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
Rock 'N' Roll Stew
Traffic Lyrics
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Playing clubs and rocking right on
The road's much too long since I've been wasting my time
Wish I was home again sipping my wine
And I'm gone, gone, gone, I don't care
Cause I'm gone, gone, gone, I don't care
It's where I'm from, I'm on the road again
LA to London is a mighty long time
Eight hours flying can bring you down
Sitting near a suit who's a red-neck going,
Eyes are moving but there's no life showing
Now that I'm home again
Things are much better, biding my time with my little go-getter
No matter what they say, no matter what they do,
Gonna end up in the middle of that rock & roll stew
Gone, gone, gone...
In "Rock and Roll Stew," Traffic captures the essence of the rock & roll lifestyle, with its frenzied pace, endless touring, and constant exhaustion. The song opens with a vivid scene of being cooped up in a van, traveling from gig to gig, and dreaming of the comforts of home. The relentless, driving rhythm and Steve Winwood's soulful voice convey a sense of deep weariness and longing, as he sings, "The road's much too long since I've been wasting my time/Wish I was home again sipping my wine." Even as he yearns for the familiarity of home, though, he knows that he can't resist the pull of the road and the excitement of the rock & roll lifestyle. The refrain "Gone, gone, gone, I don't care" is both a defiant declaration of independence and a heartbreaking admission of how hard it is to maintain a sense of self in the midst of constant change and movement.
As the song progresses, the second verse takes us from the cramped quarters of a tour van to the numbness and disconnection of a long airplane flight. Again, the imagery is vivid and compelling, as Winwood sings about sitting "near a suit who's a red-neck going/Eyes are moving but there's no life showing." In just a few lines, he captures the disorienting experience of travel, the way that it can be both exhilarating and soul-crushing at the same time.
Ultimately, though, the song is about the power of rock & roll itself, and the way that it can bring people together and lift them up, even in the midst of chaos and exhaustion. The final verse is a joyful celebration of this power, as Winwood sings about being "home again" and finding solace and inspiration in the music itself. "No matter what they say, no matter what they do/Gonna end up in the middle of that rock & roll stew," he declares, and it's clear that this is where he truly feels at home.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in a transit all night long
Spending the entire night travelling in a transit vehicle.
Playing clubs and rocking right on
Performing at various clubs and playing great music.
The road's much too long since I've been wasting my time
Feeling that travelling on the road is too long and a waste of time.
Wish I was home again sipping my wine
Longing for the comfort of being home, sipping wine.
And I'm gone, gone, gone, I don't care
Not concerning oneself with anything because one is gone.
Cause I'm gone, gone, gone, I don't care
Not concerning oneself with anything because one is gone.
It's where I'm from, I'm on the road again
Being on the road is part of one's identity or origin, and thus going back on the road.
LA to London is a mighty long time
Travelling from LA to London involves long hours.
Eight hours flying can bring you down
Travelling on a plane for eight hours can make one feel down or exhausted.
Sitting near a suit who's a red-neck going,
Sitting beside a person wearing a formal suit who is a red-neck (stereotype of a rural American) by heart.
Eyes are moving but there's no life showing
Despite the person's moving eyes, there is a lack of life or energy evident.
Now that I'm home again
Now that I am back home.
Things are much better, biding my time with my little go-getter
Things are much better, spending time with someone who is very active and purposeful.
No matter what they say, no matter what they do,
Regardless of what others may say or do.
Gonna end up in the middle of that rock & roll stew
Intending to end up in the midst of the rock and roll scene or lifestyle.
Gone, gone, gone...
Being gone, and not concerned about anything.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM GORDON, RIK GRECH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind