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.
Driftaway
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
The song "Driftaway" by Clarence Carter is about looking for solace in music and allowing oneself to get lost in the melody. The singer describes feeling confused and strained while trying to navigate life's challenges. They long for the beat of rock and roll to "free" their soul and transport them away from their troubles. The singer acknowledges that they don't always understand their motivations, but the world outside seems unkind and they look to music to carry them through. The soothing sound of the guitar can lift their spirits and provide comfort, and the songwriters themselves are thanked for having made a contribution to the singer's emotional well-being.
The theme of using music as an escape or a coping mechanism is fairly common, but "Driftaway" is a particularly poignant example of this. The lyrics are candid about the singer's sense of frustration and confusion, while still maintaining a hopeful outlook. It's clear that the music is not just a form of distraction, but has a genuine and positive impact on the singer's emotional state. The repeated chorus of "give me the beat, boys, and free my soul" is an assertion of the power of music to lift us up and carry us away from our troubles, if only for a little while.
Line by Line Meaning
Day after day I'm more confused
As time passes, I find myself becoming increasingly perplexed
Yet I look for the light
Nevertheless, I seek the positive aspects of life
Through the pourin' rain
Even when things get tough or seem hopeless
You know that's a game that I hate to lose
I don't appreciate feeling like I'm on the losing end of something
And I'm feeling the strain
I'm experiencing the pressure of the situation
Ain't it a shame
Isn't it unfortunate?
Oh, give me the beat, boys, and free my soul
I am yearning for the uplifting and freeing effect of music
I want to get lost in your rock and roll
I want to be fully immersed in the power and energy of your music
And drift away
Allow myself to be carried away by the music and let go
Beginning to think that I'm wasting time
I am starting to believe that I'm not using my time wisely
I don't understand the things I do
I am confused about my own actions and motivations
The world outside looks so unkind
The external environment seems harsh or unfriendly
Now I'm counting on you
I am relying on you to help me through this challenging time
To carry me through
To help support me through these difficulties
And when my mind is free
When I'm not preoccupied with stress and worries
You know a melody can move me
Music has the power to stir my emotions
And when I'm feeling blue
When I'm sad or down
The guitar's coming through to soothe me
The guitar has the ability to comfort me
Thanks for the joy that you're given me
I appreciate the happiness and positivity that your music brings to my life
I want you to know I believe in your song
I want to express my belief and support for your music
Your rhythm and rhyme and harmony
The combination of your musical elements
You've helped me along
Your music has aided me in my personal journey
Makin' me strong
Your music has bolstered my inner strength and resilience
Na, na, now won't ya
An expression of eagerness for the listener's action
Won't ya take, oh ha ..take me
Please take me along with you on this musical journey
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WAYNE SHORTER
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?