Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

Depending on who you ask, the greatest rock drummer of all time is either John Bonham of Led Zeppelin or this man. Between his fourteen year career as The Who’s drummer, blowing up toilets in hotel rooms across America, and passing out on stage in the middle of a song, he is remembered as one of the most charismatic, talented, and insane figures in rock history. It was said that had he been born at a later date, he probably would have been diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder. Sadly, an overdose of sedatives ended his life prematurely at the age of thirty-two. Considering that he is one of rock’s most legendary artists, it is with no doubt that his life cannot be fully summarized here.

This song comes from Moon’s only solo album, titled Two Sides of the Moon, and features a slew of Moon’s famous friends. It was composed entirely of cover songs written by artists such as John Lennon, Pete Townshend, and Brian Wilson. This particular song was originally written by Randy Newman, who stated that its lyrics were based on a true story told to him by a friend who worked as a public defender.



Keith Moon - Naked Man (1975)

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Lyrics:

Old lady lost in the city
In the middle of a cold, cold night
It was fourteen below and the wind starts to blow
There wasn't a boy scout in sight

Pull down the shades 'cause he's comin'
Turn out the lights 'cause he's here
Runnin' hard down the street
Through the snow and the sleet
On the coldest night of the year

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady head up toward Broad Street
Shufflin' up town against the wind
She had started to cry, wiped a tear from her eye
And looked back to see where she had been

Old lady stand on the corner
With a purse in her hand
She does not know but in a minute or so
She will be robbed by a naked man

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

Old lady lean ‘gainst a lamp post
Starin' down at the ground on which she stand
She look up and scream
For the lamplight's beam
There stood the famous naked man

And he say, "They found out about my sister
And kicked me out of the navy
They would have strung me up if they could
I tried to explain that we were both of us lazy
And we’re doing the best we could"

But he faked to the left and he faked to the right
And he snatched the purse from her hand
"Someone stop me," he cried
As he faded from sight
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"
"Won't nobody help the naked man?"

Beware- beware- beware of the naked man
Beware- beware- beware of the naked man

I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware
I’m not naked, but beware

Do you think The Beatles will get back together?

The World of Oz - The Hum-Gum Tree (1968)

Coming together in January of 1968 under the management of Barry Class, who also managed The Foundations, this UK psychedelic pop group released only one album before breaking up in November of the same year. Just as the group was gaining momentum from the singles off of their album, their manager left for an American tour with The Foundations, stranding the group with one of his employees. Promotion was cut back, members quit, and the group soon disbanded.

This song, released as a single in 1968, was the group’s third single from their only album, The World of Oz. It failed to reach the success of their previous two singles (with the biggest hit being “The Muffin Man”) and was the last single to be released by the group.



The World of Oz - The Hum-Gum Tree (1968)

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Lyrics:

I love you, you love me
We love under the Hum-Gum tree
Momma come, daddy say
“Where have you two been today?”

“We’ve been here, we’ve been there
We’ve been nearly everywhere!
Doesn’t matter what we’ve done
‘Cause we’ve had a lot of fun!”

Lying on a long grass lawn
Watching nature being born
Rolling merrily in the hay
Wondering what games to play

Dum-dum then come with me
To my den in the Hum-Gum tree
Dum-dum lots to see
In my den in the Hum-Gum tree

Children, children what you do
What will ever become of you?
Though I’ve stories for your good
Never go up in the wood

“We don’t care, we don’t care,
If we want to, we’ll go there!
Surely we are old enough
To know all about that stuff!”

“You can’t stop us growing old
Practicing what we’ve been told
And the things that we find out
In the end we know about”

Dum-dum then come with me
To my den in the Hum-Gum tree
Dum-dum lots to see
In my den in the Hum-Gum tree

Dum-dum then come with me
To my den in the Hum-Gum tree
Dum-dum lots to see
In my den in the Hum-Gum tree…

The Five Americans - Western Union (1967)

Originally known as The Mutineers, this group first got together in Durant, Oklahoma, in 1962, at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Under the leadership of Mike Rabon, they released a chain of hit songs: “I See the Light,” “Evol-Not Love,” and their biggest hit, heard below. By 1969, the group split with each member going their own way.

This song, heard below and the group’s biggest hit, was inspired by a Western Union telegram sign. It sold over a million copies, reached number five on the Billboard charts in March of 1967, and was played by the group on numerous variety television shows.

