And the Bands Played On

Saxon

About And the Bands Played On

"And the Bands Played On" is a single by heavy metal band Saxon from their 1981 album Denim and Leather. It peaked at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart and is Saxon's most successful single to date. The album version has a cold ending at 2:48, but the single version continues slightly longer to 2:53 and has a fade ending. The 7" single version has yet to appear on CD. The lyrics, written by singer Biff Byford, are about Saxon's performance at the Monsters of Rock festival in 1980.  


Year:
1981
2:48
43 

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Just before dawn in the cold light
We came out of the night
A great expectation from the man who ran the show
Will it rain, will it snow, will it shine, we don't know
Are there clouds up in the sky

We sat in the sun, woah-oh-oh
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on

See the people, feel the power
There was sixty thousand there
Just like thunder the crowds began to roar
Where you there, did ya know, did ya see all the show
There was magic in the air

We sat in the sun woah-oh-oh
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on

See the rainbow shining brightly
Shooting rockets to the sky
Making music and it rolled on through the night
You could hear on the air rock n' roll everywhere
We were strangers in the night

We sat in the sun woah-oh-oh
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on
And the bands played on

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Saxon

Saxon are an English heavy metal band, formed in 1976 in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. As front-runners of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, they had 8 UK Top 40 albums in the 1980s including 4 UK Top 10 albums. Saxon also had numerous singles in the Top 20 singles chart. Between 1980 and 1987 Saxon established themselves as one of Europe's biggest metal acts, they also had success in Japan and in the USA. In Japan, the single "Motorcycle Man" stayed in the charts for over 5 months. They still tour regularly and have sold more than 13 million albums worldwide. Saxon have also influenced many bands such as Metallica and Megadeth.[dead link] more »

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Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


25 facts about this song

Release Information
"And the Bands Played On" was released by British metal band Saxon on their 1981 album, "Denim and Leather."
Song Inspiration
The song was inspired by the band's appearance at the inaugural Monsters of Rock festival in 1980, held in Castle Donington, Leicestershire.
Chart Success
The single reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, making it one of Saxon's most successful songs.
Music Video
The song's music video features a live performance of the band, showcasing their energy and enthusiasm on stage.
Legendary Performance
This song was played during Saxon's legendary performance at the 1980 Monsters of Rock festival, which had an audience of over 35,000 people.
Classic Metal Anthem
"And the Bands Played On" is considered an anthem of the classic British metal scene.
Album Recognition
Its parent album, "Denim and Leather" is famous for having a strong influence in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement.
Writing Credits
The song was written by Saxon members Biff Byford, Paul Quinn, Graham Oliver, Steve Dawson and Pete Gill.
Frequent Concert Opener
The song is often used by the band to open their concerts, due to its energetic and captivating introduction.
Song Tribute
"And the Bands Played On" is a tribute to the camaraderie and spirit of rock festivals, and the unity of the rock community.
Unique Style
The song is known for its notable guitar riffs, driving rhythm and memorable chorus - characteristics that encapsulates Saxon's signature hard rock/heavy metal style.
Live Album Appearance
"And the Bands Played On" also appears on Saxon’s 1982 live album “The Eagle Has Landed”, further cementing its importance in the band's discography.
Single B-Side
The B-side of the "And the Bands Played On" single was the track "Hungry Years," another song from the "Denim and Leather" album.
Longevity
Despite being released over 40 years ago, the song remains a fan favorite and is still regularly performed by Saxon.
Global Reach
Beyond the UK, the song also proved popular in several other countries, succeeding in getting Saxon recognized in the international music scene.
Late Release
"And the Bands Played On" was not released as a single until several months after the album "Denim and Leather" had debuted.
Monster of Rock Festival
This song was inspired by Saxon's experience playing at the 1980 Monsters of Rock Festival.
High Chart Position
"And the Bands Played On", upon its release, reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
Live Performances
Despite being one of their hit songs, "And the Bands Played On" is not frequently included in Saxon's live performances today.
Song Meaning
The lyrics of the song are a recollection of the band's experience playing at the festival, including watching the crowd and other bands perform.
Fan Favourite
"And the Bands Played On" is especially prominent among Saxon's fans, and it is often regarded as one of their best songs.
Tribute to Bands
The song is considered a tribute to bands that played at the 1980 Monsters of Rock Festival.
Album Success
The "Denim and Leather" album, featuring "And the Bands Played On," is one of Saxon's most successful albums, making it to the top ten in the UK.
Song Duration
"And the Bands Played On" is pretty concise in length, clocking in at just under three minutes.
Saxon Influence
Saxon, primarily during the 80s, were significant influencers in the new wave of British heavy metal and "And the Bands Played On" is a fine representation of this era.

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