1.) Alfred Jesse Smith (born July 26, 1941 in Shreveport, Louisiana), better known by the stage name Brenton Wood, is an American singer and songwriter, best known for his two 1967 hits: Oogum Boogum Song and Gimme Little Sign.
When he was a child his family moved west to San Pedro in Los Angeles, California. In his high school years his family relocated to nearby Compton, where Brenton became a member of the Compton High School track team and received several awards for his athletic achievements.
Following his high school graduation, Wood enrolled in Compton College. Soon after he took the stage name Brenton Wood, possibly inspired by the wealthy Los Angeles enclave of Brentwood (some sources state that the name is in honor of his "home county"). During his period there his musical interests began to manifest themselves. He was inspired by Jesse Belvin and Sam Cooke, and he began cultivating his songwriting skills, also becoming an accomplished pianist.
After signing with Double Shot Records he had a hit with "The Oogum Boogum Song" in the spring of 1967. It reached number 19 on the R&B charts and number 34 on the pop listing. His biggest hit came in September the same year. "Gimme Little Sign" hit #9 on the pop chart and also #19 on the R&B charts. In the song gimme little sign is not sung, instead the chorus repeats "give me some kind of sign".
"Gimme Little Sign" was later covered by Danielle Brisebois who had a hit with it in 1994. "Gimme Little Sign" was also recorded by Ricky Nelson.
Some of his more unknown songs are also worth listening to, such as "Me and You," "Baby You Got It," and "18 With a Bullet."
Love Is Free
Brenton Wood Lyrics
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There is still hope for how it can go, my way
I can, hold many
And you dont even have to have a penny
′Cause love is free
Just for the Asking, Yeah
Love is free, Just for the asking
Just think what your friends shook hand meant to me
Sharing and Caring
Girl, you wont ever ever have to Marry
'Cause love is free
Just for the Asking, Yeah
Love is free, Just for the asking
And I know, The secret to the love, peace and happiness I got for you, girl
Sharing and Caring
Girl, you wont ever ever have to worry
′Cause love is free
Just for the Asking,
Love is free, Just for the asking
Love is free, Just for the asking
Love is free, Just for the asking
In Brenton Wood's song "Love Is Free," the singer reflects on his beliefs about love and relationships. The lyrics express the idea that love is a powerful force that can bring people together, regardless of their individual circumstances. Despite the loneliness and isolation of life on the open road ("all lives, lonely highways"), there is still hope for finding happiness and companionship.
The singer argues that love is something that can be freely given and received without any expectation of reward. He suggests that money and material possessions are not necessary for true love to flourish ("you don't even have to have a penny"). Instead, the key to a happy relationship is "sharing and caring" for each other. The singer also emphasizes the importance of friendship in his romantic relationships, suggesting that platonic bonds can be just as meaningful as romantic ones.
Overall, the message of the song is simple but profound: that love is a powerful, transformative force that can change our lives for the better. The singer encourages listeners to embrace love and to believe in its transformative power.
Line by Line Meaning
All lives, Loney Highways
It doesn't matter where you come from or where you are right now, love is still available to you.
There is still hope for how it can go, my way
Despite life's challenges, it's still possible for love to work out in the way I want it to.
I can, hold many
I have the capacity to love many people.
And you dont even have to have a penny
You don't need money to get my love.
'Cause love is free
Love is not something that requires payment, it is given freely.
Just for the Asking, Yeah
As long as you ask for it, you can receive my love.
I need, the company
I want to be with someone who can provide me with companionship.
Just think what your friends shook hand meant to me
Even a simple handshake from your friends means a lot to me, and shows me that they accept and care about me.
Sharing and Caring
Love involves sharing each other's lives and caring about each other's well-being.
Girl, you wont ever ever have to Marry
You don't have to commit to me in marriage to receive my love.
'Cause love is free
Love is not something that requires payment, it is given freely.
And I know, The secret to the love, peace and happiness I got for you, girl
I know how to make you happy and bring you peace and love.
Girl, you wont ever ever have to worry
You don't have to worry about losing my love or not being enough for me.
Love is free, Just for the Asking,
As long as you ask for it, love is available to you without any strings attached.
Love is free, Just for the asking
Love is not something that requires payment, it is given freely as long as you ask for it.
Writer(s): Frederick Knight, Bettye Jean Barnes Crutcher
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.