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'.
Got Love If You Want It
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got love if you want it, babe,
Got love if you want it,
Got love if you want it,
Got love if you want it, babe,
We could rock all the while,
We could rock all the while.
Quit teasing me baby,
Quit teasing me baby,
With your fine diamond ring,
With your fine diamond ring.
You know if you'd love me babe,
I'd give you everything,
I'd give you everything.
Now here you come baby,
Now here you come baby,
With your head hanging down,
With your head hanging down.
I know you've been balling, babe,
Talk's all over town,
Talk's all over town.
Our next door neighbour,
Our next door neighbour,
Peeping through her blind,
Peeping through her blind.
I know you've been cheating baby,
(That's all the signs / decided?)
I love you little woman,
I love you little woman,
I want you to myself,
I know you've been (cheating me babe?)
For somebody else,
For somebody else,
For somebody else,
For somebody else.
The Yardbirds' "Got Love If You Want It" is a classic blues-rock song that's been covered and reimagined by many artists. On the surface, the lyrics seem simple - the singer is telling a woman that he loves her and wants to be with her - but there are a few nuances worth exploring.
The first verse establishes that the singer is offering his love to the woman, and that they could "rock all the while" if she accepts his offer. The repetition of the phrase "got love if you want it" emphasizes that the singer is eager to give his affection but is waiting for the woman to reciprocate. The second verse plays off the typical imagery of men giving women expensive gifts to win their affection - the woman has a "fine diamond ring," but the singer suggests that his love is worth much more. He says that he would give her "everything" if she would just love him back.
The third verse is where the song takes a darker turn. The woman comes to the singer with her "head hanging down," and he surmises that she's been "balling," or cheating on him. The line "talk's all over town" suggests that the community is gossiping about the woman's infidelity. The fourth verse reinforces this idea - the next-door neighbor is "peeping through her blind" and likely watching the woman's every move. The singer still professes his love for the woman, but he acknowledges that she's "cheating [him] for somebody else."
Overall, "Got Love If You Want It" is a song about unrequited love and infidelity, set to a catchy bluesy groove. The contrast between the upbeat music and the darker lyrics gives the song an ironic edge.
Line by Line Meaning
Got love if you want it, babe,
I have love to give you, if you're interested.
Got love if you want it,
I have love to give, if you're open to receiving it.
We could rock all the while,
We could dance and have a good time together, without any worries or cares.
Quit teasing me baby,
Stop playing with my emotions and give me a straight answer.
With your fine diamond ring,
Despite your fancy possessions, I just want your love.
You know if you'd love me babe,
If you had feelings for me, I would do anything for you.
Now here you come baby,
I see you approaching me now.
With your head hanging down,
Looking ashamed or guilty.
I know you've been balling, babe,
I'm aware that you've been spending time with other people in a romantic context.
Talk's all over town,
Rumors and gossip about your infidelity are circulating widely.
Our next door neighbour,
Even our neighbor is aware of your actions.
Peeping through her blind,
She's spying on us through her window.
I know you've been cheating baby,
I've discovered that you've been unfaithful to me.
I love you little woman,
Despite everything, I still have feelings for you.
I want you to myself,
I don't want to share you with anyone else.
For somebody else,
You've been devoting your time and energy to another person, when I thought we had something special.
Contributed by Anthony J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@wanker9621
Good shit !