As teenagers, the band members, like most rock 'n' roll groups, were intent on becoming pop stars. Instead of creating a brand-new sound or striving for something different, their philosophy was to take popular styles of rock 'n' roll and push them to the edge. It was at that that the band excelled. The passion and soul they pumped into their music on is still in the grooves of each record. And although they set out to be nothing more than a "typical" rock group, they made some of the most atypical records of the 1960s!
Forming in late 1965, the Shadows of Knight were all friends and aquaintances, except for lead singer Jim Sohns, whom they stole from a rival group. The group's early sounds were highly influenced by black music and by white British interpretations of black music. Venturing into hard-edged R&B, the group made two LP' for Dunwich Records within its first year (both records now available again, thanks to Sundazed Records). Those albums are essential listening for anyone who loves the gritty early sounds of groups like the Rolling Stones and the Pretty Things. Of course, it's their version of Them's "Gloria" that shot the Shadows to the top of the American pop charts. Their rise to fame was fast, and the pressures were very hard for the group to handle. By 1967, the group, disillusioned by its mismanagement, began to fall apart. Guitarist Jerry McGeorge went on to form the understated H.P. Lovecraft. Both the bassist Joe Kelly and the drummer Tim Schiffour held out for more straight-ahead blues in the Joe Kelly Blues Band. Jim Sohns held on.
By late 1968, Sohns was the only surviving member, legally securing the Shadows of Knight name for himself. The "group" was then contracted with by bubblegum producers Kasenetz and Katz to record under that name for K&K's Teem Records label. Grabbing at any straw handed to him, Sohns quickly moved to New York, assembled a group of musicians, and went on to record some of the best records of the bubblegum genre.
A master at interpreting popular sounds, Sohns was able to take teen appeal and mix it with his gritty soulful voice for an unbelievable version of "Shake." Jim (under various psuedonyms) is also quite obviously the vocalist on many other soulful bubblegum songs pressed for K&K labels. Firmly grounded in the bubblegum genre and sensing another change in popular music, Jim began to have an interest in harder rock 'n' roll sounds. His last great single is perhaps the most perfect melding of rock and bubblegum sounds: "Run, Run Billy Porter"/ "My Fire Department Needs A Fireman."
Although Sohns kept the Shadows of Knight name alive, he lost his chart-topping drive in 1969 and began to rehash his earlier Chicago career, so his subsequent records are neither timely nor so impassioned.
On July 29th 2022, Jim Sohns passed away from complications due to a stroke. He was 75 years old.
Dark Side
The Shadows of Knight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I see I was wrong.
Cause you've broken my heart now.
Did'nt take you too long.
Our loves on the Dark Side.
Now I know you lied.
Gave you all my sweet lovin'.
But you were'nt satisfied. Yay!
(GUITAR SOLO)
Come back to me baby.
My nights are too long.???? miss you my????.
Ever since you've been gone.
Well I love you honey.
More than birds love the sky.
Without you're sweet lovin'.
All I'd do baby is cry.
I say I'm cryin' for you child.
Cause you know-You know you're drivin me mad.
Cause you're the best little woman girl.
That this man's ever had.
I got to have you honey.
Please say that you'll be mine.
Cause I love you forever girl.
Til the end of time.
Mine -All Mine-Please Be Mine.
Cause I got to have you girl. Yeah!!!
The lyrics to The Shadows of Knight's song Dark Side tell the story of a man who has been betrayed by his lover. He had believed that she loved him, but he quickly realizes that she was lying and that their love is on the dark side. Despite giving her all of his love, he feels that it was not enough to satisfy her, and as a result, he is left heartbroken. The guitar solo in the middle of the song adds to the intensity of the lyrics, conveying the man's emotions of frustration and sadness.
In the second verse, the man begs his lover to come back to him because his life is incomplete without her. He misses her and says that he loves her more than anything in the world. He admits that he is crying for her because she is driving him mad, but he still maintains that she is the best woman he has ever had. He pleads with her to be his forever because he needs her in his life. The song ends with him asking her to choose him and assuring her that she'll always be his.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought that you loved me.
I believed that you had feelings for me.
I see I was wrong.
Now it is evident that my understanding was incorrect.
Cause you've broken my heart now.
