In the vibrant whirlwind of 1967, a year marked by social upheaval and musical revolution, there emerged a band that symbolized nothing less than pure, unadulterated fun: Paul Revere & the Raiders. Clad in their unmistakable Revolutionary War-era costumes, these bold performers blasted onto television screens like a colorful lightning bolt, a stark and refreshing alternative to the swirling psychedelic haze engulfing Haight-Ashbury. Yet beneath the flamboyant tricorn hats and ruffled shirts, Mark Lindsay and his band were on the edge of a bold transformation.
Their electrifying single, “Him or Me – What’s It Gonna Be?”, released in 1967 off the album Revolution!, was no mere catchy pop tune. This powerhouse track delivered with a joyous, rebellious roar was actually a desperate exit plea—a chilling ultimatum wrapped in deceptively upbeat melodies. Watching the band’s rise to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 8 on the Cash Box Top 100, audiences witnessed a group fiercely holding on amidst the seismic shifts of music—while legends like The Beatles and the San Francisco scene pushed boundaries into new, audacious dimensions.
To truly grasp the soul behind this anthem, one must delve into the dynamic partnership between Mark Lindsay and producer Terry Melcher. Together, they had already breathed life into the band’s previous smash, “Good Thing,” but this time, Melcher conceived the unforgettable and defiant refrain, “Him or me? What’s it gonna be?”, and Lindsay carved out the story of a person demanding respect amidst the turmoil of a love triangle that had spun its tangled web for far too long. Not a plea but an ultimatum, this was a bold shout of self-worth that reverberated with anyone ever caught in the agonizing limbo of being the backup choice.
Musically, the song plunged into the band’s garage-rock roots, yet teased listeners with subtle psychedelic inflections reflective of the era’s evolving tastes—revealing a band unwilling to stay static, but also unwilling to let go of their core rock and roll identity.
For many from that era, this song is a time capsule of pure nostalgia—the crackle of a jukebox at the local diner, a transistor radio blazing under the summer sun, the dizzying highs of teenage dance floors. It is the soundtrack of angst, defiance, and raw emotion, cleverly disguised behind a punchy beat and lively call-and-response vocals. Its lyrics, though simple, hold a universal sting—the torment of waiting for someone else’s decision, the heart-wrenching possibility of not being chosen.
“Him or Me – What’s It Gonna Be?” is far more than a nostalgic tune; it’s an emblem of a vanished time when life’s greatest dilemma might just be a love triangle settled through a rousing three-minute rock song. A stunning reminder of music’s power to crystallize emotion and memory, every strum of guitar and drumbeat is a portal to a bygone world of innocence, youthful rebellion, and burning passion.
As Mark Lindsay once shared in reflection, “That song was more than music—it was a shout from the heart, demanding to be heard, staking a claim to dignity in uncertain times.” Indeed, when the opening drums crash and the guitar commands the spotlight, we find ourselves swept away to the 1967 revolution, feeling the pulse of a generation that refused to be silenced.