The band was lead by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ian Bruce-Douglas and released three albums over the course of its career: "Ultimate Spinach" (1968), "Behold & See" (1968) and "Ultimate Spinach III" (1969).
Their debut album was the most successful of all the "Bosstown Sound" LPs released by MGM, reaching #35 on the Billboard 200 and selling over 100,000 copies. Myers and Lahteinen had left the group by the time of their second album, and Russell Levine (drums) and Carol Lee Britt (vocals) were added to the lineup. Winthrop departed shortly thereafter and was replaced by guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, later a member of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers. Bruce-Douglas quit the band in late 1968, and leadership of the group passed onto Hudson and Baxter, who re-formed Ultimate Spinach with a completely different lineup aside from the two of them. The new lineup released the third Ultimate Spinach album in 1969, and disbanded shortly after its release.
Your Head Is Reeling
Ultimate Spinach Lyrics
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Collapsed laughter running, falling, drifting, across the mine field of your thoughts dissolved wondering: who am I? why should I be alone, alone?
Concrete forests loom into view
steel throated robots tell you what to do
Look out big brother is lookin' at you
Your head is reeling
Your head is reeling
Flowered children dressed in a shroud
are enveloped by a great flanell cloud
Because they go around acting too proud
Because they go around acting too proud
Your head is reeling
Your head is reeling
Plastic masses don't know what to say
But they want to make all the flowers go away
Or else take the sun away from your day
Or else they'll take the sun away from your day
Your head is reeling
Your head is reeling
Your head is reeling
Your head is reeling
Your head is reeling
The song "Your Head Is Reeling" by Ultimate Spinach touches on themes of individuality, conformity, and the pressures of society. The song starts off with spoken words, where the singer describes the feeling of confusion and disorientation in one's own thoughts. The following lyrics describe a world that is dominated by concrete cities and robots that dictate one's actions. The repetition of "Look out big brother is lookin' at you" suggests the control that societal constructs have on individuals.
The second verse highlights the contrast between the flowered children and the "great flanell cloud" that envelops them. The cloud may represent the societal pressures and expectations that weigh down on them, restricting their freedom and individuality. The description of the children as "acting too proud" may suggest that society does not accept or condone those who assert their individuality. The third verse describes "plastic masses" who don't know what to say but seek to eliminate anything that disrupts the status quo. The final repetition of "Your head is reeling" brings the song full circle, emphasizing the confusion and disorientation that arises from living in a society that suppresses individuality.
Overall, the song encourages listeners to question the status quo and resist societal pressures that limit individuality and self-expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Collapsed laughter running, falling, drifting, across the mine field of your thoughts dissolved wondering: who am I? why should I be alone, alone?
Your mind is full of conflicting thoughts and emotions that are causing you to feel lost and isolated.
Concrete forests loom into view steel throated robots tell you what to do Look out big brother is lookin' at you Look out big brother is lookin' at you
Your environment is dominated by oppressive and controlling forces that are watching your every move and pushing you to conform.
Flowered children dressed in a shroud are enveloped by a great flanell cloud Because they go around acting too proud Because they go around acting too proud
The free-spirited youth are being stifled by societal expectations and are forced to hide their true selves to fit in.
Plastic masses don't know what to say But they want to make all the flowers go away Or else take the sun away from your day Or else they'll take the sun away from your day
The conformist masses are threatened by those who are different and they seek to destroy or suppress anything that doesn't fit their narrow view of the world.
Your head is reeling Your head is reeling Your head is reeling Your head is reeling Your head is reeling
All of these conflicting messages and oppressive influences are overwhelming you and causing you to feel disoriented, confused, and anxious.
Contributed by Lily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.