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'.
I'm A Man
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing in line
Make love to you, baby
In an hour's time
Now I'm a man
I spell M-A-N, ooh
The line I shoot
Will never miss
Make love to you, baby
You can't resist
Now I'm a man
I spell M-A-N
Man
Goin' back down
To Kansas too
Bring back a little girl
Just like you
Now I'm a man
I spell M-A-N
Man
The lyrics to The Yardbirds' song "I'm A Man" can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible interpretation is that the song is about male sexual power and confidence. The singer of the song boasts about his ability to seduce women and satisfy them sexually, using his manhood as a symbol of his prowess. The repetition of the spelling of "M-A-N" emphasizes the singer's masculinity, while the references to going to Kansas and bringing back a girl like the one in line suggest that he sees women as interchangeable objects to be conquered.
The chorus of the song, "Now I'm a man," can be seen as a declaration of the singer's maturity and self-importance, although it may also suggest a certain insecurity or desire for validation. The line "The line I shoot will never miss" could be interpreted as a reference to the singer's sexual prowess, but it could also be seen as a metaphor for his ability to achieve his goals more generally.
Overall, "I'm a Man" is a song that celebrates masculine power and confidence, but it also reveals some of the anxieties and doubts that can underlie such bravado.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you pretty women
Addressing a group of attractive women
Standing in line
The women are all waiting patiently
Make love to you, baby
Expressing a desire to engage in sexual activity
In an hour's time
Implying confidence in ability to please
Now I'm a man
Asserting masculinity
I spell M-A-N, ooh
Confirming the spelling of 'man', perhaps to emphasize it
The line I shoot
Referring to his pick-up lines and flirting techniques
Will never miss
Confident in the effectiveness of his methods
Make love to you, baby
Repeating the desire for sexual activity
You can't resist
Implying that the women are powerless to his charms
Now I'm a man
Reinforcing his masculinity
I spell M-A-N
Reiterating the spelling of 'man'
Man
Final confirmation of his identity and masculinity
Goin' back down
Returning to a previous location
To Kansas too
Specifically to Kansas
Bring back a little girl
Referring to another woman he intends to woo
Just like you
Comparing the new woman to the ones he is currently addressing
Now I'm a man
Concluding the song with a final assertion of masculinity
I spell M-A-N
Repeating the assertion
Man
Final confirmation
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Ellas McDaniel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1blastman
This is still one of my top five studio recordings of all time. Even Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters liked this version. I can still feel the energy.
@takodabostwick8507
Sad to see Jeff Beck go! Such a talented 🎸 player and one of the best of all time! His guitar playing and music will live on forever. RIP Jeff Beck!
@mrsugmad
This is Jimmy Page on guitar......
@davidwelch5186
I'm not sad,, I saw the Jeff beck blues band when rod stewert was the singer. Fillmore west San Francisco. 1968
I have been very lucky.
@KennethLeary-q1p
@mrsugmad ,no this song was recorded in 1965.Jimmy Page didn't join the group until 1966.
I saw him play the song with the Yardbirds live,but he wasn't on this original recording.
@StephanieHettinger-si9ur
Plus the guy was a world class car builder from the axles to the roof.
Pluses he could build engines,do body and fender work and spray paint.
Plus,he was funny as hell.I have seen so many pics over the years with him hanging out with his homeboy Jimmy Page.
Page would be doubled over in laughter over something Jeff Beck said.Plus in interviews,he was a very witty dude.
I know that he's in a better place.May GOD rest his soul.He was a good man.
@glennholland1107
Only problem when this was recorded it was Clapton on lead
@KennethLeary-q1p
The Yardbirbs kiced ass!! Iwas 12 years old when I first them in 1965.
They blew me away.Great band!!!
@kenassfktard7362
The Yardbirds were a phenomenal Band
@KennethLeary-q1p
The Yardbirds were contemporaries of the Baetles and the Stones
These Guys all hung out together and were friends.Lennon/McCartney and Jagge/ Richard's were phenomenal song writing duos
But musicianship wise,the Yardbirds could play circles around both the Beatles and the Stones.imho.