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.
Sham
The Youngbloods Lyrics
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There's gotta be a now baby
And if you wanna see somebody
You gotta see me now
You gotta see me now just like I am
Garden rose cut a little out of sym
You gotta strip off your disguises
If you're scared to touch somebody
You got to tell them now baby
Cause I don't want to love nobody
Scared to show my heart
In the heart in the heart I want to know right now if your heart is stoned
And you'd rather be left alone
If that cold look's in your eyes
There's nothing nothing nothing missing inside
Why don't you open up your mind
And leave all your pain behind
Let the sunshine in your days now
And I-I-I know you'll feel the heat
You got to be somebody baby
Don't you want to be somebody baby
Listen baby
Listen baby
Listen baby
Listen baby
The Youngbloods's song "Sham" is about authenticity and vulnerability in relationships. The opening lines of the song suggest that if you want to make a connection with someone, you have to be present in the moment and open to their company. The repetition of the phrase "you gotta see me now" emphasizes the importance of being seen and understood as one's true self. The singer urges the listener to shed their disguises and let them in, indicating a desire for honesty and transparency in the relationship.
The second stanza deals with the fear of intimacy and the consequences of withholding vulnerability. The willingness to touch or be touched is crucial in creating a deep connection with someone, but the singer acknowledges the difficulty of showing their own heart when faced with potential rejection. The lyrics suggest that true love requires taking these risks and being willing to expose oneself emotionally. The bridge of the song introduces the idea of the sun breaking through clouds and bringing warmth to the relationship, suggesting that openness and vulnerability can lead to a deeper and more fulfilling connection.
Overall, "Sham" is a call to authenticity and openness in relationships, urging listeners to shed their fears and defenses in order to make meaningful connections with others.
Line by Line Meaning
If you wanna be somebody
If you want to make an impact in the world
There's gotta be a now baby
You have to take action in the present moment
And if you wanna see somebody
If you want to truly connect with someone
You gotta see me now
You have to see me for who I really am
You gotta see me now just like I am
You have to accept me without any pretenses
Garden rose cut a little out of sym
I am not perfect, but I am unique and beautiful in my own way
You gotta strip off your disguises
You have to drop your masks and be genuine
Let me let me let me come inside
Let me connect with you on a deeper level
If you're scared to touch somebody
If you're afraid to be vulnerable with someone
You got to tell them now baby
You have to communicate your fears and concerns
Cause I don't want to love nobody
I don't want to waste my time on someone who can't love me back
Scared to show my heart
Afraid to reveal my true emotions and feelings
In the heart in the heart I want to know right now if your heart is stoned
I want to know if you're emotionally closed off
And you'd rather be left alone
And if you prefer to stay in isolation
If that cold look's in your eyes
If I can sense your emotional distance
There's nothing nothing nothing missing inside
There's no emotional depth within you
Why don't you open up your mind
Why not expand your perspective
And leave all your pain behind
And let go of your emotional baggage
Let the sunshine in your days now
Allow happiness and optimism to brighten your life
And I-I-I know you'll feel the heat
And I am confident that you will experience the warmth and love of connection
You got to be somebody baby
You have to be true to yourself and become somebody worthwhile
Don't you want to be somebody baby
Aren't you motivated to make a meaningful impact in the world
Listen baby
Listen closely to what I have to say
Listen baby
Pay attention to the message of this song
Listen baby
Hear the call to action and take it to heart
Listen baby
Don't miss out on the opportunity to be somebody special
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.