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.
Pushin' Too Hard
The Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're pushin' too hard, uh-what you want me to be
You're pushin' too hard about the things you say
You're pushin' too hard every night and day
You're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Well all I want is to just be free
All I want is to just have fun
Live my life like it's just begun
But you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Better listen girl to what I'm tellin' you
You better listen girl, or we are through
You better stop all your foolin' around
Stop your runnin' all over town
'Cause you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Well I know there's a lotta fish in the sea
I know some would-uh stay by me
So if you don't think I'm gonna try
You better ask yourself the reason why
'Cause you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
The Seeds' song "Pushin' Too Hard" is a classic example of 1960s rock music that balances its raw musicality with a message of rebellion and non-conformity. The song describes the conflict between the singer's desire for freedom and control over his life and his girlfriend's attempts to control and influence him. The repeated refrain, "Pushin' too hard on me," serves as a metaphor for the pressure that society and conformity can exert on individuals, urging them to conform to expectations and relinquish their individuality. The singer, on the other hand, rejects this pressure and advocates for living life on his own terms.
The lyrics are straightforward and confrontational, urging the female protagonist to listen to the singer's message or risk their relationship ending. The urgency and energy of the song reflect the tension between individual expression and social norms that characterized the 1960s.
Line by Line Meaning
You're pushin' too hard, uh-pushin' on me
You're exerting too much pressure on me.
You're pushin' too hard, uh-what you want me to be
You're forcing me to be something I don't want to be.
You're pushin' too hard about the things you say
You're constantly nagging and harping on the things you say.
You're pushin' too hard every night and day
You're demanding too much of me all the time, day and night.
You're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
You're putting too much pressure on me, and it's too much to handle.
Well all I want is to just be free
Live my life the way I wanna be
I just want to be able to live my life and be free to make my own choices.
All I want is to just have fun
Live my life like it's just begun
I want to enjoy life and have fun, like I'm just starting out.
But you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
You're still putting too much pressure on me, and I can't handle it.
Better listen girl to what I'm tellin' you
You better listen girl, or we are through
You need to listen to what I'm saying, or this relationship might end.
You better stop all your foolin' around
Stop your runnin' all over town
You need to stop messing around and being unfaithful and stop going out all the time.
'Cause you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Your behavior is still too much for me to handle.
Well I know there's a lotta fish in the sea
I know some would-uh stay by me
I know that there are many other people out there who would be willing to be with me.
So if you don't think I'm gonna try
You better ask yourself the reason why
If you don't think I'll stay in this relationship, you need to ask why that is.
'Cause you're pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
Your constant pressure and demands are causing me to reconsider this relationship.
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard on me (too hard)
You continue to push too hard and it's becoming too much for me to handle.
Lyrics © NEIL MUSIC INC
Written by: SKY SAXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@petersoliz5982
You're pushin' too hard, you're pushin' on me,
You're pushin' too hard, what you want me to be,
You're pushin' too hard, about the things you said,
You're pushin' too hard every night and day,
You're pushin' too hard, you're pushin' too hard,
On me...
Well all I want is to just be free,
Live my life the way I wanna be,
All I want is to just have fun,
Live my life like it's just begun,
But you're pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard,
On me...
You better listen well what I'm telling you,
You better listen well, or we are through,
You better stop all your foolin' around,
Stop the runnin' all over town.
'Cause you're pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard,
On me...
Well I know there's not a fish in the sea,
I know some wouldn't stay by me,
So if you ever don't think I'm gonna try,
You better ask yourself a reason why,
'Cause you're pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard,
On me...
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard on me...
Pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard, pushin' too hard on me...
@marcossperezzy6281
I work at a Nursing Home, there is this resident in his early 70s that don't talk much, needs a lot of help.
This is every day.
One day, I approach him and talk , and out of nowhere I play him this song on my cellphone.
My God, I've never seen this guy so happy, he knew every word and sang it.
Now, I go every day to his room and play him a few 60's songs and he's so happy, he closes his eyes
and sing them like he is in a time machine.
That make my day.
@kelyoph
nice!!
@johntaylor1831
I'm 71 and I remember all of them
@tonyallen6510
👍♥️👍
@pablovasquezloayza
Todo somos seres humanos, todos necesitamos una miguita de ternura , solo una miguita para ser felices y morir en paz.
@kenkovar2647
@@pablovasquezloayza pues si!
@Astoria278
One of the coolest songs to come out of the 60’s. ❤️
@lisaparsons4124
Yes I agree awesome song,1966,year I was born 💖
@dj-um7el
Yes
@dj-um7el
@@lisaparsons4124 cool