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.
The Dolphin
The Youngbloods Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you know all our ways of war can't change it back again
I've been a-searchin' for the dolphin in the sea, yeah yeah
Sometimes I wonder, do you ever think of me ?
Lord, I'm not the one to tell this old world how to get along
I only know that peace will come, yes when all our hate is gone
I've been a-searchin' for the dolphin in the sea
The Youngbloods' song "The Dolphin" is a poignant commentary on the futility of war and the longing for peace. The lyrics suggest that despite our efforts in war, the world remains unchanged and there is no going back. The singer then goes on to express his desire for peace, symbolized by his search for a dolphin in the sea. He acknowledges his powerlessness to change the world but believes that peace will come when hate is eliminated.
The metaphor of the dolphin, an intelligent and peaceful creature living in harmony with its environment, reinforces the idea that peace is achievable if we can let go of our destructive ways. The singer's yearning for connection and affection is also evident in the final line, where he wonders if the person he is addressing thinks of him. This suggests that the quest for peace is, ultimately, a quest for human connection and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
This old world will never change the way it's been
The world will always be the way it is, and it won't change.
And you know all our ways of war can't change it back again
Fighting and conflict won't undo any changes that were made.
I've been a-searchin' for the dolphin in the sea, yeah yeah
I've been looking for something peaceful and beautiful in the midst of chaos.
Sometimes I wonder, do you ever think of me ?
I often wonder if you ever think of me and what we could do together to make the world a better place.
Lord, I'm not the one to tell this old world how to get along
I don't have all the answers for how to bring peace to the world.
I only know that peace will come, yes when all our hate is gone
I do know, however, that peace can only come when we rid ourselves of hatred.
I've been a-searchin' for the dolphin in the sea
I've been looking for a symbol of peace and beauty.
Sometimes I wonder, do you ever think of me ?
I wonder if you think about peace and making a difference like I do.
Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Y. Shamson
Thank you for uploading this. <3 One of my new all-favorite songs!!
codybluetarp
Yeah, this key-board and bass-driven 'sound-track-of-my-adolescent youth, when recalling the album, "Ride The Wind" but wonderfully live! Truly it is like hearing something once again for the 1st time. Music does that; thank you.