“If you're going through difficult times, it's hilarious how you turn on the radio and even the most cliché things perfectly capture how you're feeling. And then you realize why people wrote those songs.” »read more
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“If you're going through difficult times, it's hilarious how you turn on the radio and even the most cliché things perfectly capture how you're feeling. And then you realize why people wrote those songs.” »read more
Songfacts: You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.
This was written by Graham Gouldman, who was the bass player for the group 10cc. He also wrote "Heartful Of Soul" for the Yardbirds. Gouldman was inspired by the Animals "The House Of The Rising Sun." Bassist Paul Samwell-Smith made wholesale changes to Gouldman's original demo, including the use of a harpsichord. Gouldman observed to Uncut magazine August 2009: "The harpsichord was an absolute stroke of genius. The record just had a weird, mysterious atmosphere about it."
This song prompted Eric Clapton to leave The Yardbirds, since he felt their music was becoming too commercial. He was replaced by Jeff Beck, who was later replaced by Jimmy Page. Clapton joined John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and would later be a member of Cream and Derek and the Dominos. One of the contributing factors to Eric Clapton's departure was, while performing the song live, his having to recreate the song's harpsichord on a 12-string guitar. (thanks, James - Tracy, CA)
This almost didn't get recorded by The Yardbirds. Gouldman wrote it for his own group at the time, the Mockingbirds, but their demo was turned down by Columbia. Also it is believed that producer Mickie Most turned it down on behalf of Herman's Hermits and that the Animals also turned it down.
The harpsichord on this song was played by session musician Brian Auger who later became a solo artist of note. His biggest hit was the Bob Dylan song "This Wheel's On Fire," which was credited to Julie Driscoll With Brian Auger And The Trinity. It later became the theme tune for the BBC comedy show Absolutely Fabulous. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England, for above 3)
On The Yardbirds official site, bass player Chris Dreja says of this: "We owe a lot to that song because it sort of pulled us out from national to international and set the template for us - that time change in the middle, the weirdness of it." (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
Session musicians played the harpsichord, bongos, and double bass. Besides Clapton's guitar solo, the other Yardbirds played on very little of this.
Fleetwood Mac recorded this for their 1973 album Mystery to Me and released it as a single.
This appeared in the movie Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. (thanks, Anson - Au Gres, MI)
This was used in commercials for Zales jewelry. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)
Comments:
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A great song of one of the best and most underrated bands of the history.
- Giselle, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interesting song. It sounds "raw," but actually has very nice harmonizations. Yes, I like..
Yardbirds' members Paul Samwell-Smith, Keith Relf and Jim McCarty would leave the band to form-- with Relf's sister Jane, bassist Louis Cennamo and pianist John Hawken--a new band called "Renaissance." This ensemble released an eponymous album in 1969 and "Illusion" in 1971. The music consisted of experimentation between folk, rock and classical forms (You can hear allusions to Chopin, Rachminoff and other composers.) While much of the music was interesting, the production standards were primitive, at least compared to later albums.
After "Illusion," all Renaissance except McCarty members went their seperate ways. McCarty re-formed the band with new members--the best-known of whom was vocalist Annie Haslam--and kept the "Renaissance" name. The new ensemble released a few albums that were commercialy successful in England but achieved only modest fame in the US. And their American audience was almost entirely confined to the East Coast.
- MusicMama, New York, NY
Lisa of PA...Hermans Hermits did FOR YOUR LOVE on an early LP...Duke
- Duke, FRESNO, CA
Great song, this is one of the best songs to come out of the sixties! I don't care what you all say, This song rules!, Yardbirds Rule!
- Joe, Bellingham, WA
A great 60's song. Modern English used the same chord progression in "Melt With You", which is another great song.
- Steve, Fenton, MO
There's a promo video of this song where the Yardbirds are all dressed with Middle-Age clothes, it's around the net somewhere. It's pretty strange, in fact. Anyway, a great song.
- marcos, sao paulo, Brazil
Good song. The instruments sound great when put together.
- Jon, Oakridge, OR
The song has the desperate sound, and the lyrics sound the same. Its weird to hear Eric Clapton so early in his career.
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA
You are correct. Jimmy Page replaced Paul Samwell Smith as the bass player in 1966. After Jeff Beck left Page become lead guitarist and Chris Dreja went to bass. They only had one guitar from then on whereas up til then Dreja played second guitar.
- Warrinder, A Town, Canada
When Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck were both in the yarbirds, I believe that only Beck was playing guitar, I'm pretty sure that Page was playing bass for them at that time, and when Beck left the Yardbirds Jimmy took his spot. but anyway, this song now appears on a zales commercial to sell diamonds.
- Alan, London, England
This song was recorded by Fleetwood Mac before Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham joined the band. It was on the 1973 album, Mystery to Me.
- Anne, Atlanta, GA
This song is really good its so awesome so raw so simple so good
- andrew, oregon, MO
I love this song. I would just like to point out that Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page were in the Yardbirds together at one point, both playing guitar.
- Morgaine, Calgary, Canada
I think this song is one you just needed to be there at the time to appreciate it. Playing it live in a band was cool at the time, however it was crummy to dance to so didn't play it much.
- Ernie, emporia, ME
I love the part where they break it down and the drums do their thing. Some of the lyrics here aren't too bad either... and now that I think of it, the begining kinda reminds me of House Of the Rising sun.
- Kendall, thomasville, GA
What this band needed were some decent guitarists. KIDDING!
- Ash, Charleston, WV
I think this is a true 60's classic, plain and simple!
- Anthony, Clearwater, FL
I like the yardbirds but I really don't like this song
- mark, seattle, WA
Peter Noone of Herman's Hermitts said it was orginially offered to Herman's Hermitts but they turned it down.
- Lisa, a town in, PA
Maybe the lyrics are just standard love song lyrics... but I always thought they sounded so horribly desperately sad.
- Fiona, Napier, New Zealand