Carter's earliest releases were as half of the duo Clarence And Calvin. Also known as the "C And C Boys", the blind duo made seven singles, the last of which was recorded at Fame's Muscle Shoals studio. When his partner, Calvin Thomas (aka Scott), suffered serious injuries in a car accident in 1966, Carter became a solo act (Calvin himself later reappeared as a solo act to record two Dave Crawford-produced Atco Records singles in 1969/70 and a Clarence Paul-produced 1971 album for Stax Records, I'm Not Blind ... I Just Can't See, from which two singles were also taken). "Tell Daddy", released in January 1967, began a fruitful spell of Fame-produced hits by Carter, released on the Atlantic Records label. Noteworthy were "Thread The Needle", "Looking For A Fox" and "Slip Away", where the singer combined his outstanding voice with his skill as an arranger and musician.
"Patches", first recorded by Chairmen Of The Board, was a UK number 2 and a US number 4 in 1970, but despite further strong offerings, Clarence was unable to sustain the momentum. He remained with Fame until 1973, where he also helped guide Candi Staton, who was now his wife, before moving to ABC Records the subsequent year.
Further recordings on Venture and Big C took Carter's career into the 1980s and later the artist found a sympathetic outlet with the Ichiban Records label. Despite being blinded as a child, he developed a distinctive guitar style that complemented his earthy delivery, and was just as comfortable on keyboards, writing songs or arranging sessions. The first two albums, This Is Clarence Carter and The Dynamic Clarence Carter show off his versatile talent to good effect.
Clarence returned in the late Eighties with the album Dr. CC, which spawned the bawdy, comedic single "Strokin'", which has evolved into a favorite at clubs and weddings. He later followed it up with a sequel, "Still Strokin'", in 1989.
Drift Away
Clarence Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yet I look for the light
Through the pourin' rain
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
And I'm feeling the strain
Ain't it a shame
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
And drift away
[repeat]
Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
I don't understand the things I do
The world outside looks so unkind
Now I'm counting on you
To carry me through
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]
And when my mind is free
You know a melody can move me
And when I'm feeling blue
The guitar's coming through to soothe me
Thanks for the joy that you're given me
I want you to know I believe in your song
Your rythm and rhyme and harmony
You've helped me along
Makin' me strong
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
And drift away
[repeat]
Na, na, now won't ya
Won't ya take, oh ha ..take me
Clarence Carter's song "Drift Away" is a lovely ode to the power of music to heal and soothe our troubled souls. Through the pouring rain and the ever-increasing confusion in his mind, the singer is looking for a way out of his troubles. He finds solace in the music of others, specifically rock and roll. The beat of the music is what he needs to set him free and help him forget his worries. He longs to get lost in the music and drift away, allowing his mind to be free.
He is aware of the limitations of his own mind, and he is aware that he is wasting his time. He is saddened by the unkindness of the world outside, but he is counting on the music to carry him through. When his mind is free, he finds that the melody of the music can move him, and the guitar strings can soothe him. He is grateful to the musicians whose music has given him joy, and he believes in the power of their rhythm, rhyme, and harmony to make him strong.
In summary, the song "Drift Away" is a testament to the transformative and healing power of music. Through the pouring rain, confusion, and unkindness of the world, the singer is carried away by the beat of the music and the melodies that move him. The song's message is beautifully delivered by Clarence Carter's soulful voice and the rocking guitar instrumental.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day I'm more confused
Every day I feel like I don't understand things more and more
Yet I look for the light
Despite my confusion, I still search for hope
Through the pourin' rain
Even during the hard times when things seem bleak
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
Struggling through life's challenges is difficult for me
And I'm feeling the strain
The pressure and stress of life is taking a toll on me
Ain't it a shame
It's unfortunate that life can be so tough
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
Music has the power to lift my spirits and set me free
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
I want to forget my problems and let the music take over
And drift away
Allow myself to relax and escape through music
Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
Starting to feel like I'm not making the most of my life
I don't understand the things I do
My behavior or decisions can be confusing to myself
The world outside looks so unkind
The world can seem harsh and unforgiving
Now I'm counting on you
Putting my hope and trust in someone or something else
To carry me through
To help me get through the difficult times in life
And when my mind is free
When I'm relaxed and at ease mentally
You know a melody can move me
Music has the power to affect me emotionally
And when I'm feeling blue
When I'm sad or down
The guitar's coming through to soothe me
The sound of the guitar can be comforting
Thanks for the joy that you're given me
Expressing gratitude for the happiness and comfort that music brings
I want you to know I believe in your song
The artist is appreciative and supportive of the musician's work
Your rythm and rhyme and harmony
The elements of music that bring it all together
You've helped me along
The artist acknowledges how music has helped them through tough times
Makin' me strong
Music has given the artist strength and resilience
Na, na, now won't ya
Song lyrics used for emphasis or filler
Won't ya take, oh ha ..take me
The artist hopes that music can take them away from their troubles
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Mentor Ralph Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HellraiserJohnnyGuitarTech
Let's get it right Folks . . . "Drift Away" is a song by Mentor Williams written in 1970 and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz on his 1972 album Reunion. Mentor Williams was a country songwriter, and John Henry Kurtz was an actor and swamp rock singer. It was later given to soul singer Dobie Gray for whom it became a surprise international hit and the best known version. In 1973 the song became Dobie Gray's biggest hit, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 and receiving a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song has been covered by numerous musicians.
@brunsi63
And Mentor is Paul Williams brother, great songwriter too
@ericbennett9569
My favorite version sung very soulful.
@traciejohnson9251
Love it
@drewcole3483
Is this a vinyl copy
True vibrations man
Peace from
Windy city
@parkercarson2917
Yes.
@chrismulwee4911
Neither, it was first performed by country rock singer John Henry Kurtz. Written by Mentor Williams,(yes Paul's brother!). Here is that versionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TvjnmK5D3A
@denjamaica7271
👍👍🌹🌻❤🥰
@TheBluesmanBlue
A young Clarence Carter performed and song drift away first not a bad version
@minimus1703
Is this the original song before all the remakes?