Baby Huey was a large and locally beloved figure on the Chicago soul scene in the late 1960's. Born James Ramey in Richmond, IN, in 1944, Baby Huey never achieved great renown outside of his hometown, for despite an exciting live act, his debut album on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label wasn't released until after his death from an overdose in 1970.
He was literally an enormous stage presence: a glandular problem kept his weight around 350-400 pounds and beyond. He began performing in Chicago clubs in 1963 with his backing band the Babysitters and soon became a popular concert draw. As the '60s wore on, Baby Huey's sound moved from energetic R&B into a more psychedelic brand of soul, with a vocal style that drew comparisons to Otis Redding. He signed with Curtom and recorded a debut album, The Baby Huey Story: The Living Legend, that featured several Curtis Mayfield songs (most notably the oft-sampled "Hard Times" and "Mighty Mighty Children"), plus a cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come."
Sadly, Baby Huey didn't live to see it released; his weight and substance-abuse problems were exacting a steep toll on his body, and on October 28, 1970, he suffered a drug-related heart attack in a hotel room in Chicago. The album was released early the next year, and the Babysitters attempted to carry on for a while with a new lead singer, the still-teenaged Chaka Khan (she would, of course, go on to fame as the frontwoman of funk band Rufus shortly thereafter). In the years since, Baby Huey's lone LP has become a sought-after collectible among soul fanatics and has been reissued numerous times on CD.
Hard Times
Baby Huey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People all around me and they're all in fear
They don't seem to want me but they won't admit
I must be some kind of creature up here having fits
From my party house, I'm afraid to come outside
Although I'm filled with love I'm afraid they'll hurt my pride
So I play the part I feel they want of me
Havin' hard times in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
Havin' hard times in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
From my party house I feel like meetin' others
Familiar faces, creed and race, a brother
But to my surprise I find a man corrupt
Although he be my brother, he wants to hold me up
Havin' hard times in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
Havin' hard times in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
In this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
Havin' hard times, in this crazy town
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
The lyrics in Baby Huey's song Hard Times depict a deep sense of alienation and fear towards the people around him. He feels like an outsider, a creature having fits. The cold, cold eyes staring at him cause him to retreat to his party house, where he is filled with love but surrounded by fear of being hurt. He acknowledges the manufactured role he plays in order to please others while pulling the shades to avoid being seen.
Huey's longing for companionship and a sense of belonging is evident, as he expresses his desire to meet others, familiar faces who share his creed and race. However, he is met with corruption, with even his brother wanting to hold him up. The lyrics suggest that his experience is not unique, as the repeated refrain "Havin' hard times in this crazy town, there's no love to be found" implies a more widespread sense of isolation and desolation within the community he inhabits.
Overall, the lyrics of Hard Times speak to the universal human experience of struggling to carve out a space for oneself in a world that often feels hostile and unforgiving.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold, cold eyes upon me they stare
I am being watched with judgment and hostility by those around me.
People all around me and they're all in fear
Those around me are fearful and paranoid, and this energy is overwhelming.
They don't seem to want me but they won't admit
Others don't seem to accept me, but they are not honest about it and instead act with passive aggression.
I must be some kind of creature up here having fits
I feel like an outcast, misunderstood and disrespected by those around me.
From my party house, I'm afraid to come outside
Even though I am surrounded by love in my personal space, I am afraid to face the hostility outside.
Although I'm filled with love I'm afraid they'll hurt my pride
Despite feeling love, I am afraid of being hurt and disrespected by others, causing me to be hesitant about leaving my safe space.
So I play the part I feel they want of me
To fit in and avoid conflict, I act how I think others want me to instead of being myself.
And I pull the shades so I won't see them seein' me
I retreat further into my safe space, avoiding confrontation with others by hiding from their views.
From my party house I feel like meetin' others
Despite my fears and hesitations, I long for social interaction and crave connecting with other people.
Familiar faces, creed and race, a brother
I seek community and kinship with people who share similar values and experiences as me.
But to my surprise I find a man corrupt
Upon connecting with others, I discover that some people are deceitful and have malicious intentions towards me.
Although he be my brother, he wants to hold me up
Even someone who is supposed to accept and support me can betray me and bring me down instead.
Havin' hard times in this crazy town
I am struggling to navigate the difficult and unforgiving environment I live in.
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
There is a lack of compassion, empathy, and basic human kindness in the world around me.
In this crazy town
The town I live in is chaotic and unpredictable, adding to my sense of unease and instability.
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
In a world without genuine love, I struggle to find meaning and happiness in my life.
Havin' hard times, in this crazy town
The difficulties and challenges I face seem insurmountable in the tumultuous environment I live in.
Havin' hard times, there's no love to be found
The lack of love and acceptance in my surroundings continues to cause me pain and hardship.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ENRGYBEATS
The Continental brought me here.💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
@buffalosoldier84
Fear City: New York vs the Mafia brought me here. 😏
@strengthandlove_
good shit
@andycoleman5491
Concrete Club. Fat Tony was a musician in his own right fact :)
@babaparsk
Me too
@babaparsk
I ever Heard this sont before fear city,but didn t know the artiste...incredible track
@deserteaglebrown9595
This song hard and powerful I just watched it I love 70s gangster music
@Lee-qq8uy
Soul music never dies ! Doesn't matter what race when you sing from your soul everyone can appreciate it ! 🇺🇲
@fernandodiaz4887
Underrated comment 💯
@eriksowa1325
Amen!