Me too! Grew up in Decorah, Northest corner. I remember listening to this 30 years ago in college and thinking it so cool Manfred Mann wrote a song about Iowa!
Brings back memories of 1980, being 19 and stranded in a dead end city. Even in the tropics during a hot summer this songs gives you a sense of beign inside an existential trap. "Better get the Breakdown Squad out..." PS- Gotta love songs with weather newscasters- see Stormwatch by Jethro Tull
Id like to PERSONALLY THANK YOU for making this video... Im currently buried in 3 ft of snow in Council Bluffs Iowa and have been looking EVERYWHERE for this song on video for my Facebook!!! TY TY TY
I remember hearing this occasionally on KGGO in Des Moines when I was growing up back when they would play cuts from the album. Has this crazy spooky & haunting feel. Always wondered if it was referring to the plane that crashed in Mason City with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, & Big Bopper.
I like the fact that this song means so many different things to so many people. All I picture though is a bunch of Spitfires returning from a mission over the Channel, with one or two of them damaged and thus being forced to make an emergency landing. And though it is the shipping forecast, how far removed is "7 miles, 1016, rising," to "A crescent at Angels one five."
Somebody PLEASE tell me the real story behind this song!!! Is it true? Were they really stranded here? I grew up hearing this constantly on the rock station - bc I'm in IOWA! I love MM so much. I have to know; I've been going crazy for 3 decades over this. At first I thought they were literally stranded here during a concert and snowstorm in the 70's but I don't even know. TELL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! But don't make shit up.
@ZiggyTheHamster They have just remastered the CD and re-released it. It is now also on Rhapsody and Amazon. I just got it. This is one of my most-favorite songs from that period. Has Morse code - S E E T S and other shortwave sounds.
Here I am in central Iowa...we made it through the last round of snow...another round even worse is on the way + ice! Would I want to live anywhere else? Not a chance. : )
The info on this video is wrong. The correct info: Artist: Manfred Mann's Earth Band Album: Chance Song: Stranded I have on vinyl; had to download this CD though. It's impossible to find.
I always visualized something a bit more high tech than a simple breakdown on an Iowa highway.... the background vocals obviously refer to mile distances in Britain (hence the place names), but the sound effects and lyrics imply something different, like space travel (the call signs aren't anything from American CB radio, that's for sure). And "MAYDAY" (corruption of "M'aidez!" or "help me!") is an old radio distress signal.
Love Manfred Mann. Out of all the bands this is one of the most interesting one. This is what makes them so unique. This is a very good song. I love the different ways Chris Thompson used to make his voice sound different. Vibratone? Or Monophone? Correct me if I'm wrong. I just love the strange ways they can do things with their instruments.
AH HELL!! i just relized that the meldoly of the song is S.O.S. ... --- ... i have been listing to it for 16 years ( i am 21 if any was wondering) and it takes me drinking to relize it I know poeple say they do things better drunk but i fell retarded
@kubrick681 Stranded in Iowa, USA but missing his girl in the UK (the UK shipping forecast from BBC World Service Radio) which is closed in under deep depression. As for the clowns who think it has anything to do with ICBMs they certainly have to be merkins. Who have never even looked at an atlas of the waters around the UK or they would recognise the names of the shipping areas. Nothing to do with aircraft either. Mr quick off the draw. ID your target next time
First, it is not a shipping forcast. If you grew up during the Cold War (50's and on), you might recognize that as missle launch data, hits & misses and the may-days as "Stranded" troops.
Ok, first this is not a weather forcast. Anyone who lived thru the cold war knows this is a description of missle launches, apogees and fallings. Nuclear winter!
I like the fact that this song means so many different things to so many people. All I picture though is a bunch of Spitfires returning from a mission over the Channel, with one or two of them damaged and thus being forced to make an emergency landing. And though it is the shipping forecast, how far removed is "7 miles, 1016, rising," to "A crescent at Angels one five."
![Manfred Mann's Earth Band - The Road To Babylon (1976) (Remaster) [720p HD]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8VisxHApl8Y/mqdefault.jpg)
![Manfred Mann's Earth Band - The Road To Babylon (1976) (Remaster) [720p HD]](/img/tr.png)
The band did a show in Davenport, Iowa when a blizzard hit and they were literally "Stranded In Iowa" when they came up with this song.