---

A Special Edition post with Mike Rabon of The Five Americans!
Today’s post is our first special edition! The lead singer, lead guitarist, and co-writer of all The Five Americans’ songs, Mike Rabon, was kind enough to share his memories with A Bit Like You And Me. Here’s Mike:

A Bit Like You And Me and readers,

We [The Five Americans] were playing on Disneyland’s Tomorrowland Stage in Anaheim, California, where we had to ride a hydraulic platform that rose up so that we would “suddenly” appear out of nowhere before the audience. A green light would come on in our dressing room when it was time to board the platform.

One performance, none of us noticed the green light- (I won’t tell you why). Anyway, the platform went up without us and the announcer gave a roaring introduction:

“AND NOW DISNEYLAND IS PROUD TO PRESENT: THE FIVE AMERICANS!”

Applause broke out and quickly turned to laughter as the stage reached the top with nothing on it except our equipment.

The stage came back down, we got on, and this time appeared to thunderous applause!!!

-Mike

A huge thanks to Mike for taking the time to share some ‘60s music history!

Be sure to check out TheFiveAmericans.com and pick up a copy of Mike's new memoir book, High Strung, on Amazon!


And now that you've enjoyed this exclusive story, why not check out what other exclusive stories we've received?

---

The Five Americans - Western Union (1967)

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Lyrics:

Things went wrong today
Bad news came my way
I woke up to find
A wire had blew my mind

Western Union man
Bad news in his hand
Knocking at my door
Selling me the score

Fifteen cents a word to read
A telegram I didn't need
Said she doesn't care no more
Think I'll throw it on the floor

Got your cable just today
Killed my groove, I've got to say

Western Union
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)

Now you've gone away and
How it's sad to say you've gone
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)

I remember what they said
Now I'm going out of my head
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)

Telegram just had to say
You've learned your lesson all the way

Telegram just had to say
You've learned your lesson all the way

Western Union
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)

I'll be on my way 'cause
There's another girl for me
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)

I'll be sure of her and
Things will be as they were
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Western Union, oh, Western Union)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)
(Western Union, oh, Western Union)
(Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da)…

The Traveling Wilburys - Handle with Care (1988)

Looking to create a B-side for his upcoming solo release, “This Is Love,” George Harrison got together with Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, and Tom Petty to work on some ideas. Needing a place to record, they went to the home of Bob Dylan, who had a home recording studio nearby where they all happened to be. That session resulted in such a good track (heard below), that Harrison suggested they form a supergroup and release an entire album. All of them agreed and what resulted was the greatest commercial supergroup of the decade.

The title of this song came about when Harrison saw a box that had been lying around in Dylan’s garage. It was used as the first track on their first album, Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1, and was the most success Dylan, Lynne, and Orbison had seen in years. Sadly, it was also the last release in Orbison’s lifetime, as it came out less than two months prior to his passing.



The Traveling Wilburys - Handle with Care (1988)

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Lyrics:

Been beat up and battered around
Been sent up and I've been shot down
You're the best thing that I've ever found
Handle me with care

Reputations changeable
Situations tolerable
But baby, you're adorable
Handle me with care

I'm so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won't you show me that you really care?

Everybody's got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine and dream on

I've been fobbed off and I've been fooled
I've been robbed and ridiculed
In daycare centers and night schools
Handle me with care

Been stuck in airports, terrorized
Sent to meetings, hypnotized
Overexposed, commercialized
Handle me with care

I'm so tired of being lonely
I still have some love to give
Won't you show me that you really care?

Everybody got somebody to lean on
Put your body next to mine and dream on

I've been uptight and made a mess
But I'll clean it up myself, I guess
Oh, the sweet smell of success
Handle me with care

The Penguins - Memories of El Monte (1963)

Formed by former classmates Cleve Duncan and Curtis Williams (previously of The Hollywood Flames), this group was formed in late 1953 when the two men decided they wanted to form a new vocal group. One of the members smoked Kool cigarettes, which featured the advertising character “Willie the Penguin”. Considering themselves cool and following the trend of groups named after birds, they named themselves after the character. In 1954, they released their biggest hit, “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)”.

