The Shamen were preceded by Alone Again Or, the Love-inspired name under which they recorded their first singles. After their name change, further singles picked up airplay from John Peel. Released in June 1987, The Shamen's first album Drop illustrated their love of 60s psychedelia, with influences such as Love, Pink Floyd and the 13th Floor Elevators.
By mid-1987, frontman Colin Angus was discovering the sounds of early house music pioneers such as S-Express and M/A/R/R/S and increasing his knowledge of the latest studio gadgetry. By September 1987, the Shamen were applying these techniques to their own music, mixing rock guitars, techno and hip-hop rhythms and sampled radio voices to create the prototype rock-dance sound which was to prove so influential to other indie dance groups like Pop Will Eat Itself, Jesus Jones and EMF. However, the newfound sound proved too radical for co-founder and vocalist Derek McKenzie, who the left the band in late 1987 to study at university. The Shamen were suddenly one crucial player short. Help was at hand in the charismatic form of Will Sinnott (23 December, 1960 - 23 May, 1991), who joined the group in October 1987, on bass and keyboards, freeing up Colin Angus to handle vocal and guitar chores.
Knature of a Girl was the first record by the Shamen to feature Sinnott, but it wasn't until June's Jesus Loves Amerika single that the techno influence began to show. By this stage, Angus and Sinnott had become hooked on the acid house movement taking place in London, and its music and clubs were to exert a massive influence on the pair. Keith McKenzie and Peter Stephenson were less impressed by these new developments, and left the group the following summer, after the January 1989 release of the In Gorbachev We Trust album, which saw the group further enhancing their sound.
Angus and Sinnott relocated to London, allowing them to start afresh, and plunge headfirst into the emerging rave scene. 1989 was to be a busy year. They set out on their legendary Synergy tour, a nightclub experience combined with live music from The Shamen and others and DJing from the likes of Mixmaster Morris. The tour was to last nearly two years. They also released the Phorward mini album, a genre-defining release in the history of the acid house movement.
Their third album, En-Tact, was released in 1990, and it spawned the hit singles Move Any Mountain, Hyperreal and Make It Mine. Also notable was the appearance of rapper and DJ Mr.C (real name Richard West). The transformation into a successful rave act was complete.
In May 1991, The Shamen headed to Tenerife to film a video for Move Any Mountain. On May 23, Sinnott drowned in an accident off coast of La Gomera. However, with the Sinnott family's encouragement, the group decided to continue.
With Mr C now a full member of The Shamen, and Jhelisa Anderson providing guest vocals, the Boss Drum album followed in 1992. The LP featured a noted spoken-word collaboration, Re:Evolution with Terence McKenna, and The Shamen's biggest and most controversial hit: Ebeneezer Goode. Ebeneezer Goode was accused of promoting drug use owing to the refrain "Ezer Goode, Ezer Goode" - homophonic with "E's are good" ("E" being slang for the dance drug ecstasy) - and to double entendre drug references throughout the song. This echoed similar references in previous songs such as Synergy's "M D M A-zing... we are together in ecstasy". Despite - or maybe because of - the subsequent storm of publicity, the song stayed at the top of the UK charts for 4 weeks.
Although the single was a commercial hit, it was considered a 'novelty record' and severely impacted on the 'underground' credibility of the band. Subsequent singles such as Boss Drum and Phorever People were chart hits, but some long term fans believed they paled in comparison to earlier singles.
However, The Shamen's new mainstream popularity enabled them to release an unusually large number of remix singles, EPs, and LPs during the Boss Drum era, including the Face EP, the S.O.S. EP, and the On Air and Different Drum albums. On Air featured a series of popular tracks from En-Tact and Boss Drum as performed live on BBC radio; Different Drum was a remix album containing alternate versions of every track from Boss Drum. The tracks Boss Drum, LSI (Love Sex Intelligence), Phorever People, Ebeneezer Goode, and Re:Evolution were all released as singles in their own right.
Axis Mutatis in 1995, with new vocalist Victoria Wilson James replacing Jhelisa Anderson, did not make as much of an impact. Early special editions of this album featured a bonus disk, Arbor Bona Arbor Mala, a bizarre ambient album. The Shamen continued recording into the late 1990s, releasing two additional LPs with an increasingly experimental bent. Their penultimate studio album, the instrumental Hempton Manor, followed an acrimonious split with their label One Little Indian. It is alleged to have been recorded in seven days to conclude the recording contract with One Little Indian, and the first letter of each track spell out F**k Birket, referring to label founder Derek Birket, who wanted the group to move back into more commercial territory. UV, in 1998, was their last album. UV was released independently and marked a return to form with both modern techno production and classic Shamen song structures. Mr C. has since continued as an inspiring house DJ and become a successful night-club owner.
