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.
Let It Be
Clarence Carter Lyrics
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Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Clarence Carter's song "Let It Be" has a spiritual aspect, with lyrics focused on finding solace and hope in difficult times. The song begins with the singer finding themselves in trouble, and Mother Mary coming to them to offer words of wisdom - "let it be". This simple phrase is repeated throughout the song as a reminder to let go of worries and find peace in the present moment. Even in moments of darkness, with a broken heart, there is still hope for a better tomorrow. The singer also recognizes that there is an answer to the world's problems, and that answer is to let it be - to accept what is, and trust that things will work out in the end. The song concludes with a reminder that even when the night is cloudy, there is a light that shines on, and ultimately, we can wake up to the sound of music and the comforting words of Mother Mary.
The lyrics of "Let It Be" reflect the philosophy of the Beatles' song of the same name, which was released a few years prior. However, while the Beatles' version is more ambiguous in its spiritual and philosophical implications, Clarence Carter's version emphasizes the role of Mother Mary as a source of comfort and wisdom. The song's message of hope and acceptance has resonated with many listeners over the years, and it has become a beloved classic.
Line by Line Meaning
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Whenever I am faced with difficulties, I turn to Mother Mary for comfort and guidance.
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
She imparts wise advice by encouraging me to let go of my worries and allow things to happen as they will.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Even in my darkest moments, Mother Mary is a steadfast presence in my life.
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
This refers to a time when people come together despite their differences and work towards a common goal.
There will be an answer, let it be
Through unity, there will be a solution to the world's problems, but it also means that sometimes the best thing may be to let things work themselves out naturally.
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
Even if people are separated or at odds with each other, there is still potential for them to come together and find common ground and understanding.
And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
This line acknowledges that there are dark times in life, but there is always a glimmer of hope and positivity to hold onto.
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
This line encourages us to hold on to hope and embrace the light even during difficult times, and trust that things will get better eventually.
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Music and spiritual guidance from Mother Mary serve as sources of comfort and hope for the artist.
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
This repetition of 'let it be' reinforces the message to let go of worries and concerns and trust in the natural order of things.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
This line repeats the earlier message to listen to Mother Mary's wise advice and trust that everything will work out in the end.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gail Waterbury
on Strokin
I remember the first time hearing this from my friend 20 years ago. Me being me fell in love with not only this but many other nasty songs. He'll I raised my kids on this s*** . Alongwith David Allen coe Even played this for my Grandma who almost died of laughter