1) The Spring… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist with this name, including:
1) The Springfields was a British pop-folk vocal trio of the early 1960s remembered as the launch pad for singer Dusty Springfield.
2) The Springfields was an American indie-pop band from New England active between 1988 and 1991.
1. The Springfields was a British pop-folk vocal trio in the early 1960s, who had success both in the UK, USA and Ireland, but are now best remembered as the launch pad for singer Dusty Springfield.
The trio formed in 1960, when Mary "Dusty" O’Brien joined her brother Dion O'Brien and Tim Feild, who had been working as a duo,"The Kensington Squares". Dion became Tom Springfield, and Mary became Dusty Springfield. Feild was later replaced by Mike Hurst.
Tom Springfield was a songwriter and arranger with a wide knowledge of folk music, and the group had strong vocal harmonies and Dusty’s powerful lead. They were signed to Philips Records and released their first single, "Dear John," in 1961, followed by two UK chart hits with "Breakaway" and "Bambino" – like their other records, produced by Johnny Franz.
In 1962, their version of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles" – which surprisingly was not released as a single in the UK - reached the US Top 20, the first single by a British group ever to do so (predating the Tornados’ “Telstar” by two months, and the Beatles by 15 months). The record also reached # 1 in Australia.
At the end of 1962 they had the biggest hit of their career in Britain, "Island of Dreams", which reached # 5 in the charts, as did the follow-up "Say I Won’t Be There". By this time the Springfields were one of the most popular groups in the UK. However, Dusty Springfield felt increasingly hemmed in by the group's image as a folk act and Tom's lead role within the trio, and towards the end of 1963 decided to leave for a solo career.
Tom Springfield and Mike Hurst also developed successful careers in the music industry, while Tim Feild (as Reshad Feild) later became a prominent mystic and writer.
2: The Springfields was an American indie-pop band from New England, USA, related to Choo Choo Train and Velvet Crush. They released several 7" singles between 1988 and 1991 on Bus Stop, Sarah, Seminal Twang; with Matthew Sweet producing their Sunflower single.
Discography:
Sunflower (7") 1988 on The Bus Stop Label - BUS 1
Sunflower (7") Jul 1988 on Sarah Records - SARAH 010
Mini-LP [unreleased] (LP) on Subway Organization - SUBORG 06
Wonder / Tomorrows Ends Today (7") Feb 1991 on Sarah Records - SARAH 040
Reach For The Stars (7") 1991 on Summershine Records - SHINE 005
She Swirls Around Me (7") 1991 on Picture Book Records - PB005
Tranquil (7") on Seminal Twang Records
They were also featured on many Sarah compilations including the label's final release There and Back Again Lane.
Tupelo Honey
The Springfields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put it in a big brown bag for me
Sail right round the seven oceans
Drop it straight into the deep blue sea
He's as sweet as Tupelo honey
He's an angel of the first degree
He's as sweet as Tupelo honey
Now you can't stop us on the road to freedom
You can't keep us 'cause our eyes can see
Men with insight, men in granite
Knights in armor bent on chivalry
He's as sweet as Tupelo honey
He's an angel of the first degree
He's as sweet as Tupelo honey
Just like honey, baby, from the bee
I heard a tale of old Manhattan
I've never been there, but I want, want to go
Standing waiting on my number
And my number, it's gonna show
He's as sweet as Tupelo, Tupelo honey
He's an angel of the first degree
He's as sweet, he's as sweet as Tupelo honey
Just like honey, baby, from the bee
He's as sweet, he's as sweet as Tupelo honey
He's an angel of the first degree
He's as sweet as Tupelo honey
Just like honey, baby, from the bee
He's as sweet, he's as sweet
as Tupelo honey, ooh-ooh-ooh
The lyrics to The Springfields's song Tupelo Honey are a beautiful ode to a lover who is as sweet as Tupelo honey, an extremely sweet and light-colored honey produced in the southeastern United States. The opening verses speak of the lover's sweetness, comparing it to the honey produced by bees from the Tupelo tree. The singer expresses her desire to have all the tea in China and sail right around the seven oceans just to drop it into the deep blue sea, as a way of illustrating the enormity of her love for this sweet lover of hers. The third verse speaks of freedom and the power of insight, referring to knights in armor and valor as a metaphor for those who fight for the cause of freedom. The final verse hints at the possibility of a new love or adventure, as the singer talks of a desire to go to Manhattan and wait for her number to be called.
The main theme of the song is love and the sweetness of life that it brings. The singer compares her lover to the best honey in the world and her words are filled with longing and admiration. The imagery in the song is powerful, especially the tea and omissions, which represent the extent to which the singer would do anything for her love. The references to Manhattan and freedom hint at the broader political and social concerns of the day, making this song more than just a love song but also a commentary on the state of the world at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
You can take all the tea in China
No amount of wealth or treasures can compare to the sweetness of love.
Put it in a big brown bag for me
Love is something that can be contained and held onto, but it can't be bought.
Sail right round the seven oceans
Love can take you on a journey, reaching the farthest corners of the world.
Drop it straight into the deep blue sea
Even if love seems to be lost, it will always remain deep within the soul.
He's as sweet as Tupelo honey
The subject of the song, likely a lover, is as sweet as one of nature's sweetest substances - Tupelo honey.
He's an angel of the first degree
The subject is virtuous and angelic in nature.
Just like honey, baby, from the bee
The subject's sweetness is pure and natural, like honey from a bee.
Now you can't stop us on the road to freedom
Once the heart finds true love, nothing can stand in the way of its path to freedom.
You can't keep us 'cause our eyes can see
Those in love have a clear vision of their future together, and will not be deterred.
Men with insight, men in granite
People with wisdom and strength will always understand and support true love.
Knights in armor bent on chivalry
Lovers are brave and chivalrous in their pursuit of one another.
I heard a tale of old Manhattan
The subject has not yet been to Manhattan, but has heard romantic stories that evoke a desire to visit.
I've never been there, but I want, want to go
The subject longs to experience the romantic setting of Manhattan.
Standing waiting on my number
The subject eagerly anticipates the opportunity to visit Manhattan.
And my number, it's gonna show
The subject believes that his or her chance to visit Manhattan is imminent.
He's as sweet, he's as sweet as Tupelo honey
The subject is again compared to the sweetness of Tupelo honey.
Just like honey, baby, from the bee
The subject's sweet nature is once again emphasized.
He's as sweet, he's as sweet as Tupelo honey
The song repeats the comparison between the subject and Tupelo honey.
He's an angel of the first degree
Once again, the character of the subject is described as angelic.
He's as sweet as Tupelo honey
The song emphasizes once more the subject's sweetness.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind