1. America… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least 2 musicians by the name Carl Carlton.
1. American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan, USA
2. German rock guitarist and songwriter from Irhove, Leer, Germany.
1. Carl Carlton (b. 1953) is an American R&B, soul, and funk singer and songwriter best known for his hits "Everlasting Love" and "She's a Bad Mama Jama (She's Built, She's Stacked)".
Carlton, born in Detroit, Michigan, first began recording in the late 1960's as "Little Carl" Carlton, a likely marketing ploy to capitalize on some vocal similarities to established hitmaker Stevie Wonder, who also hails from Detroit and had recorded under the name "Little Stevie" Wonder in the early 60's. After scoring some minor local hits, Carlton was signed by Don D. Robey and moved to Houston, Texas, the home of his new record label, Back Beat Records. Carlton saw some success with the new label including his first major hit, a disco-tinged remake of Robert Knight's "Everlasting Love" that went to #6 on the U.S. pop music charts.
Robey sold his labels to ABC Records in 1972, and in 1976 Carlton became embroiled in a royalty dispute with the new ownership that caused him to stop recording for some time. He then signed with Mercury Records in 1977, but only released one single on that label. Carlton was unable to land a new record deal for several years until Leon Haywood helped him get a singles deal with 20th Century Records. A Haywood-penned single, "She's a Bad Mama Jama", became a major hit, peaking at #2 on the pop charts and earning Carlton a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. Carlton's subsequent album, Carl Carlton, went gold in 1981. "She's a Bad Mama Jama" has since become a staple of compilation albums and soundtracks and is often sampled in rap music.
Carlton released several more albums in the 80's but had only a few minor R&B hits, and eventually fell out of favor with record companies and out of the public eye. After 1985's Private Property, he did not release another album until 1994's Main Event, which failed to chart.
In late 2002, Carlton appeared with many R&B superstars on the "Rhythm, Love, and Soul" edition of the PBS series American Soundtrack. His performance of "Everlasting Love" was included on the accompanying live album that was released in 2004.
2. His most active band project is called Carl Carlton and the Songdogs.
After 3 Albums with the Songdogs, Carl released "Lights out in Wonderland" under his solo name and went on tour with fellow musicians and friends like Klaus Voormann. This tour brought up the live 2CD "Woodstock & Wonderland (Live)"
Don't Walk Away
Carl Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See I just can't find the right thing to say
I tried but all my pain gets in the way
Tell me what I have to do so you′ll stay
Should I get down on my knees and pray
And how can I stop losing you
How can I begin to say
I close my eyes
Just to try and see you smile one more time
But it's been so long now all I do is cry
Can′t we find some love to take this away
′Cause the pain gets stronger every day
How can I begin again
How am I to understand
When there's nothing left to do but walk away
See now why
All my dreams been broken
I don′t know where we're going
Everything we said and all we done now
Don′t let go, I don't wanna walk away
Now why
All my dreams been broken
Don′t know where we're going
Everything begins to set us free
Can't you see, I don′t wanna walk away
If you go, I won′t forget you girl
Can't you see that you will always be
Even though I had to let you go
There′ nothing left to do
Don't walk away
In Carl Carlton's "Don't Walk Away," the singer expresses his desperation to not have his love interest leave him. The song begins with the singer claiming that he can't seem to say the right thing to make her stay. Despite trying to express his feelings, his pain seems to interfere with his ability to communicate effectively. He then asks what he needs to do to ensure that she stays with him, even pondering whether he should pray while getting down on his knees.
The chorus then poses the question of how he can stop losing her and how he can begin to say what he needs to say to make her stay. The singer uses vivid imagery, such as closing his eyes and imagining her smile, to illustrate the depth of his love and how much he doesn't want to lose her. He begs for love to take away the pain because it only grows stronger with each passing day.
In the second verse, the singer admits that all his dreams have now been broken. He seems lost and unsure of where the relationship is going but doesn't want to let it go. He doesn't understand how he can begin again and fix things, given that there's nothing left to do but walk away. The bridge brings all the emotions to a climax, with the singer cautioning the woman not to let go, telling her that he doesn't want to walk away. He confesses that if she leaves, he'll never forget her and that she'll always hold a special place in his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't walk away
The singer is pleading with their partner not to leave them.
See I just can't find the right thing to say
The singer is having trouble articulating their feelings and is struggling to communicate with their partner.
I tried but all my pain gets in the way
The singer's pain and emotions are hindering their ability to have a productive conversation with their partner.
Tell me what I have to do so you'll stay
The artist is asking their partner for guidance on what they can do to prevent them from leaving.
Should I get down on my knees and pray
The artist is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their partner from leaving, even if it means begging or pleading.
And how can I stop losing you
The singer is afraid of losing their partner and is questioning what they can do to prevent this from happening.
How can I begin to say
The singer is at a loss for words and doesn't know how to express themselves in a way that will resonate with their partner.
When there's nothing left to do but walk away
The artist is resigned to the possibility of their partner leaving because they don't know what else they can do.
I close my eyes
The artist is trying to visualize their partner in order to find strength to keep fighting to save the relationship.
Just to try and see you smile one more time
The artist remembers their partner's smile and is using this memory as a source of motivation.
But it's been so long now all I do is cry
The singer has been going through a period of prolonged sadness and is struggling to cope with their emotions.
Can't we find some love to take this away
The artist is asking their partner to work with them to rekindle their love and overcome the pain and sadness they're feeling.
′Cause the pain gets stronger every day
The singer is experiencing an increasing sense of emotional pain and is worried about the toll this is taking on them.
How can I begin again
The singer is worried that they won't be able to move forward from their current situation.
How am I to understand
The singer is feeling confused and uncertain about the state of their relationship.
See now why, All my dreams been broken
The artist is lamenting the fact that their hopes and dreams for their relationship have been shattered.
I don't know where we're going
The artist is uncertain about the future of their relationship.
Everything we said and all we done now
The singer is reflecting on the shared experiences and memories they have with their partner.
Don't let go, I don't wanna walk away
The singer is pleading with their partner to hold on and not give up on their relationship, as they don't want to lose them.
Can't you see, I don't wanna walk away
The artist is explicitly telling their partner that they don't want to give up on their relationship.
If you go, I won't forget you girl
The artist is acknowledging that even if their partner leaves them, they will still hold onto the memories they shared together.
Can't you see that you will always be
The artist is expressing their love and devotion to their partner, even if they are apart.
Even though I had to let you go
The singer is acknowledging that their partner may have to leave them and is trying to come to terms with this possibility.
There's nothing left to do
The artist is acknowledging that the fate of their relationship may be out of their control.
Don't walk away
The song ends with the same message it began with, with the singer pleading with their partner not to leave them.
Writer(s): R. Washington
Contributed by Tyler M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.