The band was formed in 1962 by lead singer/organist Larry Tamblyn and guitarist Tony Valentino. The Standells' first hit single was Dirty Water, which reached #11 on the Billboard charts on June 11, 1966.
Other hits included Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White, Why Pick On Me, Riot On Sunset Strip (about the 1966 riots resulting from police attacks on hippies), and Try It.
Singer/drummer Dick Dodd, founding drummer of The Bel Airs, who joined the group in 1964 and sang the lead on "Dirty Water", was a former Mouseketeer, and singer/keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, who sang the lead on many of the other Standells songs, is the brother of actor Russ Tamblyn and uncle of Amber Tamblyn, star of Joan of Arcadia. Dodd replaced original drummer Gary Leeds, who went on to fame as Gary Walker of The Walker Brothers. In 1967 John Fleckenstein (formerly of the group Love), joined the Standells. The group appeared in several low budget films of the 1960s, including "Get Yourself a College Girl" and cult classic "Riot on Sunset Strip", in which they performed the movie's title song. Lowell George, who would go on to play with Little Feat, briefly played guitar in the Standells prior to their breakup in 1969.
The Standells also made an appearance on the 1964-1966 television sitcom The Munsters in the episode "Far Out Munster". The band was an integral part of the show, and performed the songs "Come On and Ringo" and The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand." Furthermore, the group appeared on the television 1964-1965 sitcom The Bing Crosby Show, in the episode "Bugged by the Love Bugs", portraying the fictional rock group of the same name. They performed the songs "Someday You'll Cry" and "Come Here".
Despite the lyrics of "Dirty Water", which states, "Boston, you're my home." The Standells are not from Massachusetts. However, in 2007 the Massachusetts General Court officially decreed "Dirty Water" to be the "Official Victory Song of the Boston Red Sox" . Since 2004, the Standells have attended most every World Series at Fenway Park, including the final winning game in 2013. "Dirty Water" was written by their producer Ed Cobb. It is played after every home victory by the Boston Red Sox and Boston Bruins.
Dodd and Valentino left the Standells in 2009. Dick Dodd passed away in 2013.
The Standells still are actively performing today, and have been receiving 'rave reviews' from music critics. They recently headlined in 2013 at the Adams Ave. St. Fair, San Diego, CA, and the Ponderosa Stomp, New Orleans, Lousiana. Original Members Larry Tamblyn and John Fleck are still in the group, along with co-lead singer Mark Adrian and drummer Greg Burnham. The group has recently released a new album Bump on GRA Records. They been booked on an extensive East Coast tour from April - May, 2014. Learn more about the Standells by visiting http://www.standells-official.com and http://www.facebook.com/Standells
Misty Lane
The Standells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down, down, misty lane
Willow weep in the summer rain
Down, down, misty lane
I wish that we were there again
The gentle grass that rests beneath us
As we lay where no one saw us
Each one hoping that the other felt the same
Though now you're gone and summer's passed
The echoes of our love will last
Seasons change and time erases
Other people, other places, you remain
Our days were days of love and laughter
Keeping joyful memories after
You had gone and laughed no longer
Love was strong but time was stronger, so it seems
The secret places that we discovered
Now when winter's rains have covered
Still I find my heart will free you
As I lay to sleep I see you in my dreams
[Chorus]
They'll come a day when dreams come true
And I will be embracing you
The love that time has torn apart
Will stay alive inside my heart
[Chorus]
The song Misty Lane by The Standells is a bittersweet remembrance of a past love. The chorus is a nostalgic longing for the times when the lovers would sneak away to a hidden spot down a misty lane where they could be alone in their love, while the willow trees wept in the rain. The gentle grass that they lay on becomes a symbol of their secret love, protected from the eyes of the world. They shared kisses that were full of hope and longing, but now that summer has passed, the echoes of their love remain, even though the other person is gone. The song reflects on how time can tear apart even the strongest of loves, and how memories can be both joyful and painful. The singer reminisces about the secret places they discovered, and how even though they are now hidden away by winter's rains, they are still in his dreams. The last verse offers a glimmer of hope that dreams can come true, and that one day they may be reunited in the embrace of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Down, down, misty lane
We used to frequent a special place, hidden and peaceful in some remote, obscure part of the world. This place was located somewhere along a mysterious misty lane, a road that always remained damp, lined with giant willow trees that seemed to weep in the summer rain. It was a place where the rustling leaves of the trees would slowly dance in the silent breeze. It remains forever in my memory.
Willow weep in the summer rain
The weeping willows weep in the rain because they are lonely, and they witness the love that blossoms between us in the secluded place. Their leaves, like teardrops, fall to the ground, joining us in our moments of passion, laid across the gentle grass that grew vastly underneath us as we hide from the world's judging eyes.