Wanting to pay tribute to the music of the '50s, Frank Zappa and Ray Collins (before forming The Mothers of Invention) wrote this song. With lead vocals from Cleve Duncan, this song references eight hits from the doo wop era: “In the Still of the Night” by The Five Satins; “You Cheated” by The Shields; “A Thousand Miles Away” by The Heartbeats; “The Letter” and “Buick 59” by The Medallions; “Cherry Pie” by Marvin & Johnny, “Nite Owl” by Tony Allen and The Chimes/The Champs; and “Earth Angel,” originally by this group, being mentioned and sang toward the end.



The Penguins - Memories of El Monte (1963)

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Lyrics:

I'm all alone feeling so blue
Thinking about you
And the love we once knew
And each time I do
It brings back those memories
of El Monte

Remember the dance?
I held you so tight
The Satins were singing
“In the Still of the Night”
You gave me your heart
And your love undying
Now I'm alone
I'm sitting here crying

If only they had
Those dances again
I'd know where to find you
And all my old friends
The Shields would sing
"You cheated, you lied"
And The Heartbeats
"You're a thousand miles away"
And The Medaillons with "The Letter" and
"Sweet words of his mortality"
Marvin and Johnny with
"Cherry Pie"
And then, Tony Allen with
"Night Owl"
And I, Cleve Duncan, along with The Penguins
Will sing
"Earth angel
Earth angel
Will you be mine?"
At El Monte

If I could go back
To those days of the past
I'd show you a love
A love that would last
Oh, I remember
Those wonderful dances
In El Monte

In El Monte
Ooh

"Earth angel
Earth Angel
Will you be mine?"
At El Monte…

The Tornados - Telstar (1962)

Predominately known as a backing group for various artists being managed by Joe Meek, this English group was considered to be a rival of The Shadows (Britain’s hit group prior to The Beatles). They also spent time as the backing group for Billy Fury in 1962 and 1963. They had multiple songs that they performed on their own chart, with the most successful one being heard below.

This song, named after the AT&T satellite that launched five weeks earlier, was the first song by a British group to reach number one in the United States. It also reached the top spot in the UK, making it the only instrumental song in history to reach number one in both the US and UK. Taking advantage of the birth of the space age, it was said that to achieve its strange noises, the song had been transmitted to the Telstar satellite before being produced back here on Earth.



The Tornados - Telstar (1962)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

Yes - Every Little Thing (1969)

Primarily remembered for their progressive rock hits such as “I’ve Seen All Good People” throughout the ‘70s, this band was formed in 1968. They briefly brought in the Koobas’ drummer, Tony O’Riley, in late ’68, before begging Bill Bruford to return after having left to go to college. By 1972, Bruford had left the band again, this time to join King Crimson, and was replaced by the former Plastic Ono Band drummer Alan White. The group had featured numerous members, briefly disbanded in 1981, and has since reunited with various members swapping in and out.

This song, written by Paul McCartney in the home of Jane Asher (and credited to Lennon/McCartney), was originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1964 album, Beatles for Sale. This version of the song is a unique cover featuring a long opening instrumental, a quick “Day Tripper” reference at the two minute mark, and an overall more “rock ballad” approach.



Yes - Every Little Thing (1969)

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Lyrics:

When I’m walking beside her
People tell me I'm lucky
Yes, I know I'm a lucky guy
I remember the first time
I was lonely without her
Can't stop thinking about her now

Every little thing she does
She does for me, yeah
And you know the things she does
She does for me

When I'm with her I'm happy
Just to know that she loves me
Yes, I know that she loves me now
There is one thing I'm sure of
I will love her forever
'cause I know love will never die

Every little thing she does
She does for me, yeah
And you know the things she does
She does for me

Every little thing she does
She does for me, yeah
And you know the things she does
She does for me

When I'm with her I'm happy
Just to know that she loves me
Yes, I know that she loves me now
There is one thing I'm sure of
I will love her forever
'cause I know love will never die

Every little thing she does
She does for me
And you know the things she does
She does for me

Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing
Every little thing

Sweetwater - Motherless Child (1968)

This band was scheduled to be the first act to play at Woodstock in 1969; due to conflicts within the band, Ritchie Havens went out first. This group came out next, and thus became the first “band” to perform at Woodstock. They were formed in 1968, released three albums, and never once featured a guitar. Sadly, their lead singer Nancy (“Nansi”) Nevins was hit by a drunken driver in late 1969 and suffered near fatal injuries. During her long recovery, the group released two more albums, but eventually disbanded due to differences between the members.

This song comes from the group’s self-titled first album released in 1968. It was the group’s largest hit, earning comparisons to the sound of Jefferson Airplane. Although Jefferson Airplane came first, this group was an early developer of San Francisco’s “’60s sound,” as well.



