On 10 December 1967, Redding, his manager, and band members Jimmy King (b. 1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949; drums) died in a plane crash in Lake Monona while on their way to a performance in Madison, Wisconsin. Trumpeter Ben Cauley survived the crash and bassist James Alexander (who missed the flight due to returning a rental car) rebuilt the group. The reformed band consisted of Cauley; Alexander; Harvey Henderson, saxophone; Michael Toles, guitar; Ronnie Gordon, organ; Willie Hall, drums and later Larry Dodson, lead vocals. The group backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings afterwards, including on Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul album, and changed direction in the 1970s to have a successful funk music career. They continued to score hits on R&B charts well into the 1980s and have performed all over the world. The band took a hiatus in the late 1980s, but then reformed in 1991 with Alexander as the only remaining original member.
Lloyd Smith joined The Bar-Kays in 1973.
Holy Ghost
Bar-Kays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A-shakin' in my bones
I never felt such a feelin'
In all the days I been round, yeah
Whenever I feel the pressure
(Jah!) I can't seem to hypnotise my mind
(Well!) Your love, it's got the Holy Ghost
And I feel like I've been born a second time
Hey! Hey!
Your love, it's got the Holy Ghost
The antidote that saved my soul
And no psycho could ever describe
This feeling that sucks my soul over
You put; a run in my walk
And you put; a tremble in my talk
And this feeling that I have within
Love, it makes me feel like I've been born again
Hey! Hey!
[Instrumental breakdown]
(Hold it!) Yeah you put, a run in my walk
(Hold it!) Girl you put, a tremble in my talk
(Hold it!) Girl I'm feeling like I; never felt
(Hold it!) Girl you ought to be ashamed of yourself
(Hold it!) Yeah you got me, a-shakin' in my bones
(Hold it!) I just can't leave your love alone!
(Hold it!) Girl you spin me
(Hold it!) A round-round-round
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
(Hold it!)
The song "Holy Ghost" by Bar-Kays describes a love so intense, it is compared to the Holy Ghost. The lyrics suggest that this love creates a physical and emotional response in the singer, and has saved his soul. He feels as if he has been born again because of the transformative power of this love. The singer tries to describe the feeling, but he feels that no psycho could ever fully understand it. The love has given him a new confidence and strength, and he can't seem to get enough of it.
The use of religious imagery is notable in this song. The Holy Ghost is a central concept in Christian theology, and is often associated with a powerful, transformative presence. The fact that the singer feels a similar power in his love suggests that it is all-consuming and life-changing. The physical effects of the love are also emphasized, as it causes the singer to shake and tremble. This suggests that the love is almost overwhelming in its intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
Your love, it's got the Holy Ghost
The love of the singer's partner has a spiritual power that he cannot explain
A-shakin' in my bones
The singer feels the power of the Holy Ghost in a physical and visceral way
I never felt such a feelin'
The singer has never experienced something like this before
In all the days I been round, yeah
The singer has been around for a long time and have never encountered something like this before
Whenever I feel the pressure
Whenever the singer feels stress or anxiety
(Jah!) I can't seem to hypnotise my mind
The singer cannot calm their mind or get into a trance-like state
(Well!) Your love, it's got the Holy Ghost
The love of the singer's partner has a spiritual power that he believes is greater than any other remedy
And I feel like I've been born a second time
The singer feels like they have a new life or a fresh start because of the power of this love
The antidote that saved my soul
The love of the singer's partner has helped to heal him spiritually
And no psycho could ever describe
No psychologist or therapist could ever explain what the singer is feeling
This feeling that sucks my soul over
The feeling is so powerful that it has completely taken over the singer's being
You put; a run in my walk
The singer feels energized and alive because of the love of their partner
And you put; a tremble in my talk
The singer feels a physical response to love, so much so that it affects their speech
And this feeling that I have within
The feeling that the singer has is coming from within him
Love, it makes me feel like I've been born again
The love of the singer's partner has given him a new lease on life
Yeah you got me, a-shakin' in my bones
The power of the Holy Ghost makes the singer feel like his bones are shaking
I just can't leave your love alone!
The singer cannot imagine life without the love of their partner
Girl you spin me
The love of the singer's partner makes him feel dizzy and in love
A round-round-round
The singer is captured in a circle of love and cannot escape it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDDIE MARION, HENDERSON JR. THIGPEN, JAMES BANKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JDanseuse92
My grandad played the drums for this song for the Bar-Kays =)
@cynthiaroper8595
He killed them drums❣
@habv3397
He BaD!
@indianman34
God Bless your grandfather for doing the drums for this particular piece....he should have been estatic to have played with the Bar-Kays...hands down one of my favorites....the solo part was sampled for '' Pump Up The Volume'' by M/A/R/R/S in 1991...peace
@cjjaxxon
Every time the song starts and I hear that roll around the drums..........I air drum right along with him. Lol. Loved it when it came out as a kid and still do now.
@tekelawaller7419
Are you carrying it forward???
@coderef5616
...Back when musicians could jam for 8 mins or MORE....and you could tirelessly GROOVE WITH them
@andyc8711
Im a skinny white boy bassist and this is the sickest funk groove Ive heard in my life- I'm addicted to this band...the groove is as wide as the grand canyon !! hell yeah what a bass line
@diegosanchez1203
You learn it, you perpetuate it, no excuses.
@daddytroy
Rest In Peace to my big brother Frankie J Thompson passed away 6/16/2020. Trombonist for the Barkays