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 Renaissance and guitarist Jimmy Page formed Led Zeppelin - the latter of which was initially intended as a direct successor to the Yardbirds.
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. Dreja left the band in 2012, leaving McCarty as the sole original member of the band in the present lineup.
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.
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".
Heart Full Of Soul
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deep in dark despair
Thinking one thought only
"Where is she, tell me where?"
And if she says to you
She don't love me
Just give her my message
And I know
Well, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
And I know
If she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
She's been gone such a long time
Longer than I can bear
But if she says she wants me
Tell her that I'll be there
And if she says to you
She don't love me
Just give her my message
Tell her of my plea
And I know
Well, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
"Heart Full of Soul" by The Yardbirds is a song about heartbreak and longing. The opening lines of the song aptly describe the sadness and despair of the singer, who is deeply in love with someone who has left him. The singer's thoughts are consumed with finding this person and wondering if she still loves him. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the singer's desire to be reunited with his former love, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to make her happy and never cause her sadness again. The singer's strong emotions are reflected in the haunting melody and powerful vocals.
The verses of the song convey a sense of resignation and sadness, while the chorus is more upbeat and hopeful. Overall, the song's lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to forgive and forget the past in order to be with his beloved once again. Despite the singer's heart full of soul, he can't help feeling a sense of sadness and despair without his former love.
Line by Line Meaning
Sick at heart and lonely
Feeling deeply saddened and isolated.
Deep in dark despair
Feeling hopeless and overcome with grief.
Thinking one thought only
Obsessively focused on the whereabouts of a lost love.
"Where is she, tell me where?"
Desperately seeking information about the location of a lost love.
And if she says to you
She don't love me
Asking a mutual acquaintance to convey a message to the lost love.
Just give her my message
Tell her of my plea
Urgently pleading for the lost love to hear their message of remorse and longing.
And I know
Well, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
Expressing confidence that, if given a second chance, they would treat the lost love with the tenderness and care they deserve.
She's been gone such a long time
Longer than I can bear
Admitting to the unbearable pain of being separated from the lost love.
But if she says she wants me
Tell her that I'll be there
Vowing to be there for the lost love if they express a desire for reconciliation.
And if she says to you
She don't love me
Repeating the request to convey a message to the lost love in case they didn't hear it the first time.
Just give her my message
Tell her of my plea
Reiterating the urgent plea for the lost love to hear their message of remorse and longing.
And I know
Well, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
Restating the sincere desire to prove their love and devotion to the lost love.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Graham Gouldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
CHF 92
Sick at heart and lonely
Deep in dark despair
Thinking one thought only
"Where is she, tell me where?"
And if she says to you
She don't love me
Just give her my message
Tell her of my plea
And I know
Well, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
And I know
If she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
She's been gone such a long time
Longer than I can bear
But if she says she wants me
Tell her that I'll be there
And if she says to you
She don't love me
Just give her my message
Tell her of my plea
And I know
Well, if she had me back again
Oh, I would never make her sad
I've got a heart full of soul
비정한세상
"Heart Full of Soul" - Yardbirds
Sick at heart and lonely,
deep in dark despair.
Thinking one thought only
where is she tell me where.
And if she says to you
she don't love me
just give her my message
tell her of my plea
And I know if she had me back again
well I would never make her sad.
I've gotta heart full of soul.
SoloAnd I know if she had me back again
well I would never make her sad.
I've gotta heart full of soul.
She's been gone such a long time
longer than I can bear
but if she says she wants me
tell her that I'll be there
And if she says to you
she don't love me
just give her my message
tell her of my plea.
And I know if she had me back again
well I would never make her sad.
I've gotta heart full of soul.
clappersox
Great song! Keith Relf really doesn't get the respect he's due.
Ralph Reilly
Oh please. He was a legend.
Lester Johnston
So true
Keith Garcia
Always the forgotten Keith (ironic I know coming from me) but still deserves as much recognition as Moon and Richards despite his shortened career. Glad my parents had an affinity for 60s music.
Mark Belmares
One of best English hard rock groups of the British Invasion. Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page. All passed through the Yardbirds.
Mexico Fundado Por la Masoneria
keith relf,jim,chris dreja,paul smith,amazing all
Robert Maimone
What a masterpiece, pure magic, the birth of electric rock! Too bad music today has no soul!
smartalek180
"90% of everything is [trash]" -- Theodore Sturgeon
He was writing abt the genre of syfy @ the time, defending it against criticism from literary snobs, but it's true of all arts. We're seeing the cream (as it were) of the past here on YT; the trash is forgotten. There's still genius work being produced now -- u just have to dig for it (just as u did back in the day).
Brenda Drumm
Loved the song since day one I'm now 72 lol but there are still lovely songs out today the shires I see stars and funny enough the group 5 seconds of summers new one not in the same beat as heartful of soul but beautiful x
Low Profile
So true.