KGGO rocked in the 70's and 80's Love this song and yes I m still Stranded In Iowa
Was stranded in Des Moines for about 24 years. Lived to tell.
37 years ago today this happened and the song was written in the Cedar Rapids airport!
I was stranded in Iowa City when this was made.
I'm from Iowa, and could not wait to escape, so I relate to this song . I was able to escape in 1997
Me too! Grew up in Decorah, Northest corner. I remember listening to this 30 years ago in college and thinking it so cool Manfred Mann wrote a song about Iowa!
Brings back memories of 1980, being 19 and stranded in a dead end city. Even in the tropics during a hot summer this songs gives you a sense of beign inside an existential trap.
"Better get the Breakdown Squad out..."
PS-
Gotta love songs with weather newscasters- see Stormwatch by Jethro Tull
Fort Dodge here, my Dad played this ALL the time when I was a kid
Id like to PERSONALLY THANK YOU for making this video... Im currently buried in 3 ft of snow in Council Bluffs Iowa and have been looking EVERYWHERE for this song on video for my Facebook!!! TY TY TY
Still listening to this in 2016, and it's as relevant as ever.
I remember hearing this occasionally on KGGO in Des Moines when I was growing up back when they would play cuts from the album. Has this crazy spooky & haunting feel. Always wondered if it was referring to the plane that crashed in Mason City with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, & Big Bopper.
Kurt Lightner no, their vehicle broke down in Iowa.
Never Thought about it till you mentioned it. Makes me Wonder !
I am in Cedar Falls Iowa. 11-20-2015 Big snow storm 8''-10 '' I am Stranded in Iowa!
Very cool! Thanks for this. Great to hear one of the first albums Trevor produced (and plays guitar on) for his lofelong friend Manfred Mann.
I was "stranded" in Cedar Rapids for 35 yrs, now Im stranded in Illinois lol
Back three years later,,still love it. haha
Anyone who thinks that Bumfuck Egypt is the far end of the earth hasn't been to the Cedar Rapids airport in blizzard.
Oh man. Grew up in Iowa. Remember this song and haven't heard it in decades...
I LOVE IOWA!!!! I'm guessing perhaps Manfred had a bad experience... (:/)
I like the fact that this song means so many different things to so many people. All I picture though is a bunch of Spitfires returning from a mission over the Channel, with one or two of them damaged and thus being forced to make an emergency landing. And though it is the shipping forecast, how far removed is "7 miles, 1016, rising," to "A crescent at Angels one five."
Rockin,,have loved this for decades,,,and i am not from iowa,,,,
Thanks for posting this,I hav it on vinyl,currently standed in cedar falls,Iowa [ice storm]
to see this much snow again..
And Mike Heron (ex-ISB) on guest vocals!
yep,stranded in iowa.....still
I was stranded in ft. dodge, N.C. is home for the last 30 tears.
I been stranded in Iowa for 30 years.......lol
That is one bad-ass snowman at the end.
Great TUNE
Absolutely Mantastic. Please play the UK
grew up just south of Dubuque!
i have lost this CD, need to find it for my Mum
I'd just like to say that Manfred Mann's Earth Band is the greatest band of all time.
dawn thompson You are absolutely correct Dawn
THANK YOU!!!!!
These are shipping weather reports, not aviation. The ship's name wind direction and speed, visibility, barometer in millibars, and any precipitation.
Thank you! :o)
Somebody PLEASE tell me the real story behind this song!!! Is it true? Were they really stranded here? I grew up hearing this constantly on the rock station - bc I'm in IOWA! I love MM so much. I have to know; I've been going crazy for 3 decades over this. At first I thought they were literally stranded here during a concert and snowstorm in the 70's but I don't even know. TELL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! But don't make shit up.
The Morse Code found in this song is 3 dots-3 dashes-3 dots....S O S
stranded on planet earth,,,
@ZiggyTheHamster They have just remastered the CD and re-released it. It is now also on Rhapsody and Amazon. I just got it. This is one of my most-favorite songs from that period. Has Morse code - S E E T S and other shortwave sounds.
Here I am in central Iowa...we made it through the last round of snow...another round even worse is on the way + ice!
