The original duo were Bobby Byrd (July 1, 1930 – July 27, 1990) and Earl Nelson (born 8 September 1928, Lake Charles, Louisiana - July 2008, Los Angeles). They had both been members of The Hollywood Flames, a prolific doo-wop group in Los Angeles, California whose major hit was "Buzz Buzz Buzz" in 1958, on which Nelson sang lead.
By 1957, Byrd had started a parallel solo career, writing and recording for contractual reasons as Bobby Day. He wrote and recorded the original version of "Little Bitty Pretty One", and had a hit of his own with "Rockin’ Robin" (1958). In 1960, Day/Byrd and Nelson began recording together as Bob & Earl, on the Class record label. However, these releases had relatively little success, and Day/Byrd restarted his solo career.
Nelson then recruited a second “Bob”, Bobby Relf, who also used the stage names of Bobby Garrett and Bobby Valentino. Relf had already led several Los Angeles based acts in his career, including the Laurels, the Upfronts, and Valentino and the Lovers. The latter two groups also featured the then pianist and bass singer, Barry White.
This duo of Relf and Nelson recorded several singles for different labels, before recording "Harlem Shuffle" in 1963. The song was written by Relf and Nelson, arranged by Barry White, and produced by Fred Smith, and when released on the Marc label became a modest hit on the R&B chart. Its vocal interplay directly influenced later duos such as Sam and Dave. However, its main success came as late as 1969, when it was re-released in the UK and became a Top Ten hit there. Reportedly, George Harrison called it his favourite record of all time.
By that time, Nelson had achieved further success as a solo artist under the alias of Jackie Lee, with "The Duck", a hit dance record released in 1965. (Jackie was Nelson's wife's name and Lee his own middle name). When "Harlem Shuffle" became successful on reissue, Nelson and Relf reunited as Bob & Earl to tour. However, the duo split up finally in the early 1970s.
My little girl
Bob & Earl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, a long long time ago when I left my home to roam
Down in the hills of Tennessee
Was the sweetest little girl that was ever in this world
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, she begged me not to go, ?You'll be sorry, dear, I know?
For the way that you've were treating me
So I rambled all around and nothing could be found
To take the place of her in Tennessee
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, someday I'll wander back to that little cabin shack
Little girl that's waiting there for me
I can see her smiling face waiting for me at the gate
Oh, the little girl of mine in Tennessee
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
The lyrics to Bob & Earl's song "My Little Girl in Tennessee" tell a story of a man who has left his home in Tennessee to wander around, but is now ready to settle down and return to a girl he left behind. In the first verse, he shares his intention to settle down in the little country town where his girl is waiting for him. He reflects on how "sweet" his little girl was when he first knew her, and how he regrets leaving her.
In the second verse, he acknowledges that his little girl had warned him not to leave her, but he didn't listen to her. He wandered around and couldn't find anything to replace her, and therefore, he is now heading back to Tennessee to be with her. The final verse tells the story of him returning to his little cabin shack and seeing his girl's smiling face waiting for him at the gate.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, little girl of mine in Tennessee
Addressing a young girl that he loves who lives in Tennessee
I know she's waiting there for me
Acknowledging that he believes the girl is anticipating his return
Someday I'll settle down in that little country town
Plans to make a permanent place with the girl in a rural location
With that little girl of mine in Tennessee
Emphasizing his connection to the girl and the location where she lives
Oh, a long long time ago when I left my home to roam
Recalling the time he first left his home to explore the world
Down in the hills of Tennessee
Reflecting on the state he visited and where he met the girl
Was the sweetest little girl that was ever in this world
Indicating that he found the girl to be the most special person he has ever known
Oh, she begged me not to go, ?You'll be sorry, dear, I know?
Recalling the girl's protest at his leaving, knowing that he would regret it
For the way that you've were treating me
Explaining that his actions towards her had caused their separation
So I rambled all around and nothing could be found
Describing his unsuccessful search for something that would fill the void left by her absence
To take the place of her in Tennessee
Realizing that nothing and no one could replace the girl he left behind in Tennessee
Oh, someday I'll wander back to that little cabin shack
Picturing his eventual return to the girl's humble dwelling
Little girl that's waiting there for me
Reiterating that the girl is patiently anticipating his arrival
I can see her smiling face waiting for me at the gate
Imagining the girl's joyful expression upon seeing him approaching
Oh, the little girl of mine in Tennessee
Concluding with the song's main theme of his affection for the girl living in Tennessee
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LESTER FLATT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ethanhowarth6576
Those violins 😍🤯
@russellbaker584
Try hitting every beat to this at 60 ,my poor old knees
@rogermetcalf37
i'm 60 as well but still do it lol
@MickMcCarthy58
mr mms classic bring it on
@Micknsoul87
Sod to dance to but great track
@dianepercival
oh my days ye mr mms x
@dundee520
top tune ktf
@rickjfair1960
prefer this to the vocal reminds me of Mr ms
@elvingtonred
As good as the vocal
@colinhargreaves7501
Sweet sweet Northern Soul - so much better than the vocal version - gotta dance......