Black Ivory is the name of an R'n'B group from Harlem, which had a number o… Read Full Bio ↴Black Ivory is the name of an R'n'B group from Harlem, which had a number of hits in the 1970s, including "Don't Turn Around," "You And I", "I'll Find A Way (The Loneliest Man In Town)", "Spinning Around", "What Goes Around (Comes Around)" and "Will We Ever Come Together" and "Mainline". The group featured songwriter and prolific disco producer Leroy Burgess, Stuart Bascombe and Russell Patterson. They were managed by Patrick Adams, an executive at the Today/Perception record company. Burgess was the lead voice of the majority of their hits in the early '70's With Today/Perception being a small label, the promotion of Black Ivory's singles scarcely got beyond the East Coast. This lack of exposure, coupled with the rise of disco and the fact that Patrick Adams was beginning to branch out into other projects, caused Black Ivory to lose steam. Oddly enough, the group recorded several uptempo songs in the disco vein ( such as "Big apple Rock," "Walking Downtown (On A Saturday Night)", "What Goes Around (Comes Around)" and, later, "Mainline" but, not being known for the style, they were unable to compete when disco became the dominant music style. While he was with Black Ivory, Burgess frequently collaborated with Adams in writing songs. He also wrote the groups' final hit, "Mainline," which was recorded after he left the group.

Got To Be There
Black Ivory Lyrics

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Got to be there
(Got to be there) be there in the morning
When she says hello to the world
Got to be there
(Got to be there) to be there, bring her good times
And show her that she's my girl
Oh, what a feeling there'll be
The moment I know she loves me

'Cause when I look in her eyes
I realize
I need her sharing the world beside me

So I got to be there
(Got to be there) to be there in the morning
And welcome her into my world
And show her that she's my girl
When she says, "hello world!"

Got to be there, got to be there
Got to be there

Got to be there, got to be there
Got to be there

Got to be there, got to be there (hey)
Oh baby, yeah, when she says hello
To the world

(Got to be there) got to be there, yeah, yeah
(Got to be there) in the morning, in the morning
In the morning (got to be there)

In the morning (got to be there)
(Got to be, got to be)

Overall Meaning

The song "Got To Be There" by Black Ivory is a sweet love song about the dedication one feels to be with and support the one they love. The song starts with the chorus repeating "Got to be there" which sets the tone for the song. The verses then go on to explain that the singer wants to be there for his love in the morning when she wakes up and welcomes her into his world. He wants to bring her good times and show her that she is his girl. The chorus repeats twice with a bridge in between where the singer exclaims how great he will feel once he knows that she loves him too. The song ends with one final chorus repeat and ends on a hopeful note.

There is something very pure and innocent about the lyrics of "Got To Be There." It's almost like a coming of age story where the singer realizes that he needs someone in his life and that he is willing to do whatever it takes to make that person happy. The line "when she says hello to the world" is particularly poignant because it shows that the singer wants to be a part of every aspect of his love's life, even the small ones. Overall, the song is about the desire for love and the willingness to put in the effort to make it happen.

Line by Line Meaning

Got to be there
It is absolutely necessary for me to be present

(Got to be there) be there in the morning
I need to be there early in the day

When she says hello to the world
When she wakes up and greets the new day

Got to be there
I need to make sure I'm there

(Got to be there) to be there, bring her good times
I must bring her happiness

And show her that she's my girl
I need to let her know that I am devoted to her

Oh, what a feeling there'll be
I cannot wait to experience the joy and happiness that will come

The moment I know she loves me
As soon as I am certain that she loves me back

'Cause when I look in her eyes
Because when I gaze into her eyes

I realize
I become acutely aware

I need her sharing the world beside me
I desire her companionship as I navigate through life