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'.
Respectable
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's so respectable
Tell me, what kind of girl is this?
-- What kind of girl is this?
She's never ever been kissed
-- What kind of girl?
Rubbidy dub dub dub
-- What kind of girl is this?She's never ever been in love
-- What kind of girl?
She's never been out in the moonlight
Watching the stars above
She's so respectable
Tell me, what kind of girl is this?
-- What kind of girl is this?
She's never ever been on a date
-- What kind of girl?
What kind of girl is this?
-- What kind of girl is this?
She's never ever been on a date
-- What kind of girl?
Yes, I'm telling you people
She's the kind of girl for me
She's so respectable
-- Did you love her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- Did you hug her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- Did you squeeze her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- Did you kiss her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- What kind of girl is this?
The kind of girl you just can't resist
The kind of girl who's never been kissed
Yeah, I'm telling you people
She's the kind of girl for me
-- She's so respectable
Wow!
She's so respectable
She is so respectable
Tell me, what kind of girl is this?
-- What kind of girl is this?
She never, ever, ever been kissed
-- What kind of girl?
Rubbidy rub dub dub
-- What kind of girl is this?
She never ever been in love
-- What kind of girl?
She never been out in the moonlight
Watching the stars above
-- She's so respectable
Tell me, what kind of girl is this?
-- What kind of girl is this?
She never ever been on a date
-- What kind of girl?
What kind of girl is this?
-- What kind of girl is this?
She never ever been on a date
-- What kind of girl?
Yes I'm telling you people
She the kind of girl for me
She's so respectable
-- Did you love her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- Did you hug her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- Did you squeeze her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- Did you kiss her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
-- What kind of girl is this?
The kind of girl you just can't resist
-- What kind of girl is this?
The kind of girl who's never been kissed
I'm going down on my knees
She'll go out with me
She's so respectable
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall
Humpty Dumpty had a big fall
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
She's so respectable
Tell me
Please tell me
She's the kind of girl for me
The Yardbirds' "Respectable" is a playful ode to a young woman who's never been kissed, in love, or out on a date. The lyrics describe the girl's innocence and purity, along with the singer's fascination with her. The chorus, "She's so respectable, Tell me, what kind of girl is this?" repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's captivation with this girl's unspoiled beauty. Despite his admiration for her, the singer assures listeners that he hasn't kissed, hugged, squeezed, or loved her yet. The ending of the song, where the singer goes down on his knees and asks for her to go out with him, adds a humorous and playful feel to the overall theme of the song.
Overall, the lyrics of "Respectable" celebrate purity and innocence, creating a fun and upbeat song that highlights the singer's captivation with an unspoiled girl. The repetition of the chorus adds to the playful, lighthearted tone of the song, emphasizing the singer's admiration of the girl.
Line by Line Meaning
She's so respectable
This girl is highly regarded and well-behaved in society
She's never ever been kissed
She has not yet experienced romantic love or physical intimacy with anyone
Rubbidy dub dub dub
This is an expressive sound without any specific meaning
She's never ever been in love
She has never felt or reciprocated the feeling of true love
She's never been out in the moonlight
Watching the stars above
She has not yet experienced romantic/romanticized settings or moments
She's never ever been on a date
She has not gone out with anyone officially or romantically
Yes, I'm telling you people
She's the kind of girl for me
The singer feels attracted to this girl despite her lack of love and dating experiences
Did you love her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
Did you hug her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
Did you squeeze her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
Did you kiss her?
No, no, no, no, no, no!
The artist did not express any romantic or physical affections towards this girl yet
The kind of girl you just can't resist
The kind of girl who's never been kissed
This girl's purity and innocence make her irresistible to the artist
Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall
Humpty Dumpty had a big fall
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again
Tell me
Tell me
Tell me
She's so respectable
Tell me
Please tell me
These lines are non-related lyrics added as fillers or for fun purposes
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MATTHEW JAMES AITKEN, PETER ALAN WATERMAN, MICHAEL STOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@millezenith
Great song thanks for uploading!
@izzy_is_oran9eyt694
Izzy love's British rock šø š Enjoy 1965.
@ticarde
Muito bom!!!
@MrDeadsurfer
Mick Jagger's "Respectable" borrows a line or two from this old classic.
@SVMOfficial
See The Yardbirds at Bush Hall, London on 21st November 2014 featuring original members Jim McCarty and Top Topham. Ā Tickets on sale here: http://www.bushhallmusic.co.uk/whats-on/events/21-nov-14-the-yardbirds-and-some-velvet-morning-bush-hall/ļ»æ
@famosisimo
This song was also done by The Outsisers. I don't know who was first.....
@samspade5824
It was done by The Isley Brothers.
@famosisimo
You are correct. I checked in another video confirms it. The Outsiders' version is the best for me. Thanks Sam.
@icfury
Also Joey Dee and the Starlighters did a version of this.
@carouselred8994
Originally written and recorded by the Isley Brothers on RCA Victor.