Billy Stewart began singing publicly with his mother's group, the Stewart Gospel Singers, as a teenager. He made the transition to secular music by filling in occasionally for the Rainbows, a D.C. area vocal group led by future soul star Don Covay. It was also through the Rainbows that Stewart met another aspiring singer, a very young Marvin Gaye. Seminal rock and roller Bo Diddley has been credited with discovering Stewart playing piano in Washington, D.C. in 1956 and inviting him to be one of his backup musicians. This led to a recording contract with Bo Diddley's label, Chess Records, and Bo Diddley played guitar on Stewart's 1956 recording of "Billy's Blues". Stewart then moved to Okeh Records and recorded "Billy's Heartache" backed by the Marquees, another D.C. area group which was now featuring Marvin Gaye.
Back at Chess in the early 1960s, Stewart began working with A&R man Billy Davis. He cut a song called "Fat Boy". Showing additional promise with his recordings of "Reap What You Sow" and "Strange Feeling", major chart success was not far away. Stewart hit both the pop and R&B charts big in 1965 with the songs, “I Do Love You” and “Sitting in the Park.” His improvisational technique of doubling-up, scatting his words and trilling his lips made his style unique in the 1960s.
In 1966, wishing to appeal to a wider audience, Stewart recorded the LP "Billy Stewart Teaches Old Standards New Tricks" in 1966. The first single released from that album was Billy's radical stand-out interpretation of the George Gershwin classic "Summertime", a top ten hit on both the pop and R&B charts in 1966. The follow-up single was Billy's remake of the Doris Day hit "Secret Love", which just missed the top ten on the R&B chart.
While Stewart continued to record throughout the remainder of the 1960s, his weight problem worsened and he developed diabetes. He also suffered minor injuries in a motorcycle accident in 1969. His life was tragically cut short on January 17, 1970, just 2 months prior to his 33rd birthday, when the car he was driving plunged into the Neuse River in North Carolina, killing him and three members of his band.
Billy Stewart was inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame in 1982.
Fat Boy
Billy Stewart Lyrics
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Baby, here I am
You see fat boy, yeah that's me
A-now, I made it back
I met a girl
She sure looks sweet
She really knock a-me off my feet
I was her pride an joy
That she was in love
A-with a fat boy
Little girl, I want you to know
That I love, I la-la-la will love you
I love you so-ho
Because a-you said
I was your pride an joy
An that you're in love
A-with a fat boy
Baby, here I am
Baby, here I am
You see fat boy, that's a-me
A-now, I made it back in town
I thank you-ooo
Lord, up above
For sending me
A sweet little girl to love
She even said
I was her pride an joy
And that she was in love
A-with a fat boy
Baby, here I am
It's fat boy callin' you darlin'
I said, 'Here I am'
It's fat boy callin' you, baby
I said, a-here I am
It's fat boy back in town
The lyrics to "Fat Boy" by Billy Stewart present a story about a man who was once rejected due to his size but has now returned to town and found love with a girl who accepts him as he is. The repetition of "Baby, here I am" and "You see fat boy, that's a-me" emphasizes the singer's confident entrance back into town, perhaps after losing weight or gaining self-acceptance. The lyrics also suggest that the woman he meets, who knocks him off his feet and calls him her pride and joy, is attracted to him because of his weight, rather than in spite of it. The use of the phrase "a fat boy" instead of "the fat boy" emphasizes this as an inherent part of the singer's identity.
The song's message is one of self-love and acceptance, as well as the importance of finding a partner who sees and values you for who you are. It also challenges societal norms and expectations around body size and attractiveness, suggesting that being overweight does not mean someone is unworthy of love and affection. The upbeat and playful rhythm of the song further emphasizes this positive and empowering message.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, here I am
I'm here, ready and available
Baby, here I am
I'm here, ready and available
You see fat boy, yeah that's me
I'm chubby and I'm proud of it
A-now, I made it back
I've returned from wherever I was before
I met a girl
I've encountered a female person
She sure looks sweet
She appears to be lovely and kind
She really knock a-me off my feet
She's caught my attention and captivated me
A-when she said
At the moment she spoke
I was her pride an joy
I was the source of her happiness and delight
That she was in love
That she felt romantic affection for me
A-with a fat boy
Despite my weight, she still loves me
Little girl, I want you to know
I desire to express to you
That I love, I la-la-la will love you
That I have strong feelings of affection towards you
I love you so-ho
I love you very much
Because a-you said
Due to the fact that you stated
I was your pride an joy
That I brought you significant happiness
An that you're in love
And that you feel romantic love towards me
A-with a fat boy
Despite my weight, you still love me
Baby, here I am
I'm here, ready and available
Baby, here I am
I'm here, ready and available
You see fat boy, that's a-me
I'm still the same chubby person
A-now, I made it back in town
I'm back in the area
I thank you-ooo
I feel gratitude
Lord, up above
A reference to a higher power
For sending me
For bringing me into contact with
A sweet little girl to love
A kind and affectionate woman who I have feelings for
She even said
She also expressed
I was her pride an joy
That I brought her significant happiness
And that she was in love
And that she felt romantic love towards me
A-with a fat boy
Despite my weight, she still loves me
Baby, here I am
I'm here, ready and available
It's fat boy callin' you darlin'
I'm the chubby person who is addressing you affectionately
I said, 'Here I am'
I confirmed that it's me who is speaking
It's fat boy callin' you, baby
I'm the chubby person who is addressing you in an endearing way
I said, a-here I am
I confirmed that it's me who is speaking
It's fat boy back in town
I've returned to the area and I'm still chubby
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY STEWART, ELLAS MCDANIEL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind