1962
UP ON THE ROOF * THE DRIFTERS * LONDON 9626 * UK
The fourth gold disc for The Drifters, with Rudy Lewis (lead), Charles Thomas (tenor), Eugene Pearson (baritone), Tommy Evans (bass). This song is incisive social comment, a song with depth of both meaning and feeling. It came out at a time when almost all white Pop songs were about boys and girls, love and kisses, and having fun. The lyrics of Up On The Roof, it is said, allude to drug taking, but the song goes a little deeper. It is very likely about drug taking, but, it also begs the question why are some people taking the drugs in the first place, and in such a manner. Difficult subject to talk about, but, although written by a middle class white couple Gerry Goffin and Carole King, I always feel that the song refers to what used to be called 'the black man's burden'
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