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 Alright
The Zombies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I 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
The bank account won't see me very far
But if you wanna stay around and love me
I'm sick and tired of being 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 in bed and trouble at my door
But if you wanna stay around and love me
You know it's all right with me
Ooh, ooh
The lyrics of "It's Alright with Me" by The Zombies convey a certain vulnerability that the singer is feeling. The first two lines are a warning to anyone looking for a fling, telling them to stay away if they are not serious about love. The metaphor of a leaky bucket and a big hole in the floor indicates how the singer's life is not perfect - they have problems they have to deal with that may not make them the most attractive partner. Despite this, the singer says that if someone wants to stay and love them despite all of their flaws, that it's alright.
The next two stanzas talk about the singer's lack of money and how they cannot afford the luxuries that others may have. The singer is essentially saying that they cannot provide for someone the way others may be able to. However, the sentiment remains the same - if someone wants to stay and love them despite their lack of material possessions, that's perfectly fine. There is a sense of desperation and longing, as the singer says they are "sick and tired of being on their own," but they are also determined not to settle for someone who doesn't truly care for them.
In conclusion, "It's Alright with Me" is a song about someone who may not have much to offer materially, but who is more than willing to accept someone who is serious about loving them for who they are.
Line by Line Meaning
If you wanna mess around just stay away from my door
If you're just looking for a casual relationship, please don't bother coming to my home.
I got a leak in my bucket and a great big hole in my floor
I'm struggling to keep my life together, as I have issues with my home and finances.
But if you wanna stay around and love me
You know it's all right with me
Despite my struggles, if you want to stick around and love me, I'm open to it and won't hold you back.
I've got no money, can't afford no big black car
The bank account won't see me very far
I'm financially struggling and can't afford luxuries like a fancy car, and my savings aren't sufficient to last me long.
I'm sick and tired of being on my own
But you know I'll take nobody
Who's gonna leave me tired and alone
I'm tired of being alone but won't settle for someone who will eventually abandon me and leave me feeling drained and alone again.
So you see I can only offer a man that's poor
With frost in bed and trouble at my door
But if you wanna stay around and love me
You know it's all right with me
Despite the difficulties and hardships in my life, if you're willing to accept a poor man with me and difficult situations, I'm open to having you stay and love me.
Ooh, ooh
A vocalization expressing emotion or emphasis, not conveying any specific meaning.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
milkshakebabies2010
Great Brit cover of a timeless soul classic....”Someday, I’ll find me a woman who...etc...” I like both versions.