Although Eric Clapton and B.B. King had a 30-plus years friendship originating with a chance meeting and subsequent jam session at New York City's Café Au Go Go in 1967, the idea for a collaborative album only crystallized during the sessions for King's 1997 album Deuces Wild. The resulting record, "Riding with the King", is a stellar event thanks to a wealth of rich material and a solid supporting cast including Jimmie Vaughan, Joe Sample and Steve Gadd.
B.B. King's extensive catalog provides a wellspring of inspiration, including signature songs such as the smoldering "Three O'Clock Blues", alongside lesser-known numbers like the ribald shuffle "Days Of Old", and the Live at the Regal chestnut "Help The Poor". Elsewhere, King and Clapton look to guitarist Big Bill Broonzy (an acoustic "Key to the Highway") and Chicago pianist Maceo Merriweather (the slow-rolling "Worried Life Blues") for inspiration. Even the non-blues numbers are delivered with a rich subtlety befitting these guitar icons' consummate musicianship. John Hiatt's title track becomes a mid-tempo exchange between old friends, while their honeyed vocals on the standard "Come Rain or Come Shine" are worthy of Ray Charles' 1959 version.
"Riding with the King" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album.
Official website for B.B. King: www.bbking.com
Official website for Eric Clapton: www.ericclapton.com
Help The Poor
B.B. King & Eric Clapton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help the poor,
Won't you help poor me?
I need help from you, baby,
Need it desperately.
I need you so much, I need your care,
Need all the loving, baby, you can spare.
Help the poor,
Say you will,
Say you'll help me on.
I can't make it no longer
In this world alone.
Baby, I'm begging with tears in my eyes
For your love, don't you realize
I need help.
Oh baby, help poor me.
You are my inspiration,
Baby, that make me be a king,
But if you don't come to my rescue,
I couldn't ever be anything.
Help the poor,
Won't you help poor me?
Have a heart, won't you baby?
Listen to my plea.
Oh, I lost my courage till I found you.
You've got what it takes, baby, to pull me through.
Help the poor,
Oh baby, won't you help poor me?
[Chorus]
Help the poor,
Won't you help poor me?
Have a heart, won't you baby?
Listen to my plea.
Oh, I lost my courage till I found you.
You've got what it takes, baby, to pull me through.
Help the poor,
Oh baby, won't you help poor me?
The lyrics to B.B. King & Eric Clapton's song "Help the Poor" portrays desperation and the need for love and compassion. The chorus repeatedly pleads with someone to help "poor me," emphasizing the singer's inability to survive in the world without the aid of someone else's love and care. The verse, "You are my inspiration, Baby, that makes me be a king, But if you don't come to my rescue, I couldn't ever be anything," reinforces the idea that the singer's self-worth is rooted in the love and support of another person, and without it, they believe they are nothing.
The repetition of the phrase "help the poor" also serves as a broader social commentary on the issue of poverty. The repeated plea for help can be interpreted as a call to society as a whole to aid those who are suffering and in need. The song highlights the importance of empathy and compassion for those who may be struggling and reminds us of our responsibility to help those around us.
Overall, "Help the Poor" is a powerful message of the necessity of love and support, both on an individual level and as a broader societal obligation.
Line by Line Meaning
Help the poor,
I'm asking for your assistance in aiding those who are less fortunate.
Won't you help poor me?
I'm also pleading with you to help me, in particular, who is in dire need.
I need help from you, baby,
I require your help, my dear one,
Need it desperately.
and it's an urgent matter.
I need you so much, I need your care,
I am not only in need of your support, but also your love and attention,
Need all the loving, baby, you can spare.
and I would appreciate all the love and support that you can give.
Say you will,
Please tell me that you're willing to help.
Say you'll help me on.
Please confirm that you will assist me.
I can't make it no longer
I can no longer go on like this,
In this world alone.
without anyone by my side.
Baby, I'm begging with tears in my eyes
My dear one, I am pleading with you while crying,
For your love, don't you realize
I'm asking for your love, and I hope you understand
You are my inspiration,
You inspire me
Baby, that make me be a king,
You make me feel like a king
But if you don't come to my rescue,
However, if you don't help me,
I couldn't ever be anything.
I wouldn't be able to achieve anything.
Have a heart, won't you baby?
Please show some compassion, my love.
Listen to my plea.
Please pay attention to my request.
Oh, I lost my courage till I found you.
I was feeling hopeless until I met you.
You've got what it takes, baby, to pull me through.
I believe you have the ability to help me get through this.
[Chorus]
Repeated plea for help from the poor and oneself.
Oh baby, won't you help poor me?
Final request for assistance.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES SINGLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Yaros64
Help the poor
Won't you help poor me?
Have a heart, won't you, baby
Listen to my plea
I need you so much, I need your care
Need all the loving, baby, you can spare
Help the poor
Oh, baby won't you help poor me?
Say you will
Say you'll help me on
I can't make it no further
In this world alone
Baby, I'm beggin' with tears in my eyes
For your loving, don't you realize?
I need help, oh, baby
Help poor me
You are my inspiration
You could make me be a king
But if you don't come to my rescue
I couldn't ever be anything
Help the poor
Won't you help poor me?
Have a heart, won't you, baby?
Listen to my plea
Well, I lost my courage till I found you
You got what it takes, babe, to pull me through
Help the poor
Oh, baby, won't you help poor me?
I'm in trouble don't you see
Only your love can save me
Help the poor, help .......
@twalk6164
The best song ever to ski to. Gave me my best run ever at Beaver Creek. Two amazing musicians, a perfect blend.
@srmahmoudi
This is the music that we, I and my friend, used to perform tapping with when we drove in Jalal -Ale-Ahmad Highway, Tehran, Iran at 6 AM. People watching us and enjoying the wonderfulness of the music and our performance :D.... some of them were not even conscious and they were sleepy! but laughing and enjoying and sometimes initiating same tapping theme with us... Really great days! unforgotten moments.... Warm greetings to my friend "HOOMAN" and those of you who really love this masterpiece
@greetjebalm8167
PlllllllllllllwwwLLalllAlqlLqQqqlqqqQQl
@vieta1972
Clapton & The KING..... You CANT go wrong with that combo.... All I can say is AMAZING
@VladimirSanchez007
What a great blues and with a good message..
@kimhansen6384
The headline is a good message, but the lyrics are quite selfish :-)
@jeanbariston7393
Votre musique, vos textes, les photos, ma ville virtuelle
@execelsior999
I have listened to this six times in a row and still want more!!!!!!!!!!
@KEOMAS
great blues song...!!!! hello from Greece...!!
@theodoreshkodrani9450
Πολλους ελληνες εχω βρει εδω