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.
Speedo
The Youngbloods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bom, bom, bom,
Bom, bom, bom, bom.
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
But my real name is Mister Earl.
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
But my real name is Mister Earl.
And for takin' other folks' girls.
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
'Cause I don't believe in wastin' time.
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
'Cause I don't believe in wastin' time.
Now I've known some pretty women
And I thought that would change their minds.
Well, now, some they call me Joe.
Some they call me Moe.
Best man is Speedoo;
He don't never take it slow.
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
But my real name is Mister Earl.
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
But my real name is Mister Earl.
Now they're gonna call me Speedoo,
Till they call off makin' pretty girls.
Bom, bom, bom,
Bom, bom, bom,
Bom, bom, bom, bom.
The lyrics to The Youngbloods' song "Speedo" are about a man who is known by the nickname "Speedo" due to his straight-to-the-point attitude towards relationships with women. He sings about how he is not interested in wasting time and is always looking for new people to meet and women to pursue, regardless of whether or not they are already in a relationship. He suggests that his approach to dating has been successful in the past, as he has known some pretty women, but he acknowledges that his reputation for being a fast-talking ladies' man may cause some people to judge him unfairly.
The lyrics capture the confident and carefree spirit of the 1950s and early 1960s, when songs about romance and relationships were a staple of popular music. "Speedo" was written by Esther Navarro and made famous by the doo-wop group The Cadillacs in 1955. The Youngbloods' version of the song, which was released in 1966, features a rock and roll-inspired sound with an upbeat tempo and catchy guitar riffs. The song's lyrics are playful and lighthearted, and they offer a window into a time when dating was less complicated and more fun.
Line by Line Meaning
Bom, bom, bom,
Repeating sound effect, possibly to create a playful and upbeat mood
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
People now refer to me as Speedoo
But my real name is Mister Earl.
However, my actual name is Mister Earl
All for meetin' brand-new fellows
I enjoy meeting new people
And for takin' other folks' girls.
And I also like dating other people's girlfriends
Now they up and call me Speedoo,
People refer to me as Speedoo
'Cause I don't believe in wastin' time.
Because I don't like wasting time
Now I've known some pretty women
I have been with some attractive women
And I thought that would change their minds.
I expected these encounters to lead to something more serious
Well, now, some they call me Joe.
Some people also refer to me as Joe
Some they call me Moe.
And others call me Moe
Best man is Speedoo;
However, Speedoo is considered the coolest guy
He don't never take it slow.
He doesn't waste any time
Now they're gonna call me Speedoo,
They'll continue to call me Speedoo
Till they call off makin' pretty girls.
Until they stop flirting with attractive women
Bom, bom, bom,
Repeating sound effect, possibly to create a playful and upbeat mood
Bom, bom, bom,
Repeating sound effect, possibly to create a playful and upbeat mood
Bom, bom, bom, bom.
Repeating sound effect, possibly to create a playful and upbeat mood
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Esther Navarro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind