Once Poole had left, and after a couple of near misses, rhythm guitarist and keyboard player Alan Blakely took over leadership of the group, and Len 'Chip' Hawkes (father of 1990s hitmaker Chesney Hawkes) replaced bassist Alan Howard. They started an even more successful hit run in 1967 with Cat Stevens' “Here Comes My Baby”; “Suddenly You Love Me”, “Hello World”, and “My Little Lady”, and their number-one recording of an old Four Seasons' B-side “Silence Is Golden”. Both this last single and “Here Comes My Baby” also entered the U.S. Top Twenty. All members shared vocals, though most of the songs featured either Hawkes or drummer Dave Munden as the lead singer. Guitarist Ricky West sang lead vocal on "Silence Is Golden". Their regular hits were accompanied by frequent appearances on BBC's Top of the Pops television programme. Their songs were popular with younger music fans and parents rather than rock music fans. Altogether, without Poole the group had nine UK Top Twenty hits.
“Me and My Life” was a hit in 1970, but the group did themselves no favours when an interview in the weekly paper Melody Maker quoted them as calling the fans who had bought their earlier singles 'silly suckers'. Their album Master failed to sell well, and they had no British hits after "Hello Buddy" in 1971.
After the hits
Their music is still available on CD, and they quite often play concerts and are part of the pop-revival shows that constantly tour the UK. Their line-up changed several times from 1972 onwards, with Munden remaining the only constant member. Hawkes pursued a solo career for a while, and Blakely produced records for other acts, including the Rubettes and Mungo Jerry. In 1983 the original quartet reformed and narrowly missed the charts with their cover version of the Europop hit "Words".
As a soloist, Poole failed to chart with subsequent records, but pursued a successful cabaret career. In 1996 his daughters Karen and Shellie hit the charts as post-Alanis Morissette popsters Alisha's Attic. Blakely died from cancer in June 1996, leaving Munden and West to continue in concert with newer recruits Dave Fryar (bass) and Joe Gillingham (keyboards). In 2005 Fryar was replaced by Jeff Brown.
[edit]
The Class Of 64
In April 2004, at the request of The Animals who were about to do their 40th anniversary tour, Hawkes was asked to form a band to tour with The Animals. This he did, bringing together a true supergroup also including Mick Avory (ex-The Kinks), Eric Haydock (ex-The Hollies), who have teamed up to perform as The Class of 64, also featuring guitarists, Telecaster Ted Tomlin and Graham Pollock. The band have toured around the world, recorded an album of past band hits and a new single.
Hello Buddy
The Tremeloes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've had all the luck that passed me by.
Hello Buddy won't you bring me on in
Cut me off a piece of your pie.
Hello Buddy it's a shame and a sin
Making all that money on your own.
Hello Buddy don't you know your old friend
Hello buddy
Just let me try
To tell you why
Why ?
Hello Buddy
I didn't think
You'd turn a blind eye.
Hello Buddy well my woman has gone
Left me
Gone away without a word.
Hello Buddy don't you think it was wrong
Tell me it's the worst thing that you've heard.
Hello Buddy
Just...
Hello buddy I can see how you've been
You've had all the luck that passed me by.
Hello Buddy won't you bring me on in
Cut me off a piece of your pie.
Hello Buddy.
Hello Buddy.
The lyrics to The Tremeloes's song Hello Buddy reflect a sense of jealousy and envy towards the titular character, who has seemingly had all the luck and success that the singer has been lacking. This is evident in the opening lines of the song, where the singer greets Buddy with apparent bitterness, stating "Hello Buddy, I can see how you've been / You've had all the luck that passed me by". The singer continues to express his resentment of Buddy's success, asking him to "cut me off a piece of your pie" and lamenting the fact that his own woman has left him.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more desperate in his pleas to Buddy, asking him to let him in and help him out. He refers to Buddy as "old friend", further highlighting the sense of resentment and longing he feels towards him, as well as suggesting that they were once close but have since grown apart due to their differing levels of success.
Overall, the lyrics to Hello Buddy are a poignant and bittersweet reflection on the realities of success and envy, as well as the enduring power of friendship and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello Buddy I can see how you've been
Greetings, my friend. It is evident that life has treated you kindly.
You've had all the luck that passed me by.
You seem to have been more fortunate than I have been in life.
Hello Buddy won't you bring me on in
Hey there, can you invite me into your life?
Cut me off a piece of your pie.
Can you share some of your success with me?
Hello Buddy it's a shame and a sin
It's sad and unfair that you're making all the money by yourself.
Making all that money on your own.
Earning all that cash without my help seems unjust.
Hello Buddy don't you know your old friend
Hey, do you not recognize your good old pal?
Standing on the doorsteps all alone.
I'm alone on your doorstep, hoping for some company.
Hello Buddy well my woman has gone
Hey, my significant other has left me.
Left me
She left me without a word.
Gone away without a word.
She disappeared without letting me know.
Hello Buddy don't you think it was wrong
Do you not agree that what happened to me was unfair?
Tell me it's the worst thing that you've heard.
Assure me that what happened to me is the worst news you've received.
Just let me try
Allow me to attempt to explain.
To tell you why
I want to explain my situation to you.
Why?
Why am I in this predicament?
Hello Buddy
Hello there.
I didn't think
I didn't believe.
You'd turn a blind eye.
I didn't expect you to ignore my problem.
Hello Buddy. Hello Buddy.
Greetings, my friend. Greetings, my friend.
Contributed by Eli N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@manfredbeuth2921
What a very great song from the Tremeloes!!!! Love this beautiful song forever and ever......!!!!
@petrawerner8202
One of the most underrated Bands of the Sixties beside the Kinks
@marliesrabisch784
Wunderschöne Stimmen
@klausiffland5374
Für meinen BRUDER ...in den SOMMERFERIEN sind wir einfach losgefahren...nach BREMEN zu unseren Onkel..und das mit`n Fahrad...aus dem SCHULATLAS ´ne seite rausgerissen und dann los..von Kirchlengern bis Bremen..aber wir haben es geschafft.. mit einem kassettenrekorder und "Hello Buddy"+CCR...liebe dich,Reinhard!
@evandromadeira3114
Monophonic recording, but the song is very much beautiful. In 1972, when I was 18, I had this vinyl 2-track single. Ah, such good memories!...
@johnk6312
such a beautiful tune, well thought out structure too.
@stanibol
1971 Germany: memories.
@mariaelizacampagnolli3128
Vendo em 2018,q saudade,Stupenda!
@mauriciodymahhal6278
Essa musica mexeu muito com minha infancia ( INESQUECIVEL )
@elianepitta
Ah, que saudade dos meus 14 anos!!!