Sweetwater - Motherless Child (1968)

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Lyrics:

Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child
And I'm a long-
And I'm a long way from my home

Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
Sometimes I feel like I'm almost gone
And I'm a long-
And I'm a long-
And I'm a long way from my home
-From my home

Sometimes I feel like there's nobody there
Sometimes I feel like there's no- no- nobody there
Sometimes I feel like there's nobody there
And I'm a long-
And I'm a long-
And I'm a long way from my home
A’ from my home
A’ from my home
A’ from my home
A’ from my home
A’ from my home
A’ from my home
A’ from my home

Derek and the Dominos - Keep on Growing (1970)

Upset with the fighting between Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett, the members of Delaney & Bonnie & Friends had had enough and said their goodbyes. Soon after, Eric Clapton and his former bandmates put together this group in the spring of 1970. Their name came about in a brainstorming session where “Derek” came from a nickname bestowed on Clapton by a star-struck rock pianist, Tony Ashton, meaning to say “Eric,” and “the Dominos” from their admiration for rock and roll legend Fats Domino.

This song was originally an instrumental known as “Airport Shuffle” that the band used to open up concerts with for loosening up. When they attempted to include it on their upcoming album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs, it was vetoed by the powers that be. Bobby Whitlock, the group’s keyboardist, walked out to the studio’s lobby, wrote the lyrics at that very moment (in about 20 minutes), and walked back in the recording room to add the new vocals with Clapton.



Derek and the Dominos - Keep on Growing (1970)

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Lyrics:

I was laughin’
Playin’ in the streets
I was unknowin’
I didn't know my fate
Playin’
The game of love
But never really showin’
I thought that love could wait

I was a young man and a’sure to go astray
You walked right into my life and told me love would find a way

To keep on growin’
Keep on growin’
Keep on growin’

I was standin’
Lookin’ in the face of one who loved me
Feelin’ so ashamed

Hopin’
And prayin’, Lord, that she could understand me
But I didn't know her name
She took my hand in hers and told me I was wrong
She said, “You're gonna be all right, boy, oh just as long”

“As you keep on growin’
Ah, keep on growin’
Ah, keep on growin’”
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Maybe
Maybe
Someday baby, who knows where or when, Lord
Just you wait and see
We'll be walkin’
Together hand in hand; alone forever
Woman, just you and me

'Cause time is gonna change us, Lord, and I know it's true
Our love is gonna keep on glowin’ and growin’ and it's all we gotta do

Keep on growin’ keep on growin’
A’keep on growin’, yeah, yeah, yeah
Keep on growin’, keep on growin’
A’keep on growin’

Sil Austin - Slow Walk (1956)

Born in Dunnellon, FL in 1929, this saxophonist taught himself to play at the age of twelve. He got his big break when he won a talent contest in Harlem’s Apollo Theater. His talents and credentials evolved when he joined the big bands of Roy Eldridge and Cootie Williams for brief periods of time. He recorded over thirty albums and had hits with the song below, “My Mother’s Eyes,” and his signature song, “Danny Boy”. Sadly, in 2001, prostate cancer ended his life.

This song was a hit for him, reaching the Top 20 in 1956.



Sil Austin - Slow Walk (1956)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

The Monkees - Porpoise Song (1968)

Originally put together by television producers who wanted to create an American version of The Beatles, this group got their start on their self-titled television show which aired from 1966 to 1968. Being creatively held back, the group eventually fought for their right to be autonomous and broke away from their television series. Though they were often cited as Beatles knock-offs in their years, they managed to sell over sixty-five million copies and gained the respectable reputation they deserved.

Released six months after the last episode of their television show, this song started as a single that was soon released on their 1968 album, Head. It was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King and the lyrics play on the drummer’s, Micky Dolenz’s, youth, starring on the television program, Circus Boy, as a child.



The Monkees - Porpoise Song (1968)

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Lyrics:

My, my
The clock in the sky
Is pounding away
And there's so much to say
A face, a voice
An overdub has no choice
An image cannot rejoice

Wanting to be
To hear and to see
Crying to the sky
But the porpoise is laughing
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

Clicks, clacks
Ridin’ the backs
Of giraffes for laughs
‘s alright for a while
The eagle sings of castles
And kings and things
That go with a life of style

Wanting to feel
To know what is real
Living is a- is a lie
The porpoise is waiting
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye

It's a Beautiful Day - White Bird (1969)

This band was at the start of the San Francisco sound that was pouring out in the mid-'60s, right alongside Jefferson Airplane, The Grateful Dead, and Santana. Unfortunately, they never achieved the same success as those bands, with none of their songs reaching the charts. The group’s name was an ironic twist on their place of residence, Seattle, Washington, where the weather was often dreary.

