wow. that must have been cool.
Ian Copestick
I got this LP for Xmas when I was 14 years old, back in 87. I love it even more now, and I still think "Evil Hoodoo " is the best track.
The Vinyl Guru
As a younger woman, I find I often listen to this....SO good.