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
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Well now see, see what you have done.
Well now see, C. C. Rider,
Well now see, see what you have done.
Well you made me love you woman,
Now your man has come.
So I'm goin' away now, baby
I'm goin' away now baby
And I won't be back till Fall,
Just might find me a good girl
Might not be comin' back at all.
Well now see, C. C. Rider,
See now the moon is shining bright,
Well now see, C. C. Rider,
See now the moon is shining bright,
Just might find me that good girl
And everything would be alright.
The lyrics to Chuck Willis’s song C. C. Rider tell the story of a man who has fallen in love with a woman who already has a man. He addresses the titular character “C. C. Rider” (which stands for casual carrier, a term used to describe a person who hops on a train to travel without a fixed destination) and tells her to see what she has done. She has made him love her, but now her man has returned, and he must leave. He declares that he won’t be back until the fall and that he may find a good girl and not come back at all.
The lyrics, while simple, capture the pain and sadness of unrequited love. The singer has fallen for a woman he can’t have, and he must leave her behind. He acknowledges that he may never return, but he is hopeful that he will find a good girl who will make everything right. The repeated refrain of “see what you have done” is a lament for the situation that has been created by his feelings for this woman.
Line by Line Meaning
Well now see, C. C. Rider,
The singer is addressing C. C. Rider and acknowledging their presence.
Well now see, see what you have done.
The singer is speaking to C. C. Rider, accusing them of causing trouble.
Well you made me love you woman,
The singer is addressing a woman and blaming C. C. Rider for making them fall in love with her.
Now your man has come.
The artist is informing the woman that her man has arrived and implying that their relationship is over.
So I'm goin' away now, baby
The artist is telling the woman they are leaving.
And I won't be back till Fall,
The singer is informing the woman that they won't be returning until the Fall season.
Just might find me a good girl
The singer is implying that they may find a new woman while they are away.
Might not be comin' back at all.
The artist is uncertain about whether they will return at all after finding a new woman.
See now the moon is shining bright,
The artist is observing the moon at night.
Just might find me that good girl
The artist is hopeful about finding a new woman.
And everything would be alright.
The singer is optimistic that everything will work out if they find a new woman.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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