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'.
Smokestake Lightnin'
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Shinin' just like gold
Why don′t ya hear me cryin'?
A whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whoo
Whoa oh tell me, baby
What's the matter with you?
Why don′t ya hear me cryin′?
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whoooWhoa oh tell me, baby
Where did ya, stay last night?
A-why don't ya hear me cryin′?
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whooo
Whoa oh, stop your train
Let a poor boy ride
Why don't ya hear me cryin′?
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whooo
Whoa oh, fare ya well
Never see, a you no more
A-why don't ya hear me cryin′?
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whooo
Whoa oh, who been here baby since
I, I been gone, a little bitty boy?
Girl, be on
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whooo
The lyrics to The Yardbirds' "Smokestack Lightnin'" can be interpreted as a lamentation about a failed relationship. The opening lines "Ah oh, smokestack lightnin'/Shinin' just like gold" can be seen as a metaphor for the golden moments of the relationship that are now gone. The repeated lines "Why don't ya hear me cryin'?" and "Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whooo" evoke a sense of desperation and longing for the attention and recognition of the person the singer is addressing.
The next lines "Tell me, baby/What's the matter with you?/Why don't ya hear me cryin'?" clearly express the singer's frustration with the lack of emotional response from their partner. The plea "Stop your train/Let a poor boy ride" suggests a desire for a second chance or an opportunity to improve the situation. However, the final lines "Fare ya well/Never see, a you no more" and "Who been here baby since/I, I been gone, a little bitty boy?" may indicate that the relationship is already over and the singer is resigned to moving on.
Overall, "Smokestack Lightnin'" is a blues song that captures the pain and heartbreak of a failed relationship through powerful and emotional lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah oh, smokestack lightnin'
The singer sees smokestack lightnin' and expresses surprise and wonder at it.
Shinin' just like gold
The smokestack lightnin' is shining brightly like gold.
Why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The singer is crying out for attention but the listener is not responding.
A whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whoo
This is an expression of the artist's emotional state.
Whoa oh tell me, baby
The artist is pleading for an answer from the listener.
What's the matter with you?
The singer is trying to find out why the listener is not responding.
Where did ya stay last night?
The singer is asking the listener where they were the previous night.
A-why don't ya hear me cryin'?
The artist is still crying out for attention but the listener is still not responding.
Whoa oh, stop your train
The artist is pleading for the train to be stopped.
Let a poor boy ride
The artist is asking to be given a chance to ride on the train.
Fare ya well
The singer is saying goodbye.
Never see, a you no more
The artist is expressing sadness at the thought of never seeing the listener again.
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whooo
This is an expression of the singer's emotional state.
Whoa oh, who been here baby since
The singer is asking the listener who has been with them since they were a child.
I, I been gone, a little bitty boy?
The singer is asking the listener if they remember them from when they were a child.
Girl, be on
The artist is telling the listener to move on.
Whoo hoo, whoo hoo, whooo
This is an expression of the artist's emotional state.
Writer(s): Chester Burnett
Contributed by Levi M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@eugenecotes4987
Yeah, smokestack lightning
Don't you hear me callin'?
Don't you hear me callin'? Well, well
Tell me where did you go last night?
I gotta know who you been with
Tell me where did you go last night? Well, well
You gotta stop your train
Let me go for a ride, pretty baby, you know
Stop your train, I gotta ride with you
Gotta ride with you
I gotta ride with you
Fare you well, goodbye, pretty baby
Fare you well, goodbye, goodbye
I never see nobody little baby, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
Yeah, smokestack lightning
Shining like gold
Don't you hear me callin'? Well, well
You gotta stop your train
Let me go for a ride, gotta ride with you
Stop your train and ride with you, now
@snakebait5118
July of 64, I was 13 years old and I remember this song like it was yesterday. These were dark days for me being a victim in a dysfunctional family. It's all good. I'm 71 and have been happily married to my bride of 48 years who gave me two beautiful daughters who are successful in life!
@jasonpowell8832
I wasn’t born till 78 (also a good year in music) but I luckily got to listen and learn from my two uncles and moms records. I’d spend hours listening and attempting to play on my toy guitar.
@chrisnewport6242
Quality ! You got lucky my friend . I was born too late in 67 but so greatfull of the Mod revival in 79 . Still into the Mod scene today and its how i took interest and descovered the Yardbirds genious . Life was given to us to enjoy and these guys make it all happen never gathering cobwebs . 👌
@grokeffer6226
👍👍👍
@billhorstkamp98
God bless you and your wife ❤
@snakebait5118
@@billhorstkamp98 He certainly has, thank you!
@walterfechter8080
I'm forever grateful that the Blues swept over Britain like a sonic tsunami. So many artists caught that soul fever -- Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Alexis Korner, John Mayall, Peter Green, Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, Van Morrison, et al. Yardbirds were bruisin' -- then as now.
@williamthompson9261
Smokestack Lightning made me wanna b a harp player over50 years ago! Playing harp is fantastic for your heart! It’s never too late! BT
@ML-rg9dn
One of my favourite all-time LPs Five Live Yardbirds. Smokestack Lightening. I was then switched onto Rhythm and Blues. Then John Mayall and The Blues breakers etc etc
Saw Yardbirds at The Dungeon Club, Nottingham Feb 1965, I was 16. I stood right in front of Eric Clapton, I was in heaven!
@MissMyPonytail
Except for The Dungeon Club (I lived in Seattle), we could be clones!