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.
Making Love
Clarence Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes me feel so good
Its got me doing things, baby
I never dreamed i would
But we got to check ourselves
'Cause we belong to someone else
And I can't leave your love alone
I just can't leave your love on me
Wrecking every bone in my body
Oh Lord, just tearing up my mind
It's been sunk in too deep
And it's become a big part of me
I can't leave your love alone
I know this slipping around
Can be a dangerous thing
But we got to keep on
Taking these chances
I got my good luck piece in my hand
Hoping they won't catch us
Won't catch us red-handed, oh
The effect of your love
Leave me shook up after you're gone
Setting fire to my clothes, baby
Leaving my body so warm
But I know what we're doing is wrong
But I can't leave your love alone
I just can't leave your love alone
Oh Lord, I can't leave your love alone
All my friends try to tell me
But I just can't leave your alone
It's got me, it's got me, it's got me so bad
Clarence Carter's song I Got Caught Making Love is a portrayal of a man who cannot resist the love of his mistress, despite belonging to someone else. The song conveys a sense of guilt for the actions and simultaneously highlights the power of love that overcomes reason and logic. The lyrics remind us of the delicate balance between temptation and morality, whilst also compelling us to question the power of love.
The song portrays the feeling of being trapped, unable to leave behind the love that has become an essential part of one's existence. The singer is fully aware of the consequences of his actions and acknowledges the danger of "slipping around." Nevertheless, he continues to take the risk in the name of love, because he cannot resist the pull of the mistress.
The song's message is somewhat ambiguous, giving a sense of both longing and despair. The singer is aware that what they do is wrong but is unable to give up their lover. Ultimately, the song leaves the listener questioning the depth and impact of love in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, you love
Your love is incredibly powerful and consuming
Makes me feel so good
Being with you brings me immense pleasure and happiness
Its got me doing things, baby
Your love has made me act in ways I never imagined
I never dreamed i would
I never thought I would engage in this kind of behavior
But we got to check ourselves
We need to be aware of our actions and think about the consequences
'Cause we belong to someone else
We are committed to other people and cheating is wrong
And I can't leave your love alone
Your love is too strong for me to resist
I just can't leave your love on me
I can't let go of the hold your love has on me
It's got me begging and crying
Your love has reduced me to tears and desperation
Wrecking every bone in my body
Your love is taking a physical and emotional toll on me
Oh Lord, just tearing up my mind
Your love is causing mental anguish and turmoil
It's been sunk in too deep
Your love has become a part of me that I can't shake off easily
And it's become a big part of me
Your love has become an integral part of my life and identity
I know this slipping around
I am aware that what we are doing is cheating
Can be a dangerous thing
Cheating can have negative consequences and hurt others
But we got to keep on
Despite the risks, we continue to engage in this behavior
Taking these chances
We are willing to risk it all for our love
I got my good luck piece in my hand
I am superstitious and believe that my luck will not run out
Hoping they won't catch us
We hope that we won't get caught cheating
Won't catch us red-handed, oh
We hope to avoid getting caught in the act of cheating
The effect of your love
The impact of your love on me
Leave me shook up after you're gone
I am emotionally affected by your absence
Setting fire to my clothes, baby
Your love has been so intense that it feels like it's burning me up
Leaving my body so warm
Your love leaves me feeling physically exhilarated
But I know what we're doing is wrong
I acknowledge that our behavior is morally unacceptable
All my friends try to tell me
My friends warn me about the dangers of cheating
But I just can't leave your alone
Despite their advice, I can't resist your love
It's got me, it's got me, it's got me so bad
Your love has completely consumed me and I can't escape it
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLARENCE GEORGE CARTER, ROGER HATCHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jake Scott
Clarence Carter truly is the man that crossed all color lines appealing to the country in all of us...
Seanzie_73
He could have played on Hee-Haw. I am surprised he didn't. Maybe not this one...a little to risque.
DH
Yes he is 🎉. He has been recongized for his journey. Fantastic song! ✌️❤️🌼
Akiva Akie
when he starts the sing it's just epic and powerful.
natchy99
I agree. so epic when he says "Don't let them find us"
Michael Riley
Don't recall r&b having this much lyrical depth before CC
91Definite
I been listening to this for maybe 6 years now…Clarence Carter made music with so much soul but alittle comedy in it as well. The fact he told a good story about love and broke it down from animals to humans and morals of it 💯! Nothing but Genius!This been one of my favorites from him. I hope he sticks around alittle longer. Clarence Carter the man 👑💯
phlangephace
i'll never stop listening to this.
Debbie j Hensley
love this song
christianpierre faye
it is a wonderful soul music !!!!