Originally a blues-based band noted for their signature "rave-up" instrumental breaks, the Yardbirds broadened their range into pop, pioneering psychedelic rock and early hard rock; and contributed to many electric guitar innovations of the mid-1960s. Some rock critics and historians also cite their influence on the later punk rock, progressive rock and heavy metal trends. Following the band's split in 1968, Relf and McCarty formed the acoustic-duo Together, and then later Renaissance, a progressive rock group memorable for being heavily influenced by medieval instruments and sound, and guitarist Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin - the latter of which was initially intended as a direct successor to the Yardbirds. Dreja was first invited to play guitar in the new group, then known as "The New Yardbirds", however he turned it down, opting to become a photographer instead. He captured the back cover of Led Zeppelin's first album.
The band formed in the south-west London suburbs in 1963. Relf and Samwell-Smith were originally in a band named the Metropolitan Blues Quartet. After being joined by Dreja, McCarty and Top Topham, they performed at Kingston Art School in late May 1963 as a backup band for Cyril Davies. Following a couple of gigs in September 1963 as the Blue-Sounds, they changed their name to the Yardbirds. McCarty claims that Relf was the first to use the name; he may have got it from Jack Kerouac's novel On the Road, where it referred to rail yard hobos. He adds that Topham identified it as a nickname for jazz saxophonist Charlie "Yardbird" Parker.
The quintet achieved notice on the burgeoning British rhythm and blues scene when they took over as the house band at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, succeeding the Rolling Stones. Their repertoire drew from the Chicago blues of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James, including "Smokestack Lightning", "Good Morning Little School Girl", "Boom Boom", "I Wish You Would", "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "Got Love if You Want It" and "I'm a Man".
Original lead guitarist Topham left and was replaced by Eric Clapton in October 1963. Crawdaddy Club impresario Giorgio Gomelsky became the Yardbirds manager and first record producer. Under Gomelsky's guidance the Yardbirds toured Britain as the back-up band for blues legend Sonny Boy Williamson II in December 1963 and early 1964, recording live tracks on 8 December and other dates. The recordings would be released two years later during the height of the Yardbirds popularity on the album Sonny Boy Williamson and the Yardbirds.
After the tours with Williamson, the Yardbirds signed to EMI's Columbia label in February 1964, and recorded more live tracks on 20 March at the legendary Marquee Club in London. The resulting album of mostly American blues and R&B covers, Five Live Yardbirds, was released by Columbia nine months later, and it failed to enter the UK Albums Chart. Over time, Five Live gained stature as one of the few high-quality live recordings of the era and as a historical document of both the British rock and roll boom of the 1960s and Clapton's time in the band.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. They were included at number 89 in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" and ranked number 37 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
The Yardbirds re-formed in the 1990s, featuring drummer Jim McCarty and rhythm guitarist Chris Dreja as the only original members. In 2003, the Yardbirds released the album "Birdland" featuring original personnel Jim McCarty and Chris Dreja, along with contributions from Jeff Beck, and John Idan replacing Relf on lead vocals.
Dreja left the band in 2012, leaving McCarty as the sole original member of the band in the present lineup.
Along with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, The Yardbirds were part of the British blues scene of the 1960s. As the blues rock genre developed, some acts like Chicken Shack were playing a louder and more aggressive style, while the Yardbirds emphasized instrumental textures and extended instrumental improvisations. They covered blues classics like Howlin' Wolf's Smokestack Lightning (1956) and Bo Diddley's I'm a Man (1955) which had a repetitive structure where instrumental solos were brief breaks between repetition of verses. The Yardbirds often extended these instrumental sections into "heavy jams", known as 'rave-ups'.
A Certain Girl
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
I can't reveal her name until she's mine
What's her name?
I can't tell youAhh
I've tried to make her time and time again
Still we're introduced as nothing but friends
There's a certain girl I've been in love with a long, long time
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
There's a certain chick I've been sweet on since I met her
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
I can't reveal her name until I get her
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
Someday I'm going to wake up and say
I'll do anything just to be your slave
There's a certain girl I've been in love with a long, long time
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
I can't reveal her name until she's mine
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
I've tried to make her time and time again
Still we're introduced as nothing but friends
There's a certain girl I've been in love with a long, long time
What's her name?
I can't tell you
Ahh
The lyrics to The Yardbirds' song A Certain Girl express the desire of the singer to reveal the identity of the girl he has been in love with for a long time but he cannot do so until she reciprocates his feelings. He refers to her as "a certain girl" and "a certain chick" and refuses to divulge her name until he has won her over. The lyrics capture the yearning and frustration of unrequited love and the fear of rejection. The singer is willing to do anything to be with her, even if it means becoming her "slave."
The repetition of the refrain "What's her name? I can't tell you" creates a sense of mystery and intrigue around the girl who is the subject of the song. The fact that the singer has tried to make her his several times but has been unsuccessful implies that he has been rejected or friend-zoned. The upbeat tempo and catchy melody of the song contrast with the melancholy theme of unrequited love, making it an enjoyable and relatable tune.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a certain girl I've been in love with a long, long time
I have been in love with this particular girl for a very long time.
What's her name?
Can you tell me the name of this girl?
I can't tell you
I cannot reveal her name.
Ahh
An expression of frustration or disappointment.
I can't reveal her name until she's mine
I cannot tell you her name until I am in a committed relationship with her.
I've tried to make her time and time again
I have made several attempts to get her attention.
Still we're introduced as nothing but friends
Despite my efforts, she still introduces me as just a friend.
There's a certain chick I've been sweet on since I met her
Ever since I met her, I have been smitten with this particular girl.
I can't reveal her name until I get her
I will not tell you her name until I win her heart.
Someday I'm going to wake up and say
One day, I will finally realize.
I'll do anything just to be your slave
I will do anything to make her happy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALLEN TOUSSAINT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BlueSky...
Eric Clapton's blistering solo on this song is one of the best he ever played.
@barleyarrish
Blistering, yes I like that!
@Zoltan-sb2hh
❤
@threadbear
I love those 1960s girls. Elegant.
@matldn2697
I am far too young to hear this when it came out. But this is brilliant.
@redMaple_QC
The Yardbirds were the best
@peterhaynes8258
WHAT A GREAT ERA ! OUTSTANDING MUSIC.
@barleyarrish
Absobloominlutely Peter!
@SunshineGelb
I like Keith Relf's voice.😃
@sundemon1156
1960s chicks... the BEST.!