I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band) The Moody Blues

"I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)" is a 1973 hit single by the English progressive rock band the Moody Blues, written by the band's bassist, John Lodge. It was first released in 1972 as the final track on the album Seventh Sojourn and was later released as a single in 1973, with "For My Lady" as its B-side. It was the second single released from Seventh Sojourn, with the first being "Isn't Life Strange", which was also written by Lodge.Show more

The song reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US, becoming one of their highest-charting hits in that country, but fared less well in their native UK, where it managed number 36. It was also the final single released by the Moody Blues prior to their five-year hiatus, which was agreed upon so each of the band members could pursue their own solo careers. Their next single would not be until 1978, with "Steppin' in a Slide Zone".

Billboard regarded the song as a change of pace for the Moody Blues, stating that it had a more "upbeat rock sound" than their typical songs. Cash Box predicted that it was "likely to turn gold," saying that "all indications are that it will head straight for the very top" of the charts. Classic Rock critic Malcolm Dome rated it as the Moody Blues' 6th greatest song. AllMusic critic Lindsay Planer said that "Even though this is an uptempo rocker, Lodge delves headlong into an introspective space equal to that of another significant side, 'Isn't Life Strange.'"

The song was the last of the band's singles to feature the Chamberlin, which had recently replaced the Mellotron. The Chamberlin would later be replaced by a more modern keyboard synthesizer. A promotional music-video was filmed for "I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock and Roll Band)". This video showed the band's flautist Ray Thomas playing a baritone saxophone; however, according to keyboardist Mike Pinder, the saxophone was used just for effect in the video and the saxophone sound was produced by the Chamberlin. The basic tracks for the song were recorded in Pinder's garage, producing a raw sound.

The song remained in the Moody Blues' live concerts throughout their career. Live performances of the song during the band's final years featured a live saxophone played by keyboardist Julie Ragins, along with Norda Mullen on flute.

The B-side of the single was "For My Lady", which was composed by Ray Thomas. Classic Rock History critic Brian Kachejian rated "For My Lady" as the Moody Blues' 7th greatest song, saying that "The song’s bouncy flute opening had a very Irish ethnic storybook sound that took me someplace out to sea."

John Lodge – vocals, bass guitar
Justin Hayward – vocals, acoustic and electric guitars
Mike Pinder – vocals, Chamberlin, piano, tambourine
Ray Thomas – vocals, saxophone
Graeme Edge – drums, percussion
Written by: JOHN CHARLES LODGE

I'm just a wandering on the face of this earth
Meeting so many people who are trying to be free
And while I'm traveling I hear so many words
Language barriers broken, now we've found the key

If you want this world of yours to turn about you
You can see exactly what to do, don't tell me

I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band

A thousand pictures can be drawn from one word
Only who is the artist, we got to agree
A thousand miles can lead so many ways
Just to know who is driving, what a help it would be

So if you want this world of yours to turn about you
And you can see exactly what to do, don't tell me

I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band

How can we understand
Riots by the people for the people
Who are only destroying themselves
And when you see a frightened
Person who is frightened by the
People who are scorching this earth, scorching this earth

I'm just a wandering on the face of this earth
Meeting so many people, who are trying to be free
While I'm traveling I hear so many words
Language barriers broken, now we've found the key

If you want this world of yours to turn about you
You can see exactly what to do, don't tell me

I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band

I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band

How can we understand
Riots by the people for the people
Who are only destroying themselves
When you see a frightened
Person who is frightened by the
People who are scorching this earth, scor-scorching this earth

Music is the traveler crossing our world
Meeting so many people, we're bridging the seas

I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band
I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band
I'm just a singer in a rock and roll band
We're just the singers in a rock and roll band