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
The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys
Traffic Lyrics
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And it's shooting up out of the ground
And your head is spinning from a loud guitar
And you just can't escape from the sound
Don't worry too much, it'll happen to you
We were children once, playing with toys
And the thing that you're hearing is only the sound
The percentage you're paying is too high priced
While you're living beyond all your means
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
But today you just read that the man was shot dead
By a gun that didn't make any noise
But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest
Was the low spark of high-heeled boys
If you had just a minute to breathe
And they granted you one final wish
Would you ask for something like another chance?
Or something similar as this?
Don't worry too much, it'll happen to you
As sure as your sorrows are joys
And the thing that disturbs you is only the sound
Of the low spark of high-heeled boys
The percentage you're paying is too high priced
While you're living beyond all your means
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
But today you just read that the man was shot dead
By a gun that didn't make any noise
But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest
Was the low spark of high-heeled boys
High-heeled boys
If I gave you everything that I owned
And asked for nothing in return
Would you do the same for me as I would for you?
Or take me for a ride
And strip me of everything including my pride
But spirit is something that no one destroys
And the sound that I'm hearing is only the sound
Of the low spark of high-heeled boys
Heeled boys
Ooh, ooh, ooh
The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys by Traffic is a song that is open to interpretation, but the lyrics seem to touch on the themes of the disillusionment and corruption that pervaded the music industry during the 1970s. The opening lines of the song describe the experience of being at a concert where the music is so loud and all-encompassing that it feels like you can't escape from it. The singer assures the listener not to worry and that this feeling will eventually happen to them, as well. The reference to being children playing with toys suggests that this intense feeling is similar to the childlike joy of play.
The lyrics then take a turn, criticizing the greed and corruption of the music industry and society at large. The second verse describes the injustice of living beyond your means and paying too much for everything, while the wealthy continue to profit off of your dreams. The third verse tells the story of a man who was killed by the "low spark of high-heeled boys," a metaphor for the corrupt businessmen who profit from the music industry while the artists suffer. The final verse seems to be a plea for mutual respect and understanding between two people, with the singer asking if their partner would treat them well if they gave everything they owned in return for nothing.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the darker aspects of the music industry and society at large, with a plea for empathy and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
If you see something that looks like a star
And it's shooting up out of the ground
And your head is spinning from a loud guitar
And you just can't escape from the sound
If you happen to witness something magnificent that seems out of this world and incomprehensible, overwhelming you and surrounding you with a sound that does not let you escape.
Don't worry too much, it'll happen to you
We were children once, playing with toys
And the thing that you're hearing is only the sound
Of the low spark of high-heeled boys
Do not fret over the overwhelming force, it shall come to you as well. Recall the childlike sense of awe and wonder while playing with toys and imagination; similar to the spark that is birthed from fashionable but affluent men.
The percentage you're paying is too high priced
While you're living beyond all your means
And the man in the suit has just bought a new car
From the profit he's made on your dreams
But today you just read that the man was shot dead
By a gun that didn't make any noise
But it wasn't the bullet that laid him to rest
Was the low spark of high-heeled boys
You are paying more than what is fair while you continue to exceed your budget. The man in the tailored suit is exploiting your dreams to purchase a new luxurious vehicle. But recently, circumstances have changed since the man has been shot without hearing the firearm discharge; the cause was the quiet but powerful effect of the rich and influential men's spark.
If you had just a minute to breathe
And they granted you one final wish
Would you ask for something like another chance?
Or something similar as this?
Don't worry too much, it'll happen to you
As sure as your sorrows are joys
And the thing that disturbs you is only the sound
Of the low spark of high-heeled boys
If you had one minute to live and granted one last wish, would it be another try or something akin? Don't think too much about such events, ones of great shock and awe are bound to happen as sure as happiness and sorrow coexist. The cause of the dread and confusion is simply the effect of the affluent men's underlying spark.
If I gave you everything that I owned
And asked for nothing in return
Would you do the same for me as I would for you?
Or take me for a ride
And strip me of everything including my pride
But spirit is something that no one destroys
And the sound that I'm hearing is only the sound
Of the low spark of high-heeled boys
If I gave you everything I own with no expectation of receiving anything in return, would you treat me the same way? Or would you take advantage of me, strip me of every possession, and even rob me of my dignity? Nonetheless, no one can destroy one's soul and the echo surrounding me is merely the subtle signs of wealthy men's motives and actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jim Capaldi, Steve Winwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Martha Jo Williams
I heard this when I was stoned on LSD and went to buy the record the next day.
I am now almost 83 yrs old and still am in love with this music.
Bought it in Jan. 1972 in San JOse, CA.
David Bryant
83 and still loving life...good on you!!!. Might want to lay off the LSD now, its time you slowed down. Go Granma!!!!! :)
David Bryant
sorry if i woke you.... lol
Martha Jo Williams
@David Bryant You are a good person. Thanks for taking time to say hi to me. I have slowed down but not until I was 65 yrs old.
michelle oncea
Martha, you are an inspiration, I'm almost 65 and hope to be like you if I ever grow up
michelle oncea
Martha, you are an inspiration, I'm almost 65 and hope to be like you if I ever grow up
Trixie Katz
I am driving home from the bank - almost broke - a grey, shitty Cleveland day - and THIS SONG comes on the radio. Suddenly, my life is good, my prospects are improving, and the sun comes out. That, my friends, is the power of great music.
Tina Foster
Words of wisdom Trixie xx
Elizabeth Rose
Totally get it!
Jeffrey Lujan
Oh you damn right by the power of music and especially in this song probably everything has been great for you since or at least a lot better than that day first of all a gray cloudy day ugly ugly as hell second of all Cleveland ugly and total hell hahaha! Signed California beach where I heard it first in 1971 as a sophomore in high school 🎶🎤🌈🎵