This song comes from the group’s first self-titled album, It’s a Beautiful Day, released in 1969. The lyrics came about from the group’s brief living conditions in 1967: living in the attic of a house owned by their manager, not having a vehicle, and being unable to go outside due to the inclement weather. It was the group’s most successful song and was covered by violinist Vanessa Mae in 2001.



It's a Beautiful Day - White Bird (1969)

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Lyrics:

White bird in a golden cage
On a winter's day in the rain
White bird in a golden cage
Alone

The leaves blow ‘cross the long black road
To the darkened sky in its rage
But the white bird just sits in her cage
Unknown

White bird must fly
‘r she will die

The white bird dreams of the aspen tree
With their dying leaves turning gold
But the white bird just sits in her cage
Growing old

White bird must fly or she will die
White bird must fly or she will die

The sunsets come; the sunsets go
The clouds roll by and the earth turns old
And the young bird's eyes do always glow
And she must fly
She must fly
She must fly
She must fly

White bird in a golden cage
On a winter's day in the rain
White bird in a golden cage
Alone

White bird must fly
‘r she will die
White bird must fly
Or she will die
White bird must fly
‘r she will die

White bird must fly

Santana - Samba Pa Ti (1970)

Based around the Mexican guitar legend Carlos Santana, this group found popularity at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, playing to a crowd of thousands. Their first album resulted in the hit, “Evil Ways,” while their second album featured “Black Magic Woman,” “Oyo Como Va,” and the song heard below. The group’s third album was the original Woodstock lineups’ last before the band members began to switch. There is still an incarnation of the group that continues today.

This instrumental hit comes from the group’s second album, Abraxas, released in 1970 off of the popularity-wave created at Woodstock. Translated into English, “Samba For You” was written by the group’s percussionist, Mike Carabello.



Santana - Samba Pa Ti (1970)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

Tom Northcott - Who Put the Thorns In Miss Alice's Garden (1967)

Born in Canada in 1943, this folk rock singer made a name for himself in the ‘60s by playing coffee houses in the Vancouver area. He had a few hits when he joined with the Vancouver Playboys in the mid-‘60s and continued mild levels of success with a couple solo hits in the same decade. Ultimately, he quit the music business in 1973 to pursue a degree in law, but came back in 1990.

This song, released in 1967, was the B-side to “Sunny Goodge Street”. I have very little information about this song, other than that it was also done by The Explosive, so if you know anything about it please share. Also, the lyrics may have errors as I had difficulty deciphering some of the words.



Tom Northcott - Who Put the Thorns In Miss Alice's Garden (1967)

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Lyrics:

Who planted thorns
In Miss Alice’s garden?
Who put the black
In the clothes she a’now wears?
Where is the softness?
And why did it harden?
And what has been broken
That can’t be repaired?

Miss Alice, don’t you see?
You shouldn’t worry
Over what you lost
It’s better thing to choose it
And run the risk to lose it
Than never know the joy
That comes from a’finding out

Who put the rock
Through Miss Alice’s window?
Who made the pieces
All over the floor?
Where is the Van Gogh?
And why did he leave her?
And what has he done
With the key to her door?

Miss Alice, don’t you see?
You shouldn’t worry
Over what you lost
It’s better thing to choose it
And run the risk to lose it
Than never know the joy
That comes from a’finding out

Who painted names
On Miss Alice’s sidewalk?
Who tore her picture
And left just the frame?
Why is the past
Such a part of her future?
And who did not tell her
The rules of the game?

Miss Alice, don’t you see?
You shouldn’t worry
Over what you lost
It’s better thing to choose it
And run the risk to lose it
Than never know the joy
That comes from a’finding out

Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - Ladyfingers (1965)

A recording industry executive, painter, philanthropist, and accomplished musician, this man had five number one hits, won eight Grammy’s, had fifteen gold albums, and fourteen platinum albums. He and his backing band, The Tijuana Brass, were filling homes with beautiful jazz, Latin, and easy listening music from 1962 until he disbanded them in 1969. In 1966, during the height of The Beatles popularity, this artist sold over thirteen million recordings, outselling The Beatles for that year.