Sweet Young Thing
The Shamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm either feeling very good, or else I am insane
The seed s of doubt you planted have started to grow wild
And I feel that I must yield to the wisdom of a child
And it's love you bring, of that I can't deny
With your wings, I can learn to fly
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
People try to talk to me, they're words are ugly sounds
But I resist all their attempts to try and bring me down
I'm turned on to the sunset like I've never been before
And I listened for your footsteps and your knock upon my door
And it's love you bring, of that I can't deny
With your wings, I can learn to fly
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
And it's love you bring, with dreams of bluer sky
The morning sings and I see it in your eyes
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
The lyrics of The Shamen's song "Sweet Young Thing" describe a state of consciousness where the singer's mind is either in a euphoric state or on the brink of insanity. The first two lines suggest that something unusual is happening to the singer's brain, leading to a feeling of either extreme joy or madness. The "seeds of doubt" planted by someone have "started to grow wild," indicating that the singer's state of mind is fragile and prone to manipulation. However, amidst the chaos, the singer feels compelled to "yield to the wisdom of a child" - a childlike sense of openness and curiosity, untainted by cynicism or doubt.
The chorus of the song reinforces the theme of love being the driving force behind the singer's experience. They speak of the love that the "Sweet Young Thing" brings - a love that fills them with the confidence to fly, symbolizing a sense of freedom and escape. The singer is resistant to the negative influence of others ("People try to talk to me, their words are ugly sounds, but I resist all their attempts to try and bring me down"), and instead is drawn to the beauty of the natural world as signaled by the sunset. The song ends with the singer finding solace in the love that the Sweet Young Thing brings, seeing "dreams of bluer sky" and a brighter future.
Overall, the song suggests a state of mind where love is seen as a powerful, transformative force that can free us from our doubts and fears, allowing us to experience the world with greater clarity and joy. The Sweet Young Thing is a symbol of that love, a beacon of hope in the midst of confusion and chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that something very strange is happening to my brain
I am experiencing an inexplicable sensation in my mind.
I'm either feeling very good, or else I am insane
I am in a state of either intense happiness or madness.
The seeds of doubt you planted have started to grow wild
Your suggestions of uncertainty have taken root and are growing uncontrollably.
And I feel that I must yield to the wisdom of a child
I believe I should submit to the perspective of a youthful mind.
And it's love you bring, of that I can't deny
The emotions you elicit in me are undoubtedly of the romantic nature.
With your wings, I can learn to fly
There is immense potential for growth and transformation in your presence.
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
You are a sweet and innocent individual.
People try to talk to me, they're words are ugly sounds
Others attempt to communicate with me, but their words have a harsh quality to them.
But I resist all their attempts to try and bring me down
I refuse to allow their negativity to affect me.
I'm turned on to the sunset like I've never been before
The beauty of the sunset has captured my attention in a new way.
And I listened for your footsteps and your knock upon my door
I eagerly anticipate your arrival and listen for any sign of it.
And it's love you bring, with dreams of bluer sky
Your presence instills a sense of hope and optimism in me.
The morning sings and I see it in your eyes
I am struck by the beauty of the morning and I see a reflection of it in your eyes.
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
You are an adorable and youthful individual.
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
You are a charming and innocent individual.
Sweet young thing, sweet young thing
You bring about a sense of sweetness and youthfulness in me.
Contributed by Adalyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joseph Ward
This album is in my top ten of all time..just mesmeric, incredible. LSD...and The Shamen, you’re on a path to enlightenment
TheLexyboy
This band was the soundtrack to me discovering psychedelics... hash, acid, E's, Ket... and The Shamen... love it
Gordon Morgan
still one of the best albums ever made
Billy Morrison
Hats OFF to them
Billy Morrison
The band that made me want to take drugs. Hats of to them.
marty3888
When the drums first started I thought what the hell is this. nIt kept on going and I was sure I was going to hate it. Once the singing started, I started to enjoy it. It's different. I lioke it.
woolhat1
Would that be Mike Nesmith's woolhat off? Kidding, this is quite different for The Shamen to tackle.