The Yardbirds is an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's… Read Full Bio ↴The Yardbirds is an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist and later bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The band is known for starting the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists. The band had a string of hits throughout the mid-1960s, including "For Your Love", "Heart Full of Soul", "Shapes of Things" and "Over Under Sideways Down".
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'.
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'.
Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine
The Yardbirds Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by The Yardbirds:
'm A Man Well, you pretty women Standing in line Make love to you, ba…
03. The Nazz Are Blue I'm searchin' for my baby Well, I think I'm gonna cry I'm…
13. Psycho Daisies Pennsylvania snow is pretty thick, Michigan ain't where I ge…
23 Hours Too Long Oh I mistreated my baby last night, woman from holding…
401. Shapes Of Things Shapes of things before my eyes Just teach me to despise Wil…
A Certain Girl There's a certain girl I've been in love with a…
A Train Kept Rolling Aboard a train I met a dame She was a hipster Man a…
Ain't Got You I say Blue - you say what Blue - what -…
Aint Done Wrong Yeah the bells have tolled, And my baby caught that train…Aint Got You I say Blue - you say what Blue - what -…
Baby Scratch My Back (Chris Dreja / Jim McCarty / Jeff Beck / Keith…
Baby What's Wrong By jimmy reed Oh baby, honey what's wrong with you? Well no…
Back Where I Started My wheels are burning to get away Can't stand the city…
Boom Boom Boom, boom, boom, boom I'm gonna shoot you right down Knock …
Bye Bye Bird Yeah, we know these sounds. These sounds belong to one man. …
Certain Girl There's a certain girl I've been in love with a…
Climbing Through The day's gonna come, Just wait and see, When we'll be toget…
Crying Out for Love You made it very clear How you feel about The way you…
Dazed & confused [Anderson Theatre version] I'm dazed and confused, Is it sta…
Dream Within a Dream Here I stand amid the roar Of a surf tormented shore And…
Drinking Muddy Water Well I've been running and a-hiding, Trying to lose my mind.…
Dust my blues When I get up in the morning, I believe I dust…
Ever Since The World Began Ever since the world began Satan's followed every man Trappi…
Evil Hearted Woman Evil hearted you. You always try to put me down, With the…
Farewell Looking at the world around For the very first time Never se…
Five Long Years Have you ever been mistreated? You know just what I'm…
For Your LKove For your love For your love (For your love) I'd give you…
For Your Love (feat. Eric Clapton) [2015 Remaster] For your love For your love For your love I'd give you every…
For Your Love * For your love For your love I'd give you everything and more…
Glimpses Glimpses of clouds in a forest, Can review well within us, A…
Good Mornin' Little School Girl Good morning, little schoolgirl. Good morning, little schoo…
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl Good morning, little schoolgirl. Good morning, little school…
Good Morning, Little Schoolgirl Good morning, little schoolgirl Good morning, little schoolg…
Goodmorninglittleschoolgirl Good morning, little schoolgirl. Good morning, little schoo…
Goodnight Sweet Josephine Goodnight sweet Josephine, She's the queen of Clapham. Every…
Got to Hurry (instrumental)…
Ha [Chorus] Ha ha said the clown Has the king lost his crown, I…
Hang on Sloopy (Russell / Farrell) Hang on sloopy, Sloopy, hang on. Hang…
Happenings 10 Years Times Ago Meeting people along my way Seemingly I've known one day Fam…
Happenings Ten Years Time Ago (Mono) Meeting people on my way Seemingly I've known one day Famili…
