Traffic reached a much wider audience when, on the dissolution of Cream, two thirds of that band, one third being Eric Clapton, joined Steve Winwood (during a temporary Traffic disbanding) to form Blind Faith, which also included future Traffic member and sometime Family man, Ric Grech.
In 1970, after the disbanding of Blind Faith, Winwood set about recording a solo album. After Chris Wood and Jim Capaldi became involved, the decision was taken to release this album (eventually what would become John Barleycorn Must Die) under the Traffic name, despite the absence of Dave Mason.
Around 1971, Mason left for good (having been in and out of the band from the beginning), and the the band experienced a variety of personnel changes. The resulting band added some jazzy elements to their style, pioneering the jazz-rock genre, and the compositions tended to stretch out over longer lengths. With their albums The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971) and Shootout at the Fantasy Factory (1973) their popularity in the US grew. After two more albums, personnel problems resulted in the band calling it quits (but for a brief reunion in 1994 without Wood, who had died in 1983). Winwood, Mason, Capaldi, and Wood all pursued solo careers, with Winwood garnering the most success.
There are/were other artists with the same name:
*2) Traffic is also a pop-rock band from Estonia.
3) Traffic is an upcoming rapper from Los Angeles.
2) The Estonian poprock band Traffic came together in 2006 and consists of five members: Silver Laas - Vocals, Stig Rästa - Guitars, Robert Vaigla - Guitars, Tõnis Kivisild - Bass, Ivo Priilinn - Drums. The band has been to Eesti Laul several times, trying to get to the semi-finals of Eurovision. In 2009 they ended up in the 2nd place, in 2014 in the 3rd place.
Traffic has two studio albums. Some of their most popular singles are "Für Elise", "See Päev", "Kesköödisko", "Päevast Päeva", "Elekter" and "Meie laul".
3) Darrail Cail, better known as Traffic, is a rapper from Los Angeles, CA. He first received major mainstream attention in the music industry when he was featured on “Tookie Knows II” from ScHoolboy Q’s fourth LP Blank Face. He is one of Schoolboy’s childhood friends.
4) The Spectes, a band that eventually became Status Quo discovered psychedelia in 1967 and named themselves Traffic, but were soon forced to change it to Traffic Jam to avoid confusion with Steve Winwood's Traffic, following an argument over who had registered the name first. Shortly after Rick Parfitt's recruitment, in August 1967, the band officially became The Status Quo
Holy Ground
Traffic Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause everywhere I hear that crashing sound that trees make when they fall
Why can't we understand when it turns to sand
There's no way you can bring it back again
Why don't we change the plan, and try to save this land
And make a promise not to hurt again this holy ground
What are we doing to this sacred heart, this heart that's beating for us all
'Cause everywhere I see it torn apart as tears like rain will fall
Try to understand what's going wrong
Stop trying to change the tide, overcome our pride
Take off our shoes, this place we're standing on is holy ground
Get out of doing the things you do in the dark
Keep the flame alive in your heart
What are we doing to the children's lives, the ones we shouldn't hurt at all
'Cause in the night I hear their lonely cries, so frail and small
How can we just stand by and watch them fade and die
Before they even reach the age of ten
Why don't we heal the pain, take away this shame
And make a vow to give them back again this holy ground
The lyrics of Traffic's song "Holy Ground" are a plea to humanity to recognize and respect the world they inhabit. The song is a reflection on the destruction brought upon the earth by human activities such as deforestation and pollution. The singer is puzzled about why people can't understand that when the earth turns to sand, there is no going back. The crashing sound that the singer hears represents the sound of trees falling, which is a consequence of deforestation. The singer questions the sense in destroying trees and the environment, which is a land that God gave us all.
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of destruction of the environment. The singer questions how humanity can live on a planet that is being torn apart. The use of the metaphor of tears like rain falling alludes to the destruction of the environment and the emotional impact that it brings. The singer encourages people to take the time to look inside and understand what is going wrong. The song suggests that if humanity can stop trying to change the tide, they can overcome their pride, take off their shoes and recognize that this place they are standing on is holy ground.
The third verse focuses on children and their vulnerability. The singer asks how humanity can stand by and watch the children's cries before they even reach the age of ten. The song questions how humanity can allow something so delicate and sacred to be hurt in any way. The chorus of the song calls for humanity to heal the pain and take away the shame of what they have done to the environment, and vow to give back this holy ground to the world.
Line by Line Meaning
What are we doing to this holy ground, this land that God gave to us all
Questioning the destructive actions of mankind on the land entrusted to them by God
'Cause everywhere I hear that crashing sound that trees make when they fall
Observing the alarming sound of trees being cut down
Why can't we understand when it turns to sand
Pondering why people fail to comprehend that once the land is destroyed, it's difficult to restore
There's no way you can bring it back again
Emphasizing the permanent damage caused by human activity to the natural environment
Why don't we change the plan, and try to save this land
Advocating for a different approach in preserving the environment
And make a promise not to hurt again this holy ground
Urging people to commit to protecting the land from further harm
What are we doing to this sacred heart, this heart that's beating for us all
Expressing concern over the damage being done to nature, which sustains human life
'Cause everywhere I see it torn apart as tears like rain will fall
Witnessing the heartbreaking destruction of the environment, which evokes sadness and sorrow
Why don't we take the time, take a look inside
Encouraging people to introspect and understand their role in environment protection
Try to understand what's going wrong
Motivating people to identify the causes behind environmental degradation
Stop trying to change the tide, overcome our pride
Discouraging attempts to control nature and calling for humility in dealing with environmental issues
Take off our shoes, this place we're standing on is holy ground
Reminding people of the sanctity of the earth they inhabit and the need to treat it with reverence
Get out of doing the things you do in the dark
Asking people to cease engaging in activities that harm the environment
Keep the flame alive in your heart
Encouraging people to nurture a deep passion for nature conservation
What are we doing to the children's lives, the ones we shouldn't hurt at all
Expressing sorrow over the impact of environmental degradation on future generations
'Cause in the night I hear their lonely cries, so frail and small
Symbolizing the innocent and helpless state of children who endure the consequences of environmental damage
How can we just stand by and watch them fade and die
Asking a rhetorical question to underline the moral responsibility of people to protect the environment for the well-being of future generations
Before they even reach the age of ten
Highlighting how environmental degradation can cause irreparable damage to children's development and future opportunities
Why don't we heal the pain, take away this shame
Encouraging people to act with empathy towards the damage done to the environment
And make a vow to give them back again this holy ground
Urging people to take responsibility and restore the environment for the sake of future generations
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAPALDI, SPILLANE, WINWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind