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 Wish You Would
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's when my baby went away
Cryin' and pleadin' won't do no good
Come back, baby, I wish you would
Huggin' and a-kissin' late at night
I tell you now baby, I feel just right
Tell me now baby what you tryin' to do Tryin' to love me and some other man, too
Come now baby, give me one more chance
You know I still love you, want to be your man
Stayin' out drinkin' all night long
I tell you now baby I think it's wrong
Come back baby, I wish you would
Cryin' and pleadin' won't do no good
Tell me now baby what you tryin' to do
Tryin' to love me and some other man, too
Come now baby, give me one more chance
Come on
The Yardbirds's song "I Wish You Would" is a classic blues rock song that showcases the band's energetic and guitar-driven style. The lyrics describe a lover pleading for his partner to come back to him after she leaves him for another man. The first stanza sets the tone for the song, with the singer expressing his sadness over his lover's departure and his desperation for her to return. He acknowledges that crying and pleading won't change her mind, but he still hopes she'll come back to him.
The second stanza reveals the cause of the singer's heartbreak. He suspects his lover has been seeing someone else and asks her to stop the infidelity. He tells her he still loves her and wants to be with her, but she needs to choose between him or the other man. The third and fourth stanzas repeat the singer's plea for his lover to come back to him, and he expresses his disapproval of her going out and drinking all night.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Wish You Would" mix despair and hope, highlighting the singer's vulnerability and determination to win his lover back. The song's title “I Wish You Would” is an oft-used phrase in blues music, almost playing into a sense of necessity, just like many of the genres' tropes do.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the morning, 'bout the break of day
My baby left me early in the morning
That's when my baby went away
My baby left me
Cryin' and pleadin' won't do no good
I am sad that my baby left but crying and pleading won't bring my baby back
Come back, baby, I wish you would
I want my baby to come back to me
Huggin' and a-kissin' late at night
I love to be intimate with my baby late at night
I tell you now baby, I feel just right
I feel satisfied when I am intimate with my baby
Tell me now baby what you tryin' to do
I am curious about my baby's intentions
Tryin' to love me and some other man, too
I suspect my baby is trying to love me and someone else at the same time
Come now baby, give me one more chance
I still love my baby and want to be with them
You know I still love you, want to be your man
I want to be with my baby and be their partner
Stayin' out drinkin' all night long
I am upset that my baby stays out drinking all night
I tell you now baby I think it's wrong
I believe my baby's behavior is unacceptable
Come back baby, I wish you would
Once again, I want my baby to come back to me
Cryin' and pleadin' won't do no good
I am aware that crying and pleading is not effective
Tell me now baby what you tryin' to do
I still want to know my baby's intentions
Tryin' to love me and some other man, too
I am still suspicious that my baby is trying to love me and someone else at the same time
Come now baby, give me one more chance
I repeat my desire to be with my baby and be their partner
Come on
I am urging my baby to come back to me
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WILLIAM ARNOLD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@guydelusignan4272
I love Keith Relf's voice!
@josephfalco3141
Lays the foundation for hard rock....
@luciahelena4172
Excellent version! Thanks.
@vincentbuccieri9305
Only the Beginning for Master Clapton ,
In a Band that Churned Out Three of Rocks Greatest Guitarest's!
@ricardolivi9158
Best version!
@meloland5649
Wonderful version!
@JimMcCartyandCo
My fave song from the first era!... Well done, Chris! ;-)
@slugsucker446
You are the "Yardbirdsfan" for sure! Thanks again.
@raffa8736
Love this Yardbirds so Fab
@petrslivinski7481
I like the Jeff Beck years with The Yardbirds. Jeff has an incredible feel for that guitar: it has a voice all of its own.