Wilson was born in Meridian, Mississippi. He showed little interest in education but performed in school plays, sang in talent shows and won first prize in a local art contest. Wilson began his career at the age of 12 leading his own spiritual quartet and singing in the church choir, even performing covers of country and western hits as circumstances dictated. While he was in high school, Wilson and his family relocated to San Bernardino, California, where he worked odd jobs as a mail carrier, a janitor, and an office clerk, in addition to teaching himself to play drums; after graduation he spent four years touring with Johnny Harris and the Statesmen before joining the U.S. Navy and singing with an enlisted men's chorus. He also developed his stand-up comedy routine to fall back on in case he didn't make it as a singer.
After a two-year military stint, Wilson settled in Los Angeles, touring the local nightclub circuit before joining the R&B vocal group the Jewels; from there he landed with the Rollers, followed by a stint with the instrumental combo the Souls. In 1966, Wilson signed with manager Marc Gordon, who quickly scored his client an a cappella audition for Johnny Rivers — the "Secret Agent Man" singer not only signed Wilson to his Soul City imprint, but also agreed to produce the sessions that yielded the 1968 R&B smash "The Snake" (U.S. #27),which has been very popular on the Northern Soul music circuit in the UK; it also provided Wilson with his only British chart hit, reaching number 41 in 1975. The minor hit "Do What You Gotta Do" appeared that same year. In 1969, Wilson charted with his cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Lodi" (U.S. #67), and Rivers' own "Poor Side Of Town" (U.S. #75).
Wilson largely disappeared from sight until 1973, when he issued the platinum-selling Show And Tell — the album's success was spurred by the shimmering "Show and Tell", a Johnny Mathis castoff that sold well over a million copies.
"The La La Peace Song", released in 1974, proved another hit but caused some trouble as OC Smith had also recorded a version around the same time and sales suffered as a result. Two years later in 1976 he recorded "I've Got a Feeling We'll Be Seeing Each Other Again" for Playboy Records which cracked the R&B Top Three. He tried to leave Playboy Records but was unable to get a release from his contract. Two years later the label folded. With 1979's "Count the Days" Wilson scored his final chart hit, however, and he spent the next two decades touring clubs and lounges; in 2001 he re-recorded his classic hits for the album Spice of Life.
In March 2007 many of his original master tapes were lost to a fire that swept through his home garage he had converted into a recording studio.
Wilson died April 21, 2008 of kidney failure, in Fontana, California at the age of 68.
I Won't Last a Day Without You Let Me Be the One
Al Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you should find yourself alone
Let me be the one you run to, girl
Let me be the one you come to
When you need someone to turn to
Cause day after day
I must face a world of strangers
And I'm not that strong
It's nice to know that
There's someone I can turn to
Who will always care
And you're always there
When there's no
Getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of dreams
Won't come true
I can take all the madness
That the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
Oh, oh, baby
Let me be the one you run to
Girl, let me be the one you come to
When you need someone to turn to
So many times when the city
Seems to be without a friendly face
Ooh, it's a lonely place
But it's nice to know that
You'll be there if I need you
And you'll always smile
It's all worthwhile
When there's no
Getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of
Dreams won't come true
Girl, I can take all the madness
That this he world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
You just have to touch me
And I end up singing
Troubles seem to up
And disappear
Just touch me with
The love you're bringing
I can't hardly lose
When you're near
When you're near
Let me be the one you run to, baby
Let me be the one you come to
When you need someone to
Understand you and hold
Your sweet tender hand, baby
Ooh, just let me be
The one you run to
Let me be the one
If all my friends have
Forgotten half their promises
Now, they're not unkind
Oh, they're just hard to find
Oh, but one look at you and
I know that I could learn
To live without the rest
Ooh, baby, I found the best
When there's no
Getting over that rainbow
When my smallest of
Dreams won't come true
Girl, I can take all the madness
That the world has to give
But I won't last a day without you
Ooh, baby
Let me be the one you run to
Why don't you let me be
The one you turn to
Cause I just can't last a day
Without you, baby
I'm never gonna last a day
Without you
Let me be the one you run to
Let me be, let me be, baby...
The first verse of "I Won't Last a Day Without You/Let Me Be the One" by Al Wilson is about the singer wanting to be there for the woman he loves when she needs someone to turn to. He acknowledges that he faces a world of strangers where he doesn't belong, and he's not that strong. However, he finds comfort in knowing that there's someone he can turn to who will always care and be there for him. The chorus repeats the sentiment that he won't last a day without her and that he wants to be the one she runs to for comfort.
The second verse expands on the loneliness the singer feels in the city, but he's comforted by knowing that she'll be there for him if he ever needs her. The bridge is about the transformative power of love, how it can make troubles disappear when someone special touches you. The final verse is about how the singer has found someone special in her, and he knows that he doesn't need anyone else, as long as he has her.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt and tender ode to love and companionship. It's a reminder that no matter how tough life gets, having someone to rely on can make all the difference.
Line by Line Meaning
Some sweet blessed night
On some peaceful occasion
If you should find yourself alone
If you happen to be without company
Let me be the one you run to, girl
Let me be the person you go to for help or comfort
Let me be the one you come to
Let me be the person you approach
When you need someone to turn to
When you require someone for support
Cause day after day
Because every day
I must face a world of strangers
I have to confront a world full of unfamiliar people
Where I don't belong
Where I do not fit in
And I'm not that strong
And I'm not very resilient
It's nice to know that
It is comforting to realize that
There's someone I can turn to
There is somebody who I can rely on
Who will always care
Who will always be concerned
And you're always there
And you always come through
When there's no
During times when there isn't
Getting over that rainbow
Surmounting an obstacle
When my smallest of dreams
When even my most trivial aspirations
Won't come true
Do not materialize
I can take all the madness
I can cope with all the insanity
That the world has to give
That the world has to offer
But I won't last a day without you
But I won't survive without you for even a single day
Oh, oh, baby
Oh, sweetheart
So many times when the city
So frequently when the town
Seems to be without a friendly face
Appears to be devoid of a kind countenance
Ooh, it's a lonely place
It becomes a desolate setting
You'll be there if I need you
You will be present in instances when I require you
And you'll always smile
And you always beam with a sense of joy
It's all worthwhile
It makes everything worth it
You just have to touch me
You only need to touch me
And I end up singing
And I feel like bursting into song
Troubles seem to up
Obstacles tend to dissipate
And disappear
And vanish
Just touch me with
Simply touch me with
The love you're bringing
The love you are sharing
I can't hardly lose
I will not easily fail
When you're near
When you are in close proximity
Let me be the one you run to, baby
Let me be the person you seek comfort from, my love
Why don't you let me be
Why don't you allow me to become
The one you turn to
The individual you come to for help
If all my friends have
If all of my mates have
Forgotten half their promises
Failed to keep half their vows
Now, they're not unkind
Presently, they aren't evil
Oh, they're just hard to find
It's just tough to locate them
Oh, but one look at you and
Oh, but one glance at you and
I know that I could learn
I recognize that I could discover
To live without the rest
To survive without the others
Ooh, baby, I found the best
Oh, my dear, I've found the greatest
Cause I just can't last a day
Because I simply cannot survive for even one day
Without you, baby
Without you, my love
I'm never gonna last a day
I'll never make it for even one day
Let me be, let me be, baby...
Allow me to be, let me be, my love...
Contributed by Leo W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.