This song was originally written and performed by the Belgian jazz legend Toots Thielemans. It appears on the 1965 album, Whipped Cream and Other Delights, which featured the beautiful Dolores Erickson on a risqué album cover where she was covered in whipped cream (it was actually shaving cream and a white blanket, with the only real whipped cream being on her head).



Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass - Ladyfingers (1965)

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Lyrics:

(instrumental)

America - Sister Golden Hair (1975)

All three members of this band had been raised completely or partially in London, England to British mothers and American fathers. They met while attending the same high-school, London Central High School, in the mid-‘60s and formed a band on borrowed instruments in 1969. Never having spent a great deal of time in the United States, the trio settled on the name “America” to honor their fathers’ homeland. By 1972 they were being produced by The Beatles' George Martin and the group shot into major success with songs like “A Horse with No Name” and “Ventura Highway”.

This song came three years later, in 1975, on the group’s fifth album, Hearts. It was written by the group’s own Gerry Beckley, who had been inspired by the songwriting style of Jackson Browne. The title of the song was inspired by the fact that each mother of the three members was a blonde.



America - Sister Golden Hair (1975)

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Lyrics:

Well I tried to make it Sunday
But I got so damn depressed
That I set my sights on Monday
And I got myself undressed
I ain't ready for the altar
But I do agree there's times
When a woman sure can be a friend of mine

Well I keep on thinkin' 'bout you
Sister Golden Hair surprise
And I just can't live without you
Can't you see it in my eyes?
I been one poor correspondent
And I been too- too hard to find
But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind

Will you meet me in the middle?
Will you meet me in the air?
Will you love me just a little?
Just enough to show you care?
Well I tried to fake it
I don't mind sayin'
I just can't make it

Well I keep on thinkin' 'bout you
Sister Golden Hair surprise
And I just can't live without you
Can't you see it in my eyes?
I been one poor correspondent
And I been too- too hard to find
But it doesn't mean you ain't been on my mind

Will you meet me in the middle?
Will you meet me in the air?
Will you love me just a little?
Just enough to show you care?
Well I tried to fake it
I don't mind sayin'
I just can't make it

Koobas - Where Are the Friends? (1969)

Signing a contract with The Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, in 1964, this group never managed to gain more than a small cult following. They opened for The Beatles on The Beatles’ last British tour as well as opened for The Who and Jimi Hendrix, on separate tours, in 1967. Despite their best efforts, the group didn't make a large impression. When they disbanded, Tony O’Riley, the group’s drummer, briefly joined Yes to replace the college-bound Bill Bruford. Two months later, when O’Riley couldn’t keep up with the rest of the group at Yes’ live performances, the band begged Bruford to come back and O’Riley was dismissed.

Coming from the group’s last album, Barricades, this is the second track (and one of the best tracks) on the album. If you enjoy it, be sure to check out the other highlights it includes: “Gold Leaf Tree/Mr. Claire” and their phenomenal cover of a 1967 Cat Stevens' song, “The First Cut Is the Deepest”.



Koobas - Where Are the Friends? (1969)

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Lyrics:

As the twilight leads the way
For darkness over birth, descending
No one’s there to welcome home
The lonely one whose journey’s ending
Nothing but the memories
That linger in the mind forever
Memories of precious things
But meaningless ‘til we’re together

Where are the friends
That I thought would be here?
Maybe they’ve all lost their way
Or was I wrong
When I thought them sincere?
Have they forgotten the day?

Courage of my childhood
Inventions of our mind’s creation
Growing up as close as brothers
With no thoughts of separation
But it came and I believed
Our plan to meet again was honest
Did the years in passing
Put away the meaning of the promise?

Where are the friends
That I thought would be here?
Maybe they’ve all lost their way
Or was I wrong
When I thought them sincere?
Have they forgotten the day?

And if I stay
Will we all meet again?
If they remember to come
Just one old friend
Who would kindly explain
Why I’m the only one?

As the twilight leads the way
For darkness over birth, descending
No one’s there to welcome home
The lonely one whose journey’s ending
Nothing but the memories
That linger in the mind forever
Memories of precious things
But meaningless ‘til we’re together

Where are the friends?
(Where are the friends?)
Ah, where are the friends?
(Where are the friends?)