In 1977, Supertramp released one of their most celebrated songs: “Give a Little Bit”. The song was written by the band’s former co-frontman Roger Hodgson years prior to its release and ranks as one of his signature songs. In this article, we will dive into the story, meaning, and legacy behind “Give A Little Bit” by Supertramp.
The Meaning of the Song
“Give a Little Bit” is a song about the simple yet powerful message of sharing love. “We can express our love by giving some of our life to others, by giving of our time and self, and receiving others’ life in return,” writer Roger Hodgson said about the song.
Hodgson’s motivation behind the song was his deep-seated belief in the power of love. “We all need love, and we all need to give love to each other,” he remarked. “One of the ways we can share is by showing that we care – showing compassion, comfort, and uplifting and inspiring each other.”
“Giving a little bit of our love, sharing a smile, and showing that we care is a basic teaching in life. And I believe even those that live halfway around the globe can somehow feel the love we give to them from our hearts.”
“Give a Little Bit” is lyrically minimalistic, giving the song its universal appeal. Most of the song revolves around its title, which reinforces the main message of the song to share love.
The Story Behind the Song
Roger Hodgson said he wrote “Give A Little Bit” around 1970, which means he was 19 or 20 when he wrote the song. The late 1960s and early 1970s were musically defined by the love and peace movement, which explains the song’s origin. One particular song that inspired “Give A Little Bit” was The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love”.
“Even at an unwizened young age when I wrote this song, I saw that the world needed love,” Hodgson said. “I believed in love – it was always for love – and I just felt that was the most important thing in life.”
“Give A Little Bit” took about six years from its creation to being introduced to the band. Supertramp’s drummer Bob Siebenberg recalled Hodgson having the song on a tape when he joined the band in 1973, and playing it in hotel rooms before it officially became a part of the band’s repertoire.
In true Lennon/McCartney fashion, all Supertramp songs are credited to Roger Hodgson and the band’s other co-frontman Rick Davies. Despite crediting both, “Give A Little Bit” was written by Roger Hodgson.
The Legacy of Give A Little Bit
Supertramp released “Give A Little Bit” on their fifth studio album Even in the Quietest Moments… in April 1977. A month later, the band released the song as the album’s lead single. The song reached the top 10 in Canada and peaked at number 15 on the US charts. In the UK, the song peaked at number 29.
Over the years, the song grew out to be one of Roger Hodgson’s signature songs. “Give A Little Bit” remains relevant through its use in popular culture and its usage by charity causes. The message of the song remains relevant too, as Roger Hodgson still encourages the listener to utilize its message.
“Reach out to whomever you are with and come on, sing out loud, dance, smile, and let’s send our love, care, joy, and celebration through music! And let’s really send our love and caring to each other, and send that feeling out to the whole world.”
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