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.
Two Fingers Pointing at You
The Seeds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Have you ever been there in a strange house
Somebody pointing a finger on you
Saying, "Looky, what did you do"
A pointing his finger right on you
I just walked inside the door
I just sat right down on the floor
I just took a drink in my hand
Somebody's always to blame
Somebody's calling my name
Somebody's putting me down
When there just ain't nobody around
BUt it just ain't me this time
Said it just ain't me this time, girl
Did you ever feel you're from different time?
And 9 from 9 equal none
And the king in the courtyard has just lost his crown
The garden he grows, grows blacker each day
As 29 crows a'fly away
The flowers fade, fading away
Somebody's pointing a finger on you
There's somebody pointing a finger on you
Said la la la a la a la la la
-----------------------------------------------------------
The opening lines of "Two Fingers Pointing On You" describe the feeling of being accused of something you didn't do in a strange house while someone points a finger at you. The accusing tone of the song is emphasized through the repetition of the phrase "Somebody's pointing a finger on you." The song progresses with the singer describing his actions of just walking through the door of the house and sitting down on the floor with a drink in hand when everything suddenly goes wrong. He feels that someone is always blaming him, calling his name, and putting him down even when there's no one around.
As the song progresses, it delves into the singer's sense of disorientation and alienation. The lines "Did you ever feel you're from a different time?/ And 9 from 9 equal none" suggest a disconnection with reality and a sense of not belonging. The reference to the king losing his crown in the courtyard implies a loss of power or control. The garden he once grew now has black flowers, and the 29 crows flying away indicate a sense of departure or abandonment.
Overall, "Two Fingers Pointing On You" is a dark and foreboding track filled with paranoia and suspicion. The song speaks to the common human experience of feeling blamed and ostracized, even when it's undeserved.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever been there in a strange house
Have you ever found yourself in an unfamiliar situation or environment?
Somebody pointing a finger on you
Has someone accused you of something?
Saying, 'Looky, what did you do'
Demanding an explanation or confession for something you are being accused of.
A pointing his finger right on you
Someone is specifically blaming or accusing you and no one else.
I just walked inside the door
I had just arrived at the location where the accusation was made.
I just sat right down on the floor
I was relaxed, comfortable, and completely unsuspecting of the trouble ahead.
I just took a drink in my hand
I was minding my own business, trying to enjoy myself.
And then it all began
And that's when the trouble started.
Somebody's always to blame
In situations like this, someone is always looking for someone to blame.
Somebody's calling my name
I am being singled out and targeted by someone.
Somebody's putting me down
I am being made to feel inferior or guilty.
When there just ain't nobody around
When no one else is around to help or support me.
But it just ain't me this time
I'm innocent this time and I'm not taking the blame for something I didn't do.
Said it just ain't me this time, girl
Reinforcing that I am not to blame for the situation at hand.
Did you ever feel you're from different time?
Have you ever felt out of place or disconnected from those around you?
And 9 from 9 equal none
There are situations where two seemingly equal things can cancel out each other.
And the king in the courtyard has just lost his crown
Even those who are the most powerful and influential can have everything taken away from them in an instant.
The garden he grows, grows blacker each day
The king's domain, his power and control, are becoming darker and more corrupt over time.
As 29 crows a'fly away
As the situation becomes more dire and threatening, those around are abandoning and leaving.
The flowers fade, fading away
All good things eventually come to an end, even in the most innocent and pure situations.
Somebody's pointing a finger on you
Someone is still blaming you for the situation at hand.
There's somebody pointing a finger on you
There is still someone trying to place the blame on you or make you feel guilty.
Said la la la a la a la la la
Repeating this nonsensical phrase as a way to distract from the difficult and uncomfortable situation at hand.
Lyrics © NEIL MUSIC INC
Written by: SKY SAXON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@countfive1511
354Entertainment
the doors pretty much copied the seeds sound.
& The doors were actually the seeds support band for a time 🙀
Seeds keyboard player does the bass lines on a separate keyboard just like Ray did. Before Ray did.
The Seeds rule. 😱
@psemamegalo1465
wow! I'll never stop loving this song and this LP!
@irishelk3
Great song psych out great movie
@TheORIGINALBrentTheGent
Only Zappa knows for sure!
@brentthegent
Excellent Seeds song(for some unknown reason, the soundtrack album-Sidewalk ST-5913- used the mono mix) Great to hear it in STEREO!
@354Entertainment
sounds a bit like The Doors - Whiskey, Mystics & Men but this was first.... great music from the Seeds!!!
@countfive1511
354Entertainment
the doors pretty much copied the seeds sound.
& The doors were actually the seeds support band for a time 🙀
Seeds keyboard player does the bass lines on a separate keyboard just like Ray did. Before Ray did.
The Seeds rule. 😱
@354Entertainment
@@countfive1511 yeah, the seeds are very underrated!
do you already got the link which said, that the doors are a support band for the seeds?
@amaliaencantada
marvellous!!!!!!
@rnbaker11
Go watch Psych Out right now if you like this song.
@vamosallevarnosbien
Musik to make Wild dance for the witches & dark flies 🦇🎶