Originated from a surf rock group called the Crossfires, the Turtles delved into many genres such as breezy pop, psychedelic music, and folk rock. A precursor to the bubblegum pop of the late 60s and early 70s as well as a foil to the more self-consciously hip and "serious" acts of the era, the Turtles produced at least a dozen memorable, radio-friendly chart singles. Yet they remain best known for 1967's "Happy Together", which was their only chart-topping single.
The Turtles wound down their career in 1970.
The two prominent singers - Howard Kaylan ("Eddie") and Mark Volman ("Flo" a.k.a. "Phlorescent Leech") - collaborated with Frank Zappa for a short but very intensive period of one and a half years (between 1970-72) and were the cornerstone of what was known to be the Zappa "Vaudeville" band; two of the most famous achievements of that period being the albums Fillmore East – June 1971 and 200 Motels, the soundtrack of the film by the same name.
Let the Cold Winds Blow
The Turtles Lyrics
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And let the chills freeze hell
Because the rich can't see
How the poor ones tell
The nature's right
While we got ready
Let the cold winds blow
If rich men and poor cannot live in peace
If hatred and sorrow and prejudice foresees
If man can't find the senses before it is too late
Oh when the cold wind are hard
We'll surely see his face
Oh let the cold winds blow
And let the chills freeze hell
Because the rich can't see
How the poor ones tell
The nature's right
While we got ready
Let the cold winds blow
Is the human's race
With bonds and big long rivals
We face our coloured
Spend more time on destruction
That on nature's masterplan
Spend billions of green dollars
So to ask for we can win
But now willing to spend the penny
To get to no arcade
Oh let the cold winds blow
And let the chills freeze hell
Because the rich can't see
How the poor ones tell
The nature's right
While we got ready
Let the cold winds blow
Is the human's race
Let the cold winds blow
Is the human's race
The Turtles's Let the Cold Winds Blow is a socially conscious song that speaks of the inequality and injustices that exist in the world. The song begins with the lyrics "Oh let the cold winds blow, and let the chills freeze hell because the rich can't see how the poor ones tell". The lyrics suggest that the rich cannot understand the struggles and hardships of the poor, and that they need to experience the cold winds and chills themselves to truly comprehend their pain.
The next line "The nature's right while we got ready, let the cold winds blow, is the human's race" implies that while humans prepare and fight amongst themselves, nature takes its course, and winter comes without any discrimination between rich and poor. The following verse suggests that hatred, sorrow, and prejudice are prevalent, and that if we don't find our senses before it's too late, we will have to face the consequences of our actions when the cold winds blow hard.
The final verse refers to the destruction of nature, and the fact that we are more concerned with our own interests and rivalries than the master plan of nature. The lyrics address the fact that in order to win, we spend billions, but we are not willing to spend a penny to protect nature. The overall message of the song is that we need to be more understanding and caring towards our fellow human beings and our planet.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh let the cold winds blow
Let us face the harsh realities of life
And let the chills freeze hell
Let the extreme cold weather serve as a reminder of the unpleasantness of life
Because the rich can't see
The wealthy are oblivious to the struggles of the poor
How the poor ones tell
The underprivileged express their woes and hardships
The nature's right
We should adhere to the laws of nature
While we got ready
While we prepare ourselves
Let the cold winds blow
Let us face the harsh realities of life
Is the human's race
This is the fate of humanity
With bonds and big long rivals
We are bound and divided by our differences
We face our coloured
We confront our own prejudices
Spend more time on destruction
We invest more energy on destroying nature than preserving it
That on nature's masterplan
Instead of following nature's blueprint
Spend billions of green dollars
We allocate enormous sums of money
So to ask for we can win
In pursuit of victory
But not willing to spend the penny
However, we are unwilling to make small sacrifices
To get to no arcade
To attain nothing of value
Is the human's race
This is the fate of humanity
Contributed by Alexandra R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.