The group scored British and American hits in 1964 with "She's Not There". In the US, two further singles—"Tell Her No" in 1965 and "Time of the Season" in 1968—were also successful. Their 1968 album Odessey and Oracle is ranked number 100 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. The Zombies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
The Zombies signed to Decca and recorded their first hit, "She's Not There" after winning a beat-group competition sponsored by the London Evening News. "She's Not There" was released in mid-1964 and peaked at number twelve in the U.K., where it would be their only top-forty hit. It was first aired in the United States in early August 1964, on New York City rock station WINS by Stan Z. Burns, who debuted the song on his daily noontime "Hot Spot" segment during which new songs were played. The tune began to catch on in early Autumn and eventually climbed to number two.
In early 1965, "Tell Her No" became another big seller in the United States but had failed to make the Top 40 in the band's native U.K Subsequent recordings such as "I Love You" (which became a hit for People! in 1968), "Indication", "Whenever You're Ready", and "Is This the Dream" failed to achieve the success of the previous two singles.
Their first LP, Begin Here (1965), was a collection of early singles, half a dozen original songs combined with several R&B covers. The Zombies signed to CBS Records for one final LP in 1967. The resulting album, Odessey and Oracle, was one of the very first to utilise a Mellotron keyboard, as the band's budget did not allow for the hiring of session musicians. The band discovered too late that "odyssey" had been misspelled by the cover designers and were reportedly deeply embarrassed.
By the time Odessey and Oracle was released in April 1968, the band had broken up. The album sold little, and was only released in the U.S. because musician Al Kooper vouched for it. It has since gone on to be recognized as one of the greatest albums of all time, with Rolling Stone ranking it eightieth on its 500 Greatest Albums list. An album track called "Time of the Season" was released as a single. and eventually (1969) it became a huge nationwide hit (Billboard number three) after a radio DJ discovered it and put it on heavy rotation.
After The Zombies disbanded, Rod Argent formed a band called Argent; Colin Blunstone started a solo career. In1991 Blunstone, Grundy, and White briefly reunited as The Zombies with guitarist Sebastian Santa Maria, and recorded the album New World.
Iconic British psychedelic pop legends The Zombies have returned to celebrate the release of their latest Billboard-charting album, Still Got That Hunger, lead by founding and current members, vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent, alongside bassist Jim Rodford (formerly of ARGENT and The Kinks), Rodford’s son Steve Rodford on drums, and renowned session guitarist Tom Toomey.
The band’s live performances, described by Rolling Stone as “absolutely triumphant”, take fans on a journey through time, from their early hits…their 1968 masterpiece Odessey & Oracle…post-Zombies solo favorites…right to today with Still Got That Hunger.
The second U.K. band following the Beatles to score a #1 hit in America, The Zombies infiltrated the airwaves with the sophisticated melodies, breathy vocals, choral back-up harmonies and jazzy keyboard riffs of their 1960’s hit singles “She’s Not There” and “Tell Her No.” Ironically, the group broke-up just prior to achieving their greatest success – the worldwide chart-topping single “Time of the Season,” from their swan-song album Odessey & Oracle, ranked #100 in Rolling Stone’s ‘500 Greatest Albums of All Time.’ To this day, generations of new bands have cited The Zombies’ work as pop touchstones, and the band continues to be embraced by new generations of fans.
Following the break-up of the original band, lead vocalist Colin Blunstone went on to develop an acclaimed solo career (with hits including "Say You Don't Mind," "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", and “Old & Wise” with Alan Parsons Project) and keyboardist/songwriter Rod Argent rocked ‘70’s arenas with his eponymous band ARGENT (“Hold Your Head Up,” “God Gave Rock ‘n’ Roll To You”), but the legend of The Zombies continued to take on a life of its own. By the start of the new Millennium, Blunstone and Argent were inspired to resurrect The Zombies.
The explosive release of Still Got That Hunger proved that Zombies fever is stronger than ever, with premieres at Rolling Stone, Mojo, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian Speakeasy, and Spin, alongside special broadcast performances, including Later…With Jools Holland, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and AOL Sessions. Moreover, it marked a historical moment on the Billboard charts, as The Zombies’ critically acclaimed album Odessey And Oracle re-entered the Billboard 100 forty-eight years later at the same time as Still Got That Hunger!
The Zombies look forward to an even busier 2017, with a major world tour, table-top book release and other exciting projects to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the recording of Odessey And Oracle.
It's All Right
The Zombies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a leak in my bucket and a great big hole in my floor
But if you wanna stay around and love me
You know it's all right with me
I've got no money, can't afford no big black car
My bank account won't see me very far
But if you wanna stay around and love me
I'm sick and tired of bein' on my own
But you know, I'll take nobody
Who's gonna leave me tired and alone
So you see, I can only offer a man that's poor
With frost and that and trouble at my door
But if you wanna stay around and love me
You know it's all right with me
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo
The lyrics of The Zombies’ song “It’s All Right” describe a person who is willing to accept love despite their apparent imperfections and shortcomings. The song's narrator recognizes they are not wealthy, far from perfect and has some inevitable problems in their life, as represented by the leaky bucket and big hole in the floor. They acknowledge financial limitations and the inability to provide fancy things like a big black car, but they are confident that love is what matters most. They seek someone who wants to be with them, someone who will not leave them alone and 'tired.' They reassure that while they may not have much to offer, they are still worthy of love.
The song is remarkably honest, reflecting the essence of human fragility and the universal need for connection on a deeper level. Despite the singer's challenges in life, they understand that love can be more potent and powerful than material possessions. It's a reminder that being genuine, open, and honest is more important than putting up a facade to mask the imperfections that make us human.
Line by Line Meaning
If you wanna mess around, just stay away from my door
If you are not serious about loving me, please don't bother me
I've got a leak in my bucket and a great big hole in my floor
I have some problems in my life that I need to solve, but I'm trying my best
But if you wanna stay around and love me
You know it's all right with me
If you are ready to accept me with my flaws, I am ready to love you back
I've got no money, can't afford no big black car
My bank account won't see me very far
I am not wealthy, and I cannot provide materialistic things for you
I'm sick and tired of bein' on my own
But you know, I'll take nobody
Who's gonna leave me tired and alone
I am tired of being lonely, but I do not want to settle for someone who will eventually leave me
So you see, I can only offer a man that's poor
With frost and that and trouble at my door
I can only offer love to someone who is willing to accept my poor and troubled life
But if you wanna stay around and love me
You know it's all right with me
If you are ready to accept my life and love me for who I am, I will be happy to be with you
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo
Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo
Instrumental part
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis L. Mayfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on She's Not There
An excellent song by The Zombies.