She was born Barbara Lynn Ozen in Beaumont, Texas, and attended Hebert High School. She played piano as a child, but switched to guitar, which she plays left-handed. Inspired by blues artists Guitar Slim and Jimmy Reed, and pop acts Elvis Presley and Brenda Lee, and winning several local talent shows, she created an all-female band, Bobbie Lynn and Her Idols.
She began performing in local clubs in Texas. Singer Joe Barry saw her and introduced Lynn to producer Huey P. Meaux, who ran SugarHill Recording Studios and several record labels in New Orleans. Her first single, "You'll Lose A Good Thing", co-written by her and Meaux, was recorded at Cosimo Matassa's J&M studio with session musicians including Mac Rebennack (Dr. John). Released by Jamie Records, it was a number 1 US Billboard R&B chart hit and Top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit in 1962. The song was later recorded by Aretha Franklin and became a country hit record for Freddy Fender. Lynn also released an album, also titled You'll Lose A Good Thing, which featured ten of her compositions.
Unusually for the time, Lynn was a female African American singer who both wrote most of her own songs and played a lead instrument. Soon Lynn was touring with such soul musicians as Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, James Brown, Al Green, Carla Thomas, Marvin Gaye, Ike and Tina Turner, The Temptations, and B.B. King. She appeared at the Apollo Theater, twice on American Bandstand, and had her song, "Oh Baby (We've Got A Good Thing Goin')" (1964) covered by The Rolling Stones on their album The Rolling Stones Now! (1965). She continued to record for the Jamie label until 1966 and had several more minor hits.
In 1966 she signed to Meaux's Tribe label, and recorded "You Left the Water Running," which was covered by Otis Redding among others. She signed for Atlantic the following year, and recorded another album, Here Is Barbara Lynn, in 1968. She married for the first time at age 28, in 1970 and had three children. This, together with dissatisfaction with poor promotion by the record company, contributed to her decision to largely retire from the music business for most of the 1970s and 1980s. However, while living in Los Angeles, she occasionally appeared at local clubs, and released several singles on Jetstream and other small labels.
In 1984 she toured Japan, and recorded a live album, You Don't Have to Go, which was released later in the US. She resumed her recording career after her husband's death, and returned to Beaumont, Texas, where her mother lived. She also undertook further international tours, to Europe and elsewhere. In 1994, she recorded her first studio album for over twenty years, So Good, and released several more albums for various labels in later years.
She continues to reside in Beaumont, and was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999. In 2002, electronic musician Moby sampled Lynn's "I'm A Good Woman" on his album, 18.
Sweet Sixteen
Barbara Lynn Lyrics
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When I first met you baby, baby was I only sweet sixteen baby
But you know I'm having so much trouble, oh baby I believe I'm about to go insane, babe yeah oh yeah
You know I love you baby, and I'll do anything you ask me to, yeah
You know I love you baby, baby, and I'll do anything you ask me to
But you know I'm having so much trouble, oh baby I believe I'm about to go insane, babe
Sweet sixteen baby, and the sweetest of men I've ever seen
But you know I'm having so much trouble, oh I believe you're gonna drive poor me insane
Look out!
The lyrics in Barbara Lynn's song Sweet Sixteen tell the story of a young girl who fell deeply in love with a man when she was only sweet sixteen. The lyrics express her immense love for the man and her willingness to do anything he asks of her. However, the lyrics also reveal that she is going through a tough time in her life and she feels like she is about to go insane. The repetition of this phrase "I believe I'm about to go insane" emphasizes the young girl's emotional state and her feelings of being overwhelmed.
The lyrics are also significant for the way they challenge gender roles and the traditional expectations of a woman's behavior in a relationship. Here, the woman is the one who is in love and making the sacrifices for the man, rather than the other way around. The phrase "the sweetest of men I've ever seen" also challenges the idea that men are the only ones who can be sweet and nurturing in a romantic relationship.
Overall, the lyrics in Sweet Sixteen express the intensity of young love and the way it can drive a person to the brink of madness. It also challenges traditional gender roles and expectations in relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
When I first met you baby, baby was I only sweet sixteen
When we first met, I was just a young and innocent sixteen-year-old girl.
But you know I'm having so much trouble, oh baby I believe I'm about to go insane, babe yeah oh yeah
Although I love you, I'm going crazy with all the problems and struggles we're having.
You know I love you baby, baby, and I'll do anything you ask me to
I am deeply in love with you and willing to do anything for you.
Sweet sixteen baby, and the sweetest of men I've ever seen
I was so young when we first met, but you were the nicest man I had ever come across.
But you know I'm having so much trouble, oh I believe you're gonna drive poor me insane
Despite your kindness, the difficulties in our relationship are pushing me to the edge of insanity.
Look out!
Be careful, something terrible might happen if we can't resolve our issues.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Bihari, Riley B. King
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind