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.
The Road Of Love
Clarence Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No, no I ain't going down, that road of love by myself
Now if you won't go with me baby
I guess I'll just have to get somebody else
Oh darling, I hope you feel the same way too
Baby, I sure hope you feel the same way too
Cause as long as we have each other
And ohh baby, let's walk together hand in hand
Ohh baby, baby, baby, let's walk together hand in hand, oh lord
And you can be my little woman now
And I know I know I'm gonna be your man
What I think now
I like what I'm listening to right now
Oh baby let's walk together hand in hand
Oh oh oh baby let's walk together hand in hand
And you can be my little woman
I know I know I'm gonna be your man
Don't make me walk by myself baby
I just don't walk by myself now now now baby
Ohhh baby, I ain't going down the road by myself
Oh no, now if you won't go with me darling
I guess I'll have to get somebody else
Ohh baby, don't leave me, stay with me
Take care of me baby, ohh baby
The Road of Love by Clarence Carter is a classic R&B song that talks about the desire to have a partner to navigate the journey of love with. In the first verse, the singer expresses his unwillingness to go down the road of love by himself, stressing that he needs a partner to walk with him on this journey. He expresses his disappointment by saying that if his significant other is unwilling to go with him, he will look for someone else that's willing to join him. The following verse is more optimistic and hopeful, he expresses his desire for his significant other to feel the same way he feels, and how having each other would make the journey of love more comfortable to navigate. He emphasizes the need to walk together hand in hand with his significant other.
As the song progresses, the singer makes it clear that he wants his significant other to stop him from walking alone by asking her not to leave him and to take care of him.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby I ain't going down, that road of love by myself
I am not willing to travel the journey of love without you, my dear.
No, no I ain't going down, that road of love by myself
I am certain that I cannot embark on this love journey alone.
Now if you won't go with me baby
If you are not willing to come with me, my love,
I guess I'll just have to get somebody else
I will have no choice but to find someone else to join me on this path.
Oh darling, I hope you feel the same way too
My love, I wish that you have the same strong feelings about us being together.
Baby, I sure hope you feel the same way too
I am hoping that you have the same desire that I have to be with each other.
Cause as long as we have each other
As long as we are together,
I'll have your love to see me through now
Your love would serve as my strength to overcome any obstacle or hardship.
And ohh baby, let's walk together hand in hand
My love, let us journey together in unity and affection.
Ohh baby, baby, baby, let's walk together hand in hand, oh lord
Dear lover, let us hold hands and walk together as a symbol of our commitment to each other, oh my God.
And you can be my little woman now
You are the woman I want to love and cherish in my life.
And I know I know I'm gonna be your man
I am confident that I could be the man who can take care of you and your needs.
What I think now
This is what I am thinking right now.
I like what I'm listening to right now
I am happy with what I am hearing and the direction our relationship is taking.
Oh baby let's walk together hand in hand
My love, I am repeating this message to you, let us journey together holding hands.
Oh oh oh baby let's walk together hand in hand
My love, let us continue to journey together in love and unity, holding hands.
And you can be my little woman
You are the woman I want to take care of and love for the rest of my life.
I know I know I'm gonna be your man
I am certain that I will be the man for you, the person who loves and cherishes you even when things get tough.
Don't make me walk by myself baby
Please don't leave me alone on this journey, my love.
I just don't walk by myself now now now baby
I cannot imagine walking alone on this road, please be with me.
Ohhh baby, I ain't going down the road by myself
My love, I cannot journey alone, I need you by my side.
Oh no, now if you won't go with me darling
If you refuse to journey with me, my love,
I guess I'll have to get somebody else
I will have no option but to find someone else to join me on this journey.
Ohh baby, don't leave me, stay with me
My love, I beg you not to leave me, please stay with me.
Take care of me baby, ohh baby
Please take care of me, my love. I need you and your love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLARENCE GEORGE CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