You have shattered my emotional state and caused me pain.
Did'nt take you too long.
It did not take much time for you to do this to me.
Our loves on the Dark Side.
Our relationship has taken a negative turn.
Now I know you lied.
I am now aware that you had been untruthful.
Gave you all my sweet lovin'.
I had offered all of my affectionate feelings to you.
But you were'nt satisfied. Yay!
Unfortunately, you were not content with what I had given you.
Come back to me baby.
Please return to me.
My nights are too long.???? miss you my????.
I have been missing you dearly during my endless nights alone.
Well I love you honey.
My affections towards you are significant.
More than birds love the sky.
My love for you is as infinite as the sky above.
Without you're sweet lovin'.
If I do not have your love, I will feel incomplete.
All I'd do baby is cry.
My only reaction would be to cry in despair.
I say I'm cryin' for you child.
My tears are an expression of mourning for you.
Cause you know-You know you're drivin me mad.
You are the cause of my emotional turmoil, and it is driving me insane.
Cause you're the best little woman girl.
You are the most exceptional partner that I have ever had.
That this man's ever had.
Within my lifetime, you are the best woman I have come across.
I got to have you honey.
It is essential that I have you close to me.
Please say that you'll be mine.
Kindly agree that you will be exclusively mine.
Cause I love you forever girl.
My love for you will last forever.
Til the end of time.
Until the end of my existence, my love will endure.
Mine -All Mine-Please Be Mine.
You belong to me, and I desire for you to remain this way.
Cause I got to have you girl. Yeah!!!
It is imperative that I have you in my life, and this is a fact that cannot be disputed.
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Medardo Bajaña
I thought that you loved me.
I see I was wrong.
Cause you've broken my heart now.
Did'nt take you too long.
Our loves on the Dark Side.
Now I know you lied.
Gave you all my sweet lovin'.
But you were'nt satisfied. Yay!
(GUITAR SOLO)
Come back to me baby.
My nights are too long.???? miss you my????.
Ever since you've been gone.
Well I love you honey.
More than birds love the sky.
Without you're sweet lovin'.
All I'd do baby is cry.
I say I'm cryin' for you child.
Cause you know-You know you're drivin me mad.
Cause you're the best little woman girl.
That this man's ever had.
I got to have you honey.
Please say that you'll be mine.
Cause I love you forever girl.
Til the end of time.
Mine -All Mine-Please Be Mine.
Cause I got to have you girl. Yeah!!
Jim Preen
Rest in Peace Jimi Sohns, thanks for all the great shows and memories
Josh md
How did he die
Polly Ryumina
This song is perfect! It blows my mind. Thanks to the 60s and to the Shadows of Knight personally for creating this masterpiece. Love
Eric Reicher
Haven't heard this since 68. Just started strummin it on my 12 string. One of my fav SON tunes.
george wash
I USED TO PLAY THIS SONG IN A BAND ..ABOUT 40000 YEARS AGO ? OK Maybe 2or 3000 years ,ok ok my math is awful ,,but I never forgot watching this beautiful gorgeous girl dancing and swaying slowly all by herself on the dance floor .I never met her but I sure would have liked to AWW,,, the memories this tune brings back ! Wayyyy tooo short a song !
spliter227
Just found this, rad tune!
Arne Baert
Singer is great. Really got that sting in his voice.
johnny Asv
Good song
Zeyes 1951
Dancing with my girl back then....Wow!
Medardo Bajaña
I thought that you loved me.
I see I was wrong.
Cause you've broken my heart now.
Did'nt take you too long.
Our loves on the Dark Side.
Now I know you lied.
Gave you all my sweet lovin'.
But you were'nt satisfied. Yay!
(GUITAR SOLO)
Come back to me baby.
My nights are too long.???? miss you my????.
Ever since you've been gone.
Well I love you honey.
More than birds love the sky.
Without you're sweet lovin'.
All I'd do baby is cry.
I say I'm cryin' for you child.
Cause you know-You know you're drivin me mad.
Cause you're the best little woman girl.
That this man's ever had.
I got to have you honey.
Please say that you'll be mine.
Cause I love you forever girl.
Til the end of time.
Mine -All Mine-Please Be Mine.
Cause I got to have you girl. Yeah!!