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.
Quicksand
The Youngbloods Lyrics
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Quicksand forcing me to realize
Nothing that I see
Can get through this wall to me
This wall of quicksand closing in around my mind
Quicksand and I'm losing track of time
Sinking like a stone
Sinking into quicksand closing in around my heart
Quicksand teaching me further poems
From the things I feel
All that it can steal, taken and concealed
Not to be revealed about quicksand
From the things I feel
All that it can steal taken and concealed
Not to be revealed about quicksand
Talking about quicksand
Singing about quicksand
The lyrics of the Youngblood’s song ‘Quicksand’ represent a struggle - an individual’s existential battle against their own mind. In the first verse, the singer is being hindered by quicksand which they can’t see through - this signifies an internal struggle, where they are forced to confront their own limitations and fears.
As the song progresses, the quicksand is revealed as a metaphor for the singer’s emotional turmoil. The line "Sinking like a stone, all the dreams that I have ever known" represents the singer's world-view collapsing in upon itself, whilst the line "Quicksand teaching me further poems" suggests that this difficult period has the potential to be a learning experience.
Overall, ‘Quicksand’ is a powerful symbolic representation of the internal turmoil individuals feel during hard times. The poignant and repetitive chorus reflects the hopelessness and lack of solutions to an increasingly challenging situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Quicksand closing in around my eyes
I feel like I'm drowning in problems, and everything around me is becoming blurry
Quicksand forcing me to realize
My situation is getting worse, and I need to confront it
Nothing that I see
I can't find a way out of the issues I'm facing
Can get through this wall to me
I'm blocked from finding a solution to my problems
This wall of quicksand closing in around my mind
My mind is clouded, making it difficult to think clearly or solve problems
Quicksand and I'm losing track of time
The difficult situation I'm in is consuming my attention and causing me to lose touch with reality
Sinking like a stone
I feel like I'm sinking deeper and deeper into my problems
All the dreams that I have ever known
My ideas and aspirations are being suffocated by my current difficulties
Sinking into quicksand closing in around my heart
My emotional state has been affected by my problems, making it harder for me to cope
Quicksand teaching me further poems
I'm learning more about my difficulties and what I need to do to overcome them
From the things I feel
My emotions and thoughts are guiding me towards a solution
All that it can steal, taken and concealed
The difficulties I'm facing can take away my sense of hope and motivation
Not to be revealed about quicksand
It's hard to explain the issues I'm facing to others, as only I fully understand them
Talking about quicksand
The only way for me to move forward is to talk about my problems and find support
Singing about quicksand
This song is a way for me to express my feelings and find comfort in knowing that others may be going through the same thing
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Brett Matthew Creswell, Christian John Brien, Matthew Berend Slager, Nicholas Patrick Miller, Stuart Brady
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind