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.
Snatching It Back
Clarence Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you keep on snatching it back
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me girl
How can I get your love
When you keep on snatching it back
That's what I want to know right now girl
When you keep on, doing like that
You want me, and I want you
But you're afraid, that I won't be true
I get your love, in the palm of my hand
You change your mind, and snatch it back again
So tell me
How can I get your love
When you keep on snatching it back
Oh, you want to tell me now, girl
How can I get your love
When you keep on snatching it back
That's what I want to know, I want to know, I want to know
How you expect for me to get it
When you keep on, doing like that
Some other man, before my time
Must have loved you, and left you behind
Now you're afraid, that I'll hurt you
But I won't do anything, you don't want me to
So tell me
How can I get your love
When you keep on snatching it back
Oh, I want to know right now, right now girl
How can I get your love
When you keep on snatching it back
You don't have to do me like that, baby
I want to do
How can I get your love
When you keep on snatching it back
Oh you know I love you baby
How can I get your love
When you keep on snatching it back
The lyrics of Clarence Carter's song "Snatching It Back" tell the story of a man who is struggling to gain the love of the woman he desires. He questions how he can achieve this when she continually pulls away and changes her mind about their relationship. He recognizes that she wants him, but she is scared that he will not stay true to her. He pleads with her to explain how he can win her affection when she keeps snatching it away and inhibiting their progress.
The singer acknowledges that someone else must have hurt this woman before him, causing her to be fearful and apprehensive about love. However, he promises to be the man she needs, saying that he will not do anything she does not want him to do. He desperately wants her to trust him and allow them to build a strong bond, but her mixed signals are causing confusion and frustration.
Overall, the song's message is one of longing, confusion, and desperation. It highlights the struggles that can arise when two people are not on the same page about their feelings and desires. It speaks to the human experience of trying to navigate the complexities of love and relationships, ultimately asking the question: how can we get what we want when someone else holds the power?
Line by Line Meaning
How can I get your love
He wants to know how to get her love
When you keep on snatching it back
She keeps changing her mind and taking back her love
That's what I want to know right now girl
He wants an answer from her immediately
How you expect for me to get it
He can't get her love if she keeps taking it away
When you keep on, doing like that
She keeps changing her mind and taking back her love
You want me, and I want you
They both want each other
But you're afraid, that I won't be true
She's afraid he will cheat on her
I get your love, in the palm of my hand
He thinks he finally has her love
You change your mind, and snatch it back again
She takes her love back again
So tell me
He wants her to explain her behavior
Oh, you want to tell me now, girl
He wants her to talk to him now
That's what I want to know, I want to know, I want to know
He wants an answer from her repeated times
Some other man, before my time
Someone else loved her before he did
Must have loved you, and left you behind
That person left her and she is afraid he will too
Now you're afraid, that I'll hurt you
She's afraid he will hurt her
But I won't do anything, you don't want me to
He promises not to hurt her if she communicates what she wants
You don't have to do me like that, baby
He doesn't want her to treat him this way
I want to do
He wants to make her happy
Oh you know I love you baby
He loves her despite her behavior
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLARENCE GEORGE CARTER, GEORGE HENRY JACKSON
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