Would I want to live anywhere else?
Not a chance.
: )
iowa rules
me too since 1965
CLINTON IOWA ! ! ! STRANDED PLEASE SEND HELP ! !
I think they dreamt up this song driving on hwy 20 and had to stay at the Boonedocks motel..
it got us again........frosty frosty frosty!
hotel echo, this is mike november
pip pip .I say ,old chap. Hope this is a secure telegraph.Wouldn't want the Nazis to hear.
The info on this video is wrong. The correct info:
Artist: Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Album: Chance
Song: Stranded
I have on vinyl; had to download this CD though. It's impossible to find.
I first heard this back in '83 from the "Heavy Metal" movie/soundtrack I believe. Am I mistaken???
The heard morse code is not really SOS ( ... - - - ... )
It is SEETS ( ... . . - ... ) Maybe because of the rythm... :)
It happens.....Like right now.
These are shipping weather reports, not aviation.
I always visualized something a bit more high tech than a simple breakdown on an Iowa highway.... the background vocals obviously refer to mile distances in Britain (hence the place names), but the sound effects and lyrics imply something different, like space travel (the call signs aren't anything from American CB radio, that's for sure). And "MAYDAY" (corruption of "M'aidez!" or "help me!") is an old radio distress signal.
Seems like nobody have been here for a long time. That's why ✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✪✰
was in my walkman
Those aren't ICBM anything. Those are aviation weather reports. It's "mist", not "missed" along with the visibility "4 miles".
found the cd on ebay.....it's available from the U.K
stranded in iowa city
Love Manfred Mann. Out of all the bands this is one of the most interesting one. This is what makes them so unique. This is a very good song. I love the different ways Chris Thompson used to make his voice sound different. Vibratone? Or Monophone? Correct me if I'm wrong. I just love the strange ways they can do things with their instruments.
I can hear Mike Heron's voice there, too!
Fort Dodge thumbs
Been there, done that for 20 years. That's why on no longer live there...
@mw21bb23 They still do. ;-)
KRNA played it all the time.
AH HELL!! i just relized that the meldoly of the song is S.O.S. ... --- ... i have been listing to it for 16 years ( i am 21 if any was wondering) and it takes me drinking to relize it I know poeple say they do things better drunk but i fell retarded
My. this looks familiar...*grin*
dr. please enlighten us to the morse code I am very interested!!!
Thanks! mw21bb23
What is the meaning of "need to feel the stars sleep by at night"? I do not understand that sentence but it is in my mind. Thanks in advance.
What is with the shipping forcast? I never understood why the lyrics say stranded in Iowa and there is a shipping forcast playing.
@floydflys72f it is s.o.s. why is my stuff not being posted?!
@kubrick681 Stranded in Iowa, USA but missing his girl in the UK (the UK shipping forecast from BBC World Service Radio) which is closed in under deep depression. As for the clowns who think it has anything to do with ICBMs they certainly have to be merkins. Who have never even looked at an atlas of the waters around the UK or they would recognise the names of the shipping areas. Nothing to do with aircraft either. Mr quick off the draw. ID your target next time
First, it is not a shipping forcast. If you grew up during the Cold War (50's and on), you might recognize that as missle launch data, hits & misses and the may-days as "Stranded" troops.
Does anyone know the morse code in it? I do, and I'm a chick. ;-)
drfreud65 sos
Shipping reports? Kind of an odd thing to put in a song about being stranded in the middle of the continent. lol
Ok, first this is not a weather forcast. Anyone who lived thru the cold war knows this is a description of missle launches, apogees and fallings. Nuclear winter!
@kubrick681 It's not a shipping forcast. You must be post Cold-war born as these are ICBM missile launches, hits, misses and everything in between!
It seriously sucks
Fort Dodge here, my Dad played this ALL the time when I was a kid
I like the fact that this song means so many different things to so many people. All I picture though is a bunch of Spitfires returning from a mission over the Channel, with one or two of them damaged and thus being forced to make an emergency landing. And though it is the shipping forecast, how far removed is "7 miles, 1016, rising," to "A crescent at Angels one five."
Great TUNE
stranded in iowa city
@mw21bb23 They still do. ;-)
Great TUNE
Great TUNE