He's Alway There You're looking my way That's good to see Well, how I'm think…
Heart Full Sick at heart and lonely Deep in dark despair Thinking one t…
Heart Full of Soul With Jimmy Page Sick at heart and lonely Deep in dark despair Thinking one…
Heart Full Of Soul (Sitar Sick at heart and lonely, deep in dark despair When you…
Heartful Of Soul Sick at heart and lonely Deep in dark despair Thinking one t…
he’s always there You're looking my way That's good to see Well, how I'm think…
Henry's Coming Home (Jim McCarty / Keith Relf) Henry's coming home, Wonder if …
Here 'Tis I sing... I sing... Yeah, now, I love my baby, And my baby…
He’s Always There (Chris Dreja / Jim McCarty / Jeff Beck / Keith…
Honey In Your Hips When I get out on the dancing floor, There ain't no…
Hot House of Omagararshid Hot House of Omagararshid has no proper lyrics. The words…
I Ain't Done No Wrong Yeah the bells have tolled, And my baby caught that train…
I Ain't Done Wrong (2015 Remaster) (Keith Relf) (Studio version) Yeah the bells have tolled, An…
I Ain't Got You I got a Maserati G.T. With snakeskin upholstery. I got a cha…
I Ain't Got You (2015 Remaster) For all night, Dwight Got a '56 Cadillac With a spare tire…
I Ain’t Got You I got a Maserati G.T. With snakeskin upholstery. I got a cha…
I Am A Man Well, you pretty women Standing in line Make love to you, ba…
I Can't Make Your Way I can't make your way Silly men, they all get worried Live…
I Can’t Make Your Way I can't make your way. Silly men, they all get worried, Li…
I Got Love If You Want It Got love if you want it, babe, Got love if you…
I Remember The Night I remember the night, I was holding you tight, And I'll neve…
I See a Man Downstairs Ain't but one way out Lord, I ain't goin' out that…
I Wish You Would Early in the morning, 'bout the break of day That's when…
I Wish You Would (Live Crawdaddy Club 1963) Early in the morning, 'bout the break of day, That's when…
I'm A Man Well, you pretty women Standing in line Make love to you, ba…
I'm Confused (Jake Holmes, arr. Yardbirds) Anderson Theatre version I′m d…
I'm Not Talkin' EP version I'm not talking, Well that's all I got to say. Us…
I'm Not Talking (2015 Remaster) EP version I'm not talking, Well that's what I got to say. …
I'm NotTalking EP version I'm not talking, Well that's all I got to say. Us…
I'm Talking About You Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know, I found…
I've Been Wrong Yeah the bells have tolled, And my baby caught that train…
IM A MAN Well, you pretty women Standing in line Make love to you, ba…
Im Not Talking EP version I'm not talking, Well that's all I got to say. Us…
I’m a Man Well, you pretty women Standing in line Make love to you, ba…
I’m Confused (Jake Holmes, arr. Yardbirds) Anderson Theatre version I'm d…
I’m Not Talking EP version I'm not talking, Well that's all I got to say. Us…
I’ve Been Wrong Yeah the bells have tolled, And my baby caught that train…
Jeff's Boogie (instrumental)…
Jimmy Page-Interview-Goodnight Sweet Josephine Goodnight sweet Josephine, She's the queen of Clapham. Every…
Knowing (Keith Relf) Laughed and loved, when others sang, Their so…
Let It Rock In the evening of the day down in Mobile, Alabama, Working…
Little Games Little games are for little boys I'm growin' up and changin'…
Little Red Rooster I have a little red rooster, too lazy to crow…
Little Soldier Boy Little wooden soldier boy, How he's bored to be a toy. Sitti…
Lost Woman Don't know where to run to Don't know where to hide See…
Lost Women Meeting people on my way Seemingly I've known one day Famili…
Louise [Chorus:] Oh Louise, yes you're the sweetest girl I know. Do…
Love Me Like I Love You If you love me, Like I love you, We can keep on, Forever…
mister you're a better man than i Can you judge a man By the way he wears his…
Most Likely You'll Go Your Way (Bob Dylan) You say you love me, And you're thinkin' of me…
