Jesse Colin Young got his start as a solo act on the folk circuits of Boston and New York and had already cut a couple of unsuccessful albums before deciding to form a band with guitarist Jerry Corbitt. After a failed single called "My Babe", they hired aspiring jazz drummer Joe Bauer and guitarist/pianist Lowell Levinger III, better known simply as "Banana". Young began playing bass when several candidates-- including Felix Pappalardi and Harvey Brooks (later of The Electric Flag)--proved incompatible, and the quartet took the name 'Youngbloods' from the singer's second solo album.
The group was eventually selected as the house band at New York's famed Cafe Au Go Go and established itself as a leading folk rock/good time attraction. Their sound would temper their blues and jugband influences with gentle California psychedelia, particularly after they moved to the San Francisco Bay area.
While Young was always the focal point of the band, their first two albums also had songwriting contributions from Corbitt. Their first single, Grizzly Bear, was a local hit. Their second attempt, Get Together, didn't do much better when it was first released. This Dino Valenti song had previously been recorded by the Jefferson Airplane, but The Youngbloods' slow, soulful interpretation of "Get Together" was definitive. The record faded quickly but suddenly rocketed to the Top 10 when it was re-released in 1969 after being used in a television public service ad. The tune was subsequently adopted as a counterculture anthem.
By that time, Corbitt had left. The Youngbloods, reduced to a trio, were living in Marin County, CA. 1969's Elephant Mountain was produced by country artist Charlie Daniels. Reflecting the mellowing influence of San Francisco psychedelia, it was their best effort, featuring some of Young's best songs. They released a few more albums in the early '70s (some live), but on these, the mellow California rock sound had begun to turn lame and wimpy.
Further albums by Bauer, Levinger and Young were marred by inconsistency. A friend from the Boston days, Michael Kane, joined the band in the spring of 1971, but they split the following year when Young left the band. Levinger, Bauer and Kane continued as Banana And The Bunch, but this occasional venture subsequently folded.
Jesse Colin Young went on to have a long and moderately successful career as a solo singer-songwriter.
Foolin' Around
The Youngbloods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The evening settles down
In my heart, loneliness
Black clouds surround
I ain′t got time for
I ain't got time for
Foolin′ around
Hard and cold, bought and sold
The eyes that couldn't see
In those eyes, laughing liars
Where warmth could never be
For me, yeah
I ain′t got time for
I ain′t got time for
Foolin' around
Foolin′ around with you
Bright and bold, young and old
The morning comes again
In my heart, loneliness
The pain that never ends
Never end, yeah
I ain't got time for
I ain′t got time for
Foolin' around
Foolin′ around with you
The Youngbloods' song "Foolin' Around" is a poignant exploration of loneliness and the necessity of moving on from a relationship that only brings pain. Through the use of contrasting imagery such as "long, low, soft and slow" juxtaposed with "hard and cold, bought and sold," the songwriter conveys a sense of unease and emptiness in the singer's heart. The first two stanzas describe the singer's feeling of loneliness and the dark clouds that seem to surround him/her. The use of "low" and "soft" suggests the calm before the storm, a lull before the wave of emotions hits.
The chorus is a repetition of the line "I ain't got time for foolin' around with you," highlighting the singer's urgency to move on and not linger in a relationship that isn't fulfilling. The third stanza introduces a glimmer of hope with the morning's arrival, yet the pain of loneliness still persists within the singer's heart. Overall, the song presents an emotionally charged message about the necessity of self-care over a relationship that only brings pain.
Line by Line Meaning
Long, low, soft and slow
The evening is calm and peaceful.
The evening settles down
Nighttime has arrived and things are calming down.
In my heart, loneliness
The singer is feeling lonely.
Black clouds surround
The singer feels surrounded by negative emotions.
I ain't got time for
The singer is too busy for
I ain't got time for
The singer is too busy for
Foolin' around
Wasting time on something unimportant.
Foolin' around with you
The singer is specifically too busy for wasting time with the person addressed in the song.
Hard and cold, bought and sold
The singer is describing a person who is unfeeling, and willing to compromise their principles for personal gain.
The eyes that couldn't see
This person is described as being blind to the emotional needs of others.
In those eyes, laughing liars
The person has an untrustworthy and unkind demeanor.
Where warmth could never be
This person has a cold, unfeeling nature that precludes true emotional connection.
For me, yeah
The singer is aware that this person is not right for them.
Bright and bold, young and old
The morning has come and the world is new and exciting.
In my heart, loneliness
Despite the brightness of the morning, the singer is still lonely.
The pain that never ends
This loneliness is causing the singer great emotional pain.
Never end, yeah
The singer is aware that this pain is persistent and ongoing.
I ain't got time for
The singer is too busy for
I ain't got time for
The singer is too busy for
Foolin' around
Wasting time on something unimportant.
Foolin' around with you
The singer is specifically too busy for wasting time with the person addressed in the song.
Writer(s): Jesse Colin Young, Colin Young Jesse
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.