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'.
Turn Into Earth
The Yardbirds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Speak of cloudy summer skies
The morning dew turns into rain
Lonely winds will call my name
Dying leaves of seasons brown
Losing life as they drift down
Too soon in life return to EarthOnly they can know their worth
Distant dreams of things to be
Wandering thoughts that can't be free
I feel my mind turning away
To the darkness of my day
The lyrics of The Yardbirds's song Turn Into Earth are enigmatic and haunting, painting a picture of a restless, melancholic soul lost in their thoughts. The first two lines capture the singer's attention to a person with "restless hungry eyes", possibly indicating someone tormented by an inner turmoil. The singer seems to sense the possibility of this person's cloudy state of mind resulting in a downpour of rain. The next two lines suggest that the singer feels a sense of loneliness and estrangement, perhaps feeling a sense of disconnect with those around them. The image of the dying leaves and the changing of the seasons demonstrates the singer's awareness of the fleeting, ephemeral nature of life. In this poignant moment, the singer recognizes that dying leaves that return to the Earth hold a worth only they know.
The final lines of the song leave an ominous taste, as the singer's thoughts "wander" away from them, engulfing them in "the darkness of the day." They may be lost in their minds, unable to find solace in their current state of being. Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of deep longing, of grasping towards something that can never be reached, and accepting the fleeting nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
How your restless hungry eyes
Your eyes are always seeking something. They are always active and searching for more.
Speak of cloudy summer skies
The way you look tells me that you have a lot on your mind, perhaps like a dark cloud on a sunny day.
The morning dew, turns into rain
A new day's hope can often fade and turn into something less happy or expected.
Lonely winds will call my name
The sadness and isolation inside can be so overwhelming that you hear it echoed back in the wind.
Dying leaves of seasons brown
The cycle of life and death is happening all around us, and we are not immune from it.
Losing life as they drift down
As these leaves lose their hold on life, they drift aimlessly and surrenders to their fate.
Too soon in life, return to earth
Death can come at any time and too early in life. We all eventually must return to the ground.
Only they can know their worth
Each person knows deep inside themselves what they have accomplished and what they find meaningful in life.
Distant dreams of things to be
We all have hopes and dreams that often feel out of reach or far away.
Wandering thoughts that can't be free
Our thoughts often feel scattered and unable to be controlled. We desperately seek to free ourselves from them.
I feel my mind turning away
I'm losing my grip on my thoughts and emotions, and I'm detaching from reality.
To the darkness of my day
I'm moving away from the light and hope, and deeper into sadness and despair.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Samwell-Smith, Rosemary Simon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NigarSuleyman99
How your restless hungry eyes
Speak of cloudy summer skies
The morning dew, turns into rain
Lonely winds will call my name
Dying leaves of seasons brown
Losing life as they drift down
Too soon in life, return to earth
Only they can know their worth
Distant dreams of things to be
Wandering thoughts that can't be free
I feel my mind turning away
To the darkness of my day
@batteredup
The album "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" by Pink Floyd came first in the psychedelic genre in early 66. I've read that the 13th floor Elevators was the first band to bill themselves as a psychedelic rock band in 66.
Pink Floyd was started by Syd Barrett, who played lead guitar, sang lead and did nearly all the songwriting for this first album and the first four singles, which also had terrific but obscure B-side songs, like Candy and a Currant bun, Bike, Paint Box, Scarecrow and The Gnome. He was the creative force behind the band. He had a mental breakdown from drugs, schizophrenia and the overwhelming demand for him to write more hit songs after Arnold Layne and See Emily Play and it wore him down and crushed him psychologically.
The rest of the band learned to write music from his lead. Check out the live version of Interstellar Overdrive they did at the UFO club (link at end of my post) in London in 66 with this documentary coming out in 67 I believe. The Floyd were becoming so big at that point that the show drew big rock stars like McCartney, Jagger and more attended these shows while PInk Floyd was the house band to learn what they were doing. Even Yoko (who hadn't met John at this point) was here.
I think it was Richard Wright, keyboardist of the band, who said that in the early days, while Syd was still on his game, that all the creative ideas came from Syd, and the others followed along.
Syd came to the US in late 65 and saw a band with a few lights on stage and got the idea for liquid-flowing colored objects being projected in the background for the first ever light show used by a live band. Syd was the genius that schooled Roger Waters, Wright, Nick Mason and David Gilmour who was a friend of Syd from schooldays. Syd also has a couple solo albums done after the breakdown. He left behind an incredible legacy and a lot of brilliant music done over an 18-month period when he was at the top of his game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUHMltEOLds
@CrocodileCookies
"I don't think running will save you."
@davsny5
"I remember! I remember everything!"
@Roqley
Demon: Hey i know you, You're supposed to be dead!
Castiel: Yes, I've heard "SMITES"
@carsoncasmirri3874
That was Beautiful Clarence
@ErraticConduct
I believe in the little tree topper
@psgamer3741
Why meg calls cas clarance
@carsoncasmirri3874
@@psgamer3741 it’s a reference to the Angel Clarence from the Christmas movie It’s a Wonderful Life
@nyishaslaughter2610
I'm Sorry, Dean
@dylanmoodley1625
Just shazamed this song whilst watching Clarence take on a host of demons , felt good
@hybrid6461
"it's just like riding a bike..... I don't know how to do that either... "