Mr Zero Diamonds of silvery rain in the fountains And ten-cent red r…
Mr. Saboteur (James McCarty) He's Just 'round the corner Nobody will wa…
Mr. You Are a Better Man Than I Can you judge a man By the way he wears his…
Mr. You're a Better Man than I Can you judge a man By the way he wears his…
Mr. Zero Diamonds of silvery rain in the fountains And ten-cent red r…
My Baby Anderson Theatre version And when they say that lovers feign…
My Blind Life Feet on the sidewalk I feel kinda sick Hands out front I …
My Girl Sloopy Hang on sloopy, Sloopy, hang on. Hang on sloopy, Sloopy, han…
My Little Cabin (Rice Miller Williamson) In my one room little cabin, Just m…
Mystery of Being In the mystery of being Sometimes when it's not so easy…
Nazz Are Blue I'm searchin' for my baby Well, I think I'm gonna cry I'm…
New York City If you've ever been to New York City, You know what…
No Excess Baggage I'm moving, I'm gonna see the world while I can. I'm moving,…
Only The Black Rose Gone, gone away, Gone away, Almost nothing to do. Gone away…
Out On The Water Coast I want you to meet me Out on the water coast I…
Over Under Sideays Down Hey Hey Hey Hey Cars and girls are easy come by in this day…
Over, Under, Sideways, Down (Mono) Shapes of things before my eyes, Just teach me to despise. W…
Over... Hey Hey Hey Hey Cars and girls are easy come by in this day…
Paff ... Bum (G. Reverbel / Bardotti / Paul Samwell-Smith) Paff... bum, …
Paff... Bum Paff... bum, Thats the sound of love. Paff... bum, That's…
Pafff... Bum (G. Reverbel / Bardotti / Paul Samwell-Smith) Paff... bum, T…
Please Don't Tell Me 'Bout the News (James McCarty) You can read it in the morning You can rea…
Pontiac Blues I found out what my baby likes I found out what…
Pounds and Stomps Instrumental, NO LYRICS…
Pretty Girl [Chorus:] Pretty girl you are the light of my life, I mean…
Psycho Daisies Pennsylvania snow is pretty thick, Michigan ain't where I ge…
Psycho Daisies - Mono Pennsylvania snow is pretty thick Michigan ain't where I get…
Putty You say hop and I'll hop, You say stop and I'll…
Putty (In Your Hands) (J. Patton / K. Rogers) You say hop and I'll hop, You…
Putty in Your Arms You say hop and I'll hop, You say stop and I'll…
Putty in Your Hands (2015 Remaster) J. Patton / K. Rogers) You say hop and I'll hop, You…
Puzzles You never talk straight to me, It's all puzzles to me. If…
Questa Volta (Satti / Dinamo / Mogol) Lo so, non mi credi perché…
Rack My Mind Baby, I got a problem Don't know what to do Baby, I…
Respectable She's so respectable She's so respectable Tell me, what kind…
Scratch My Back (Chris Dreja / Jim McCarty / Jeff Beck / Keith…
Shape of Things Shapes of things before my eyes Just teach me to despise W…
Shapes In My Mind Simon Napier Bell Shapes in my mind My eyes are closed The c…
Shapes Of Things Shapes of things before my eyes Just teach me to despise Wil…
She Is So Respectable/Humpty Dumpty She's so respectable, She's so respectable, Tell me, what …
Sitting On Top Of The World Was all the summer and all the fall Just trying to…
Sky Is Crying The sky is crying, Can you see the tears roll down…
Smile On Me Smile on me baby, Make me feel like summer's here. Smile on…
Smoke Stack Lightnin' Yeah, smokestack lightning Don't you hear me callin'? Do…
Smokestack Lightnin' Yeah, smokestack lightning Don't you hear me callin'? Don't …
Smokestack Lightning Yeah, smokestack lightning Don't you hear me callin'? Don'…
Smokestack Lightning (Live Crawdaddy Club 1963) Five Live Yardbirds version Yeah, smokestack lightning, Don'…
Smokestake Lightnin' Ah oh, smokestack lightnin′ Shinin' just like gold Why don′t…
and many more tracks by The Yardbirds.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@raymondkitchen6137
I see Keith had no problem finding the open bar. 🤣
@summerlove521
I LOVE YOU
@georgeboyd9514
very poor