Ride My See-Saw

Album: In Search of the Lost Chord (1968)
Charted: 42 61
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Songfacts®:

  • "Ride My See-Saw" was written by John Lodge, bass player for The Moody Blues. It was one of two singles from their In Search of the Lost Chord album. The B-side of the single was "A Simple Game" in the UK "Voices In The Sky" in the US.
  • "Ride My See-Saw" has become one of the band's most popular live tunes. It is the song regularly reserved for the finale performance in stage shows, with a lengthy keyboard and drum duet before the rest of the band comes out onstage for the encore.
  • This song was one of the first single releases to be recorded on 8-track multi-track tape.
  • In Search of the Lost Chord is a concept album around a broad theme of quest and discovery. This song found the Moodies exploring knowledge in a changing world.

Comments: 14

  • Fat Gorgo Cat from SwedenThank you Seventh Mist from 7th Heaven! Now I know. Long time I used one, but I have.
  • Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenFat Gorgocat: a "see saw," also called a teeter-totter or teeterboard is (per Wikipedia) a long, narrow board supported by a single pivot point, most commonly located at the midpoint between both ends; as one end goes up, the other goes down. They are most commonly found at parks and school playgrounds.

    I knew them well as a child. Since there was a slight chance of injury while playing on them, there are very few of them left in park or school playgrounds, now.

    Another victim of today's litigation-happy society, along with slides. jungle gyms and, sometimes, even swings.
  • Fat Gorgocat from SwedenWhat is a see-saw?
  • Bill From Kentucky from LexingtonThe dj from seattles version seems most valid.
  • Gary from SeattleI was fortunate to have most members of The Moody Blues on my radio show in Seattle. John Lodge said it was inspired, in-part, by the groups Psychedelic
    experience with Dr. Timothy Leary.
  • Rebecca from WisconsinI've always thought this song was about giving up one's childhood/innocence for hard work and money. "Take my place, have my seat, it's for free" = it's free to not have a job tying you down. But, of course, you don't make money. I think it's a regret of the writer to give up freedom for "security." Just my opinion. I love the Moodies -- I have seen them live over 10 times.
  • Karen from CaliforniaIt's got to be drugs. If you grew up in that era, you'd know.
  • Andyc from 54806, WiI'm not sure, but I think this song is about sex.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 7th 1969, the Moody Blues performed "Ride My See-Saw" on the ABC-TV program 'This Is Tom Jones'...
    Four months earlier on October 6th, 1968 it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart for a five week stay, peaking at #61...
    Between 1964 and 1988 the group had twenty-one Top 100 records; three made the Top 10, with "Nights In White Satin" being their biggest hit (it peaked at #2 for two weeks in 1972)...
    Note: The two weeks "Nights in White Satin" was at #2; the #1 record for both of those weeks was "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash.
  • Mr. Ed from Los Angeles, CaI seem to remember there was a rumor going around it was about the ups and downs of an acid trip. Hayward did state in interviews they were experimenting with it then. And then of course the "Legend of a Mind" is definitely about it.
  • Gigi from St. Louis, Moit seems like this song is about this crazy frantic life we live in everyday life. working going to school trying to make a living raising children and all the stress. wont some body take my place for free left school with a first place pass started work at second class in school we learned one and one was two but right now that answer just aint true. this tells us of frustrations and how we'd all like to just stop the earth and get off-----let someone else take our place and It's for free ha ha kind of humorus but true you know
  • Steve from Whittier, CaHey, couldn't the most popular Moodies tune honour be shared with "Nights in White Satin"? And sure this that was recorded in 1968?
  • Steve from Whittier, CaIt reached the US Top 50 in 1971.
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaOne of the best of so many great songs by the Moody Blues. You cannot listen to this song without tapping your foot, if not joining in. These guys are fantastic!! Driving beat, beautiful harmonies, spacey lyrics. Thses guys stand alone in their own genre that they created for themselves.
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