Bruce Channel (born as Bruce McMeans, on November 28, 1940, in Jacksonville… Read Full Bio ↴Bruce Channel (born as Bruce McMeans, on November 28, 1940, in Jacksonville, Texas) was a musician best known as a 'one-hit-wonder' known for his 1962 number one song "Hey! Baby" (also known as "Hey Baby") while also being a songwriter for other artists.

Channel originally performed on the Louisiana Hayride radio show, and then joined up with harmonica-player Delbert McClinton singing country music. Bruce wrote "Hey! Baby" in 1959, together with Margaret Cobb, and had been performing it for two years before recording it for Fort Worth record producer Bill Smith. It was originally released on Bill Smith's label, but as it started to sell well, it was distributed by Smash. Besides topping the U.S. pop charts, it became No. 2 in the UK in 1962 as well.

Channel toured Europe and was supported at one gig by The Beatles, who were then still unknown. John Lennon, who had "Hey! Baby" on his jukebox, was fascinated by McClinton's harmonica and asked McClinton to teach him to play. The harmonica break in "Hey! Baby" not only inspired Lennon's harmonica playing on The Beatles' 1962 first single "Love Me Do" and later records, but the harmonica break on Frank Ifield's "I Remember You" in 1962.

The key to the appeal of "Hey! Baby" is the sustained first note, with a rhythmic shuffle in the background. This had previously occurred on a recent hit "Sherry" (1962) by The Four Seasons, and was later to recur on a Beatles song, "I Should Have Known Better" (on A Hard Day's Night - 1964).

Delbert McClinton went on to write songs that were recorded by Waylon Jennings and Emmylou Harris.

Bruce Channel's only other Top 40 recording in the UK singles chart was 1968's "Keep On".

"Hey! Baby" was channelled (no pun intended) at the end of Bruce Springsteen's biggest hit single, 1984's "Dancing in the Dark".

"Hey! Baby" appeared on the soundtrack to "Dirty Dancing."

"Hey! Baby" is a staple of several college pep bands, including the Penn State Blue Band, Marching Mizzou and the Georgetown University Pep Band. The bands generally play the song at home football and basketball games, while the student section sings along. They know the chorus well, but rarely the verses.

A 2001 cover version by DJ Otzi reached both number 1 in the UK singles chart, as well as topping the equivalent listing in the USA.

If Only I Had Known
Bruce Channel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If only I had known
The danger of your mind
If only I had Known
Right from wrong

I wouldn't let myself
Fall so in love with you
I wouldn't be here now

Heart sick and blue

If I could just go back to what I use to be
And then the only one who cares for me

Would be so happy alone
Just her and me
But it's too late you see

If only I had known
If only I had known

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bruce Channel's song “If Only I Had Known” tells a story about regret and heartbreak after falling deeply in love with someone who turned out to be dangerous, someone who the singer wished he knew better before giving his heart entirely to. He laments that if he had known the danger this person posed to his mental and emotional health, he would have been able to discern right from wrong and made a better choice. Despite his hurt and disappointment, he longs for the good old days when he only had himself to care for and wishes he could return to that time. But unfortunately, it is too late because he is already in love, and he is suffering heartbreak.

The lyrics are so powerful because it reflects the reality that sometimes love blinds us to the harmful and destructive traits in a person. It shows the consequences of falling in love without getting to know the person deeply, which is a common theme in relationships, one that many people can relate to. The song highlights the importance of being cautious about who we love and how we give our hearts.

Line by Line Meaning

If only I had known
I wish I had been aware

The danger of your mind
Your motives were not pure

If only I had Known
I deeply regret not having known

Right from wrong
The distinction between good and bad

I wouldn't let myself
I would have stopped myself

Fall so in love with you
To avoid getting emotionally attached

I wouldn't be here now
I wouldn't have landed in this situation

Heart sick and blue
Feeling sad and miserable

If I could just go back to what I use to be
If I could turn back time

And then the only one who cares for me
The only person who has my back

Would be so happy alone
Would be content being single