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 Wine Song
The Youngbloods Lyrics
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Some folks like moonshine, Lord, they drink it all the time
My daddy taught me, he said, "Son, only way to keep your head in line
Drinkin' that wine wine, wine
Keep your head stoned all the time"
(That's what he said)
Look at them luscious little bottles, sittin' up on the shelf
They mesmerize me, the way they sparkle and shine
Drinkin' that wine wine, wine
Keep your head stoned all the time
One snort of Ruby Port really ring the bell
Then a glass of Muscatel sets my head up well
Then this sweetest bottle of cheapest sherry wine
I say goodbye to my mind
While folks around me insist on startin' wars (baloney!)
Fightin' and a-hollerin', gettin' awful sore
Politics and business, I don't pay them no mind
Drinkin' that wine wine, wine
keep your, head stoned all the time
(Tell the truth)
One snort of Ruby Port really ring the bell
Then a glass of Muscatel sets my head up well
Then this sweetest bottle of cheapest sherry wine
I say goodbye to my mind
While folks around me insist on startin' wars
Fightin' and a-hollerin', gettin' awful sore
Politics and business, I don't pay them no mind
Drinkin' that wine wine, wine
Keep your head stoned all the time
(Spoken) Get out the bathtub, grandma, and take off your socks!
In The Wine Song, The Youngbloods sing about their love for wine and how it helps them escape the world's problems like war, politics or business. The lyrics suggest that drinking wine helps them keep their head in line and stay stoned all the time. The singer mentions how watching the bottles sparkle and shine mesmerizes him, hinting at his infatuation with wine. He also mentions his preference for certain types of wine like Ruby Port, Muscatel, and the sweetest and cheapest sherry wine, each one helping him say goodbye to his mind more effectively than the last.
The chorus of the song repeats the assertion that drinking wine keeps you stoned and promotes a carefree mindset. The final line of the song, spoken rather than sung, adds a touch of humor to the overall lightheartedness of the track. The line also serves as a nod to the song's origins as a folk song, which often included spoken asides or humorous quips.
Line by Line Meaning
Some folks like whiskey, whiskey's mighty fine
Some people enjoy drinking whiskey and consider it to be excellent.
Some folks like moonshine, Lord, they drink it all the time
Some people imbibe 'moonshine' voluminously, despite it not being commercial and more likely homemade.
My daddy taught me, he said, 'Son, only way to keep your head in line
Drinkin' that wine wine, wine
Keep your head stoned all the time'
My father taught me that the only way to stay grounded or focused is by drinking wine on a regular basis until one's mind is always aloof.
Look at them luscious little bottles, sittin' up on the shelf
Red green and yellow, Lord, they are somethin' else, hmmm
They mesmerize me, the way they sparkle and shine
Drinkin' that wine wine, wine
Keep your head stoned all the time
The colorful bottles are very attractive to me, and their radiance and allure enamor me, making wine an irresistible indulgence for me to enjoy, and that's what makes my head float.
One snort of Ruby Port really ring the bell
Then a glass of Muscatel sets my head up well
Then this sweetest bottle of cheapest sherry wine
I say goodbye to my mind
To get the most out of drinking wine, Ruby Port produces the most soothing effects at the start. Muscatel helps boost that feeling, and the cheapest sherry wine is the most effective at muddling my mind.
While folks around me insist on startin' wars (baloney!)
Fightin' and a-hollerin', gettin' awful sore
Politics and business, I don't pay them no mind
Drinkin' that wine wine, wine
keep your, head stoned all the time
(Tell the truth)
I disregard war, politics, and business and instead focus on drinking wine. I would rather not be bothered by such hostilities, and all I need is wine to maintain a heightened state of euphoria.
Get out the bathtub, grandma, and take off your socks!
The author seems to want his grandmother to take off her socks and leave the bathroom, but it is not inherently connected to the meaning of the song.
Contributed by Brayden H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.