I wish that we were there again
I miss those times when we would retire to our secret place, escaping the harsh realities of life, and forget about the daily struggles that burdened us. I find myself daydreaming constantly about it, longing to be back there and relive the moments we spent together.
The gentle grass that rests beneath us
As we lay amidst the blades of grass, we found tranquillity in lively chatter while sharing tales of our pasts with one another. The soft blades of grass used to tickle our necks and backs, a mild sensation that seeped into our hearts as we talked endlessly about each other.
As we lay where no one saw us
Our moment away from prying eyes, a perfect world where there is no judgment – a world where we could express ourselves freely without any fear of any person's opinions.
On and on our lips together
Once our eyes met and locked, our lips would go on a celebratory dance together, and our worlds would merge into one.
Each one hoping that the other felt the same
There was no need for words since the hope and love that existed between us flowed freely, unspoken yet deeply felt nonetheless.
Though now you're gone and summer's passed
Trying to live in the past, I often find myself caught up in the times I had with my beloved when they were still here. Being reminded of their death sends me back into an abyss of pain, and the thought of never seeing them again leaves me helpless and unable to move forward.
The echoes of our love will last
Every memory and moment with my beloved remains etched in my mind, and the love we shared echoes in my heart and soul. It remains forever present and unfading.
Seasons change and time erases
Time flies, the world keeps moving, and everything goes and comes that includes people, places and memories. Everything becomes a mere reflection of the past while disintegrating slowly over time, shrouding past memories of pleasure and happiness slowly until they disappear.
Other people, other places, you remain
Though everything might change and evolve over time, one thing remains constant and unchanged, the memories and love shared with my beloved. They remain fixed in my heart and will never leave me.
Our days were days of love and laughter
The days of our love were specifically days full of joy, pleasure and laughter. Everything entailed those nice memories, the love we shared and the days spent together.
Keeping joyful memories after
I keep holding onto the memories of shared joy, love and laughter because they remind me that everything, regardless of what happened, started with joy and was great while it lasted.
You had gone and laughed no longer
Since you are gone, everything is no longer the same. Your laughter, your presence and the joy you brought into my life is absent. The reminder of your absence makes me feel like everything is lost forever in the world.
Love was strong, but time was stronger, so it seems
The strength of everything, including love, has nothing to do with the strength of time. Time is a force stronger than love, and, although it might fade memories, it doesn't change the significance and impact, making it a useful determinant of lasting memories.
The secret places that we discovered
Our hidden paradise and happy place, a well-kept secret which we discovered and shared only with each other, is padlocked behind my heart's door. This special world is still untainted, and I revel in revisiting it every now and then.
Now when winter's rains have covered
When winter comes, and the rains pour down, these rains become a barrier to a lot of things, including revisiting past memories. It brings with it many symbolic references, including how everything slowly fades and ends.
Still, I find my heart will free you
Despite the constraint of time and space, my love for you remains forever existing and unfading. It gives me the sensation that there is an opening in the door that holds all our secrets together, which serves as a constellation of our shared memories that will remain forever unfading.
As I lay to sleep, I see you in my dreams
I find solace in the comfort of my dreams, where I can still picture and hold onto the memories of my beloved. Even though reality might have taken them away from me, I find solace in the dream world, where they remain forever present in my world.
They'll come a day when dreams come true
I hold onto the belief that someday, my beloved will return, and my unbridled devotion and loyalty will pay off in the long run. It is my hope that, someday, I will hold them once again and relive the joys of the past.
And I will be embracing you
In this moment of reliving a possibility of our reunion, I will hold them once more, embracing them in passionate love and joy.
The love that time has torn apart
The love that time has faded and tried to set ablaze will be brought back to life as soon as we reunite.
Will stay alive inside my heart
The love that exists between us will remain alive and present inside my heart up until we meet again to relive those memorable moments.
[Chorus]
Reiterating the profound impact that misty lane had in our lives, representing a metaphor of a perfect world that is close to heaven or even paradise that we want to escape to. It serves as an embodiment of the harmonious feelings we had while in each other's company. The chorus reminds me of the love we shared and the place we discovered together, which fill me with emotions and longing of the times we shared together.
Lyrics © CLAUS OGERMANN, PRES. D/B/A HELIOS MUSIC CORP.
Written by: SIEGEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
merseymain
Outstanding and easily on a par with The Chocolate Watchband.
gaz riley
prefer CWB version but this is good too
Ben Simon a.k.a. Cartoon Man Central
Reminds me of the band from Welcome to the Dollhouse
haltmusic
Yeah baby!
Qucho
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