About the song
In the realm of classic rock music, few songs have captured the poignant themes of love’s transience and the inevitable march of time quite as effectively as “Changes” by the English rock band The Zombies. Released in 1968 as part of their seminal album, Odessey and Oracle, this melancholic ballad has become an enduring anthem for generations of listeners, resonating with its heartfelt lyrics and soulful melody.
Rod Argent, the band’s keyboardist and primary songwriter, penned “Changes” during a period of personal introspection. Inspired by the shifting dynamics of his own relationships and the ever-changing nature of life, Argent crafted a song that captured the universal human experience of loss, longing, and the bittersweet passage of time.
The song opens with a gentle piano riff, setting a somber mood that perfectly complements the wistful lyrics. Colin Blunstone’s ethereal vocals, imbued with emotion and vulnerability, carry the listener through a journey of reminiscence and regret.
“I knew her when summer was her crown / And autumn sad, how brown her eyes”
The opening lines paint a vivid picture of youthful innocence and carefree days, a time when the narrator and his beloved were inseparable. The imagery of summer and autumn evokes a sense of nostalgia for a time that has irrevocably passed.
The verses that follow chronicle the gradual transformation of the narrator’s once carefree love interest. She has become “buttoned down high”, adorned with “diamonds and stones”, and surrounded by “silver and gold”. These materialistic symbols represent the loss of her youthful innocence and her embrace of a more superficial, materialistic existence.
“Isn’t she smart, isn’t she grand? / Money will buy something to hold”
The narrator’s disillusionment is palpable as he observes the stark contrast between the woman he once knew and the person she has become. The repetition of the phrase “Isn’t she smart, isn’t she grand?” carries a heavy dose of sarcasm, highlighting his bittersweet acceptance of her transformation.
The chorus serves as a heartbreaking refrain, emphasizing the inexorability of change and the fleeting nature of love and youth.
“Time keeps on changing / And I keep on changing too”
The narrator acknowledges that he too has changed over time, but his changes have been internal, a deepening understanding of the world’s impermanence. The repetition of the word “changing” creates a sense of urgency, underscoring the relentless passage of time that leaves nothing untouched.
The song’s bridge offers a glimmer of hope, suggesting that love can endure even amidst the shifting sands of time.
“And I know I’ll see her again / As a vision in my mind”
Despite the pain of loss and the disillusionment with his beloved’s transformation, the narrator holds onto a precious memory of their past love. The image of her as a “vision in his mind” represents the enduring power of love to transcend time and change.
“Changes” concludes with a haunting repetition of the chorus, leaving the listener with a sense of melancholy acceptance. The song’s lasting impact lies in its ability to capture the universal human experience of loss, longing, and the bittersweet passage of time. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with listeners generations after its release.
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Lyrics
[Verse 1]
I knew her when summer was her crown
And autumn sad, how brown her eyes
[Chorus]
Now see her walk by, peppermint coat
Button-down clothes, buttoned-up high
Diamonds and stones hang from her hand
Isn’t she smart, isn’t she grand?
[Verse 2]
I knew her when summer was her crown
And autumn sad, how brown her eyes
I knew her when winter was her cloak
And spring her voice, she spoke to me
[Chorus]
Now silver and gold, strawberry clothes
Money will buy something to hold
See in her eyes, nothing will last
Like emerald stones and platinum clasp
[Verse 3]
I knew her when summer was her crown
And autumn sad, how brown her eyes
I knew her when winter was her cloak
And spring her voice, she spoke to me
[Chorus]
Now silver and gold, strawberry clothes
Money will buy something to hold
See in her eyes, nothing will last
Like emerald stones and platinum clasp
[Verse 4]
I knew her when summer was her crown
And autumn sad, how brown her eyes
I knew her when winter was her cloak
And spring her voice, she spoke to me
I knew her when summer was her crown
And autumn sad, how brown her eyes