1968, The Moody Blues, and the Moment Everything Changed The studio lights of the 1960s flick on, the colorful geometric backdrop comes alive, and The Moody Blues dive straight into “Ride My See-Saw” with an energy that catches me completely off guard. Those clear, bright harmonies ring out, the rhythm pulls me in, and within seconds I’m fully immersed in the free-spirited, joyful atmosphere of 1968. “Ride My See-Saw” is the song that opened a new era for The Moody Blues. Written by bassist John Lodge, it appears on the 1968 album In Search of the Lost Chord. The album is a concept piece centered on the theme of quest and discovery. On the record, the track is preceded by Graeme Edge’s spoken-word piece “Departure,” creating the feeling of stepping into a brand-new world. Released as a single in October 1968, it reached number 42 in the UK and number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. It was also one of the first singles recorded on 8-track multi-track tape, reflecting the technical advances of the time. The story of how it was written is pretty interesting. Justin Hayward recalls that it began as a studio jam. Graeme Edge laid down that distinctive snare pattern, a guitar riff locked in, and the band sat with it for a while until John Lodge returned with the lyrics and the basic structure of the song. The words talk about leaving school, stepping out into the world, and realizing that life is bigger and more complicated than what you were taught. The “see-saw” metaphor stands for the ups and downs of life—the constant rising and falling—and the need to find balance. John Lodge has said the song is about growing up, carrying the tools you learned in school but having to discover reality for yourself. Before that, The Moody Blues had been an R&B band with the 1964 hit “Go Now.” In 1966, after some members left, Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined. There’s a great story behind their transformation: during a cabaret gig, an angry audience member told them they were the worst band he’d ever seen and that they’d ruined the entire evening. On the drive home, Graeme Edge admitted the guy was right. They decided to ditch the blue suits, stop doing R&B covers, and play only their own material. The 1967 album Days of Future Passed marked the real turning point with its rich Mellotron textures and layered harmonies. In Search of the Lost Chord and “Ride My See-Saw” continued to solidify their inventive progressive-rock sound, blending driving rock energy with a sense of wonder. Watching the video, I’m drawn in by the perfect blend of melody and harmony. Close-ups of their faces while singing and the way they glance at each other reveal genuine joy. This isn’t a big-stage concert—it’s a television studio performance—yet it still radiates the vibrant energy of 1960s rock. I always think of that golden era as a special time. Music was expanding its boundaries, moving from psychedelic into progressive territory. The Moody Blues stood at the forefront, using multi-layered harmonies and storytelling melodies to take listeners on inner journeys. “Ride My See-Saw” has a lively, foot-tapping groove, but underneath it carries a quiet reflection on life. That’s why it became one of the band’s most beloved live songs, often saved for the encore with an extended instrumental section before the full group comes back onstage. My own feeling when I rewatch this video is a mix of nostalgia and pure excitement. You can see the camaraderie in the way they look at each other and smile while singing. The melody isn’t complicated, yet it has real pull; the lyrics are simple but touch something universal. Those 1960s TV performances still captivate because they feel so authentic—no heavy effects, just the music, the colorful lights, and the human energy. For me, “Ride My See-Saw” isn’t just a fun rock song. It marks the moment The Moody Blues truly found their own identity, moving from their R&B years into a new era of exploration. This video feels like a small window into that world, where melody and image together tell a story that still holds up all these years later.