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.
Reason to Believe
The Youngbloods Lyrics
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I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself.
I'd find a way just to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe.
If I listened long enough to you
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else.
The Youngbloods' song "Reason to Believe" tells a story of a person who is struggling to move on from a relationship where they were lied to and betrayed. Despite knowing that their former partner was not truthful, they continue to search for a reason to believe the relationship was genuine. The lyrics express the internal conflict that comes with wanting to move on but feeling emotionally trapped by the memories of the past.
The song's opening line, "If I listened long enough to you, I'd find a way to believe that it's all true," emphasizes the power of persuasion and how someone's words can impact another person's perception of reality. However, the repetition of the phrase "knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried" reflects the singer's skepticism and reluctance to accept their former partner's lies. It is clear that the singer is torn between their desire to move on and their longing to hold on to something that may not even be real.
"Reason to Believe" is a relatable and emotionally charged song that captures the complexities of love and heartbreak. The lyrics reveal the inner battle between the need for closure and the desire to maintain a connection with someone they once loved.
Line by Line Meaning
If I listened long enough to you
Despite your lies, I'm still willing to hear you out.
I'd find a way to believe that it's all true
Your words could convince me of something that may not be true.
Knowing that you lied straight-faced while I cried
I am aware of your deceit, despite my emotional vulnerability.
Still I look to find a reason to believe.
I am searching for a way to justify my desire to believe in you.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Being with someone like you makes it difficult for me to live without a partner.
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself.
Your presence allows me to give easily, sometimes at the expense of my own needs and desires.
If I gave you time to change my mind
I am considering giving you a chance to alter my perspective.
I'd find a way just to leave the past behind
If you were successful in changing my mind, I would let go of my past grievances.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Being with someone like you makes it difficult for me to live without a partner.
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself.
Your presence allows me to give easily, sometimes at the expense of my own needs and desires.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else
Being with someone like you makes it difficult for me to live without a partner.
Someone like you makes it easy to give, never think about myself.
Your presence allows me to give easily, sometimes at the expense of my own needs and desires.
Someone like you makes it hard to live without somebody else.
Being with someone like you makes it difficult for me to live without a partner.
Contributed by Elizabeth N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.