His hit "It's Too Late (She's Gone)" was covered by many, including Otis Redding, Roy Orbison, Eric Clapton's Derek and the Dominos and the Grateful Dead. In 2005, it was heavily sampled by Kanye West on Late Registration's "Gone."
C.C. Rider
Chuck Willis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl, see what you have done
Yes, yes, yes, C.C. Rider
See what you have done
Girl, you made me love you
Now your man has come
And I won't be back 'til fall
Yes, darling, going away, baby
Won't be back until fall
If I find me a good girl
I won't be back at all
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
Yeah, baby
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
Well, C.C. Rider
Girl, the moon is shining bright
Lord, Lord, Lord, C.C. Rider
The moon is shining bright
If I could just walk with you
Everything will be all right
C.C. Rider, C. Rider
C.C. Rider, C. Rider
C.C. Rider, C. Rider
Chuck Willis's "C.C. Rider" is a blues standard that has been covered by numerous artists, including Elvis Presley. The song is sung from the perspective of a man who fell in love with a woman named C.C. Rider - also known as "Easy Rider" - but his happiness is marred by the fact that her man has come back. The opening lines "C.C. Rider, see what you have done, girl you made me love you, now your man has come" indicate that Rider has caused the singer to fall in love with her only to have her man come back and take her away. He then states that he is going away and won't be back until fall, and if he finds a good girl, he might not come back at all. The song ends with the singer expressing his admiration for C.C. Rider and wishing he could walk with her under the moon.
The song's lyrics are simple, but its bluesy rhythm is incredibly catchy. Willis's booming voice combined with the refrain "C.C. Rider" add to the song's infectiousness making it a staple of the blues genre. The song has been covered by a plethora of musicians, including Ray Charles, The Rolling Stones, and John Lee Hooker. The name "C.C. Rider" referred to a real person, the African American blues singer and guitarist, Pink Anderson, who played under the nickname C.C. Rider.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, C.C. Rider
Chuck Willis addresses C.C. Rider, a charismatic musician or possibly a metaphor for his personal struggles.
Girl, see what you have done
Addressing his female partner, Chuck recognizes the pain she has caused him.
Yes, yes, yes, C.C. Rider
See what you have done
Chuck expresses his frustration with C.C. Rider for locking him into an emotional dependency.
Girl, you made me love you
Now your man has come
Chuck reflects on the irony that he has fallen in love with someone who is already taken by another.
Well, I'm going away, baby
And I won't be back 'til fall
Yes, darling, going away, baby
Won't be back until fall
If I find me a good girl
I won't be back at all
Chuck proclaims his intention to leave for some time and possibly for good, in search of a new love.
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
Yeah, baby
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
C.C. Rider
Chuck repeats the motif of C.C. Rider as a way to express his internal conflict, as if reminding himself of the source of his troubles.
Well, C.C. Rider
Girl, the moon is shining bright
Lord, Lord, Lord, C.C. Rider
The moon is shining bright
If I could just walk with you
Everything will be all right
Chuck's desire to rekindle his relationship with C.C. Rider is expressed through his poetic description of the moonlight and his hope for reconciliation.
C.C. Rider, C. Rider
C.C. Rider, C. Rider
C.C. Rider, C. Rider
The repetition of C.C. Rider represents Chuck's fixation on the situation and his inability to move on.
Lyrics © BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: Chuck Willis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scouseronthewirral
Written by Lena Arent & Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey recorded her song on 15 October 1924, released in Feb 1925.
Many adaptions of the song over the years have been recorded including :
Huddie Leadbelly (Nov 1940)
Ray Charles (1950)
The Orioles (1952)
Louis Armstrong (1957)
Chuck Willis (1957) peaked at #3 R&B & #12 Pop
Odetta (1957)
Lighnini’ Hopkins (Mar 1958)
Charlie Rich (1960)
Jerry Lee Lewis (Jun 1960)
Peggy Lee (Oct 1962)
Lavern Baker (Nov 1962) #9 R&B #34 Pop
Jimmy Reed (1963)
Ella Fitzgerald (1964)
Lonnie Johnson (1964)
The Everly Bros (Aug 1965)
Cher (Sep 1965)
B.B King (1965)
The Animals (Jul 1966) #10 Pop
Carl Perkins (Oct 1969)
Elvis Presley First Recorded a Live Version on 18 February 1970 and released on his “On Stage” Album on 1 June 1970.
@pharoah1200
The best version of this song that has ever been recorded, and the most well-known version.
@mrh2o465
Best is a matter of opinion, but i reckon it's mostly known as an Elvis-song.
@pharoah1200
@mr h2o I guess that it is a matter of opinion. Elvis recorded his version 13 years later. It was okay, but not on the same level of Chuck Willis. Brave attempt though.
@hopakera
no one does this like chuck. i can listen to this over and over.
@spoonful1018
LaVern baker comes close
@halo101st9
One of the first songs from the beginning of the R&R era, around 1955 - 1957. I was in junior high and had just gotten my license (in Texas, you could get a drivers license at 14). Talk about bringing back memories, I'll bet I have not heard this song in 60 years. Talk about simpler times...
@emmelinemitchell4905
Best song ever!!
@lynnfarr9332
Sooo good
@tomrucco6490
One of the first and the way I hear it one of the best
@doshiamullins8675
In the 50s when I first heard the black singers. The most beautiful Voice. Hooked ever since