The Chambers Brothers first honed their skills as members of the choir in their Baptist church. This set up ended in 1952 when older brother George was drafted into the army. After his discharge George moved to Los Angeles. The other Chambers brothers soon settled there as well. As a foursome, they began performing gospel and folk throughout the Southern California region in 1954, but they more or less remained unknown until appearing in New York City in 1965.
In the early 1960s these four brothers from Mississippi: Joe and Willie on guitar, Lester, on harmonica, and George on washtub bass would start to venture outside the gospel circuit, playing at coffeehouses that also booked folk acts. They played at places like The Ash Grove which was one of Los Angeles's most popular folk clubs and it became a favorite haunt of theirs and brought them into contact with Hoyt Axton, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Reverend Gary Davis, and Barbara Dane. Dane became a great supporter, performing on stage with the brothers onstage and recording with them. She also took them on tour with her. It was she who got in touch with Pete Seeger and helped to arrange putting the Chambers Brothers on the bill of the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. One of their songs "I Got It" from their show appeared on Newport Folk Festival 1965 compilation LP that was issued on the Vanguard label.
They were becoming more accepted in the folk community but like many on the folk circuit they were looking to electrify their music and become more rock in roll. Guitarist Joe Chambers recalled some happenings at the Newport festival and mentioned in a May 1994 Goldmine article that people were jumping and breaking down fences and rushing to the stage. "Newport had never seen or heard anything like that." After the group finished and the crowd finally settled down, the MC came up and said "Whether you know it or not, that was rock'n'roll." That night they played at a post-concert party for festival performers and afterwards they went to a recording session of the newly electrified Bob Dylan. Now having gone electric George would trade in his washtub bass for a Danelectro bass guitar.
Shortly after this, the group recorded its debut album People Get Ready.
Please Don't Leave Me
Chambers Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Please don't take your love away, ooh no
Please don't leave me, baby
Please don't take your love away, oh no
Don't leave me here suffering this ol' way
If you leave me
Please tell me why, oh yeah
Please tell me why, oh yeah
My needs for you, baby, go way beyond the sky, oh yeah
But if you leave me
Tell me who can your lover be, I wanna know
But if you leave me, baby
Tell me who can your lover be, oh yeah
It's no big thing, baby, a lots of girls in love with me, yes, it is
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
...
The Chambers Brothers' song "Please Don't Leave Me" expresses a plea from a desperate lover to their partner, begging them not to leave and take their love away. The verses of the song are filled with the singer's anguish and desperation, as they try to understand why their partner would even consider leaving them. They vow that their love goes beyond the sky and promise to do whatever it takes to keep their love together. The chorus is a repeated refrain, a soulful and heartfelt plea for their partner to stay.
The song captures the raw emotions of love and heartbreak, with the Chambers Brothers' signature blend of gospel, rock, and soul. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, with lead singer Lester Chambers delivering them in a passionate and soulful voice. The song's slow and steady rhythm complements the emotional lyrics, creating a melancholic and soulful atmosphere.
Overall, "Please Don't Leave Me" is a timeless classic that captures the emotional turmoil of love and heartbreak. It's a song that many can relate to, and its simple yet powerful lyrics continue to resonate with fans today.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don't leave me
I am in deep emotional distress and begging you not to abandon me.
Please don't take your love away, ooh no
I can't bear the thought of losing your love and affection, and I am worried that you may leave me.
Please don't leave me, baby
I am pleading with you, my beloved, not to desert me.
Please don't take your love away, oh no
I am afraid that you might take away your love from me, and I implore you not to do that.
Don't leave me here suffering this ol' way
I don't want to endure the agony of living without you, please don't leave me in this pitiable state.
If you leave me
In case you decide to abandon me
Please tell me why, oh yeah
I am asking you to explain the reason why you would choose to leave me.
My needs for you, baby, go way beyond the sky, oh yeah
I have an intense longing and desire for you, my dear, it is boundless and limitless.
But if you leave me
Although I hope that you won't go, if you do decide to leave me,
Tell me who can your lover be, I wanna know
I am curious and want to know who will replace me as the object of your love.
It's no big thing, baby, a lots of girls in love with me, yes, it is
I am trying to convince you that you don't have to worry about me because there are plenty of other girls who love me.
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
I am repeating my urgent request for you not to abandon me because I am deeply devoted to you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GEORGE E. CHAMBERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
Please don't leave me
Please don't take your love away, ooh no
Please don't leave me, baby
Please don't take your love away, oh no
Don't leave me here suffering this ol' way
If you leave me
Please tell me why, oh yeah
If you leave me, baby
Please tell me why, oh yeah
My needs for you, baby, go way beyond the sky, oh yeah
But if you leave me
Tell me who can your lover be, I wanna know
But if you leave me, baby
Tell me who can your lover be, oh yeah
It's no big thing, baby, a lots of girls in love with me, yes, it is
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
Judy Marasco
This is the one, they harmonize so well on this one and the song is great!
bluenote824 jones
Love this great group
johnny zell
Please don't leave me
Please don't take your love away, ooh no
Please don't leave me, baby
Please don't take your love away, oh no
Don't leave me here suffering this ol' way
If you leave me
Please tell me why, oh yeah
If you leave me, baby
Please tell me why, oh yeah
My needs for you, baby, go way beyond the sky, oh yeah
But if you leave me
Tell me who can your lover be, I wanna know
But if you leave me, baby
Tell me who can your lover be, oh yeah
It's no big thing, baby, a lots of girls in love with me, yes, it is
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
Baby, baby, please don't leave me
mikeisamovie
back in the late 60's i liked playing this over the high school p.a. in high school during lunch time.
ps: "voodoo child, slight return" always turned a few heads towards the overhead speaker system, which was two facing speakers at opposite ends of the quad.
brubeck_108
funky bass lineđ
Gaarp 69
Played this album a lot in H.S. Guess we are all telling our age.
Dolores Bottom
I am so sorry to hear about George sincere sympathies his spirit is still a life just on another level God bless
Sands of time
These guys had everything ,why they didn't get to go Big Time is beyond me.
s l
@Kerry Smith they had a great run. Even with the British invasion they stood out. It seemed like Time Has Come Today was played all the time on the radio. It was an iconic hit.
Sands of time
@Kerry Smith Kerry, I saw them back in 68', the price at the door was $3.50.