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)"
Everlasting Love
Carl Carlton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I went away just when you needed me so, oh yeah
Filled with regret I come back beggin' you
Forgive, forget, where's the love we once knew?
Open up your eyes, then you'll realize
Here I stand with my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl you'll be my bride
From the very start, open up your heart
Be a lasting part of everlasting love
Ooh, ooh (real love will last forever) yeah yeah (real love will last forever)
Where life's river flows, no one really knows
'Til someone's there to show the way to lasting love
Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shine
You always will be mine, if it turn on love
When other loves are gone, ours will still be strong
We have our very own everlasting love
(Real love will last forever, real love will last forever)
Open up your eyes, then you'll realize
Here I stand with my everlasting love
Need you by my side, girl you'll be my bride
You'll never be denied everlasting love
From the very start, open up your heart
Be a lasting part of everlasting love
Ooh, ooh (real love will last forever)
The lyrics of Carl Carlton's song Everlasting Love express the regret and sorrow that arises when someone realizes too late the value of the love they left behind. The first lines convey how hearts often go astray, causing pain to those who are left behind. Carlton expresses regret for leaving at a time when his lover needed him the most. He is now in a position where he is begging for his lover's forgiveness, and he wants to forget the past and regain the same love they once had.
As the song progresses, Carlton emphasizes the importance of "opening up your eyes," meaning being able to see and comprehend the true nature of things. Only then will his lover realize that he stands with an "everlasting love." He pleads with his lover to be his bride, and he promises that she will never be denied his love. He professes that his love is everlasting, and it will endure even when other loves have faded.
In conclusion, the lyrics of Carl Carlton's song Everlasting Love convey the desire to rekindle and renew the love that once existed. The song emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of love and the regret one feels when they realize that they had missed out on a great thing.
Line by Line Meaning
Hearts go astray, leaving hurt when they go
People wander away and leave pain and sadness behind in their wake
I went away just when you needed me so, oh yeah
I left when you needed me most
Filled with regret I come back beggin' you
I'm full of sorrow and remorse, asking for your forgiveness
Forgive, forget, where's the love we once knew?
Can we put the past behind us and find the love we used to share?
Open up your eyes, then you'll realize
If you look closely, you will see
Here I stand with my everlasting love
I am here with a love that will never fade
Need you by my side, girl you'll be my bride
I want you to be with me always, as my partner in life
You'll never be denied everlasting love
You will always have my love, without fail
From the very start, open up your heart
Right from the beginning, be open to love
Be a lasting part of everlasting love
Be a forever part of this enduring love
Where life's river flows, no one really knows
We can't predict where our lives will take us
'Til someone's there to show the way to lasting love
We need someone special to guide us towards true and lasting love
Like the sun that shines, endlessly it shines
Love is like the sun, it shines on forever
You always will be mine, if it turn on love
You will always be my love, as long as love exists
When other loves are gone, ours will still be strong
Even when other loves fade away, our love will still be steadfast
We have our very own everlasting love
We share a love that is unique and eternal
(Real love will last forever, real love will last forever)
(True love is forever, true love is forever)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Mac Gayden, Buzz Cason
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind