Big John Greer (November 21, 1923 – May 12, 1972) was an American rhythm & … Read Full Bio ↴Big John Greer (November 21, 1923 – May 12, 1972) was an American rhythm & blues tenor saxophonist and vocalist, best known for his recordings from 1949 to 1955, which included "Got You On My Mind" and "Bottle It Up And Go."

Born John Marshall Greer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, he was a friend of Henry Glover from childhood, and both attended college at Alabama A&M together. Glover was playing in Lucky Millinder's band when Bull Moose Jackson left the group in 1948; Glover suggested that Greer be chosen as Jackson's replacement. Greer played with Bob Shad and appeared on Millinder's RCA recordings until 1950, when Millinder signed to King Records. Greer stayed with RCA and played with Wynonie Harris and Jackson among others. He sang lead vocals on his biggest hit, 1952's "Got You On My Mind". In 1954 he switched to Groove Records, but did not make much impact on the American record charts there. In October of that year, he released "We Want To See Santa Do The Mambo", a Christmas hit to this day. In 1955, he finally signed with King, but only recorded for them for about a year. Greer also worked with Hal Singer and Bill Doggett.
By 1957, Greer had developed extended troubles with alcoholism, and he moved back to his home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he died in 1972 at age 48.

I Need You
Big John Greer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I want ya, I need ya
But baby you don't treat your daddy right
Well I want ya, I need ya
But baby you don't treat your daddy right
When you leave home in the morning
You don't come back till late at night

Well if I quit ya, I'll miss ya

But baby that's a thing we need to do
Well if I quit ya, I'll miss ya
But baby that's a thing we need to do
It's best that we part
I'll try to find somebody new

Well I waited home, with lights down low
I just walked the floor gal I don't know where to go
I love ya momma, you don't treat me right
When you leave home in the morning
You don't come back till late at night

Well my friends told me
Why you untrue
You've been loving another man
Ever since I married you
I love ya momma, you don't treat me right
When you leave home in the morning
You don't come back till late at night
I want you

I need you
Girl you don't treat me right

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Want Ya' I Need Ya'" by Big John Greer tell the story of a man who is in love with a woman who doesn't treat him right. He opens the song by expressing how much he wants and needs her, but acknowledges that she doesn't treat him well. He laments about how she leaves home in the morning and doesn't come back until late at night, leaving him waiting at home. The chorus repeats his desire for her, but also acknowledges that it might be best for them to part ways. The verses continue with him expressing his frustration with her infidelity and how his friends have told him about her other man.

The song is an example of the blues genre, which often deals with themes of heartbreak, betrayal, and unrequited love. Big John Greer's sultry and soulful delivery adds to the emotional weight of the lyrics, which are sung with a sense of resignation and sadness. The lyrics reveal a complicated relationship, in which the man deeply loves the woman but is also aware of her flaws and the fact that they might not be good for each other.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I want ya, I need ya
I deeply desire your companionship and affection

But baby you don't treat your daddy right
You do not treat me with the love, respect and consideration I deserve as your partner

When you leave home in the morning
Whenever you depart home, presumably for work or other engagements,

You don't come back till late at night
you do not return until the evening, spending most of the day away from our shared home and leaving me feeling lonely and abandoned

Well if I quit ya, I'll miss ya
Although I will miss our relationship and what it means to me

But baby that's a thing we need to do
I feel that it may be necessary for us to part ways

It's best that we part
I believe it would be better for us both to end our relationship

I'll try to find somebody new
I will attempt to find another person who can offer me the love, respect and companionship that I need and deserve

Well I waited home, with lights down low
I have been waiting at home, feeling sad and lonely

I just walked the floor gal I don't know where to go
I wandered aimlessly around our home, feeling lost and unsure of what to do without you by my side

I Need YouBig John Greer Lyrics

I Need You
Big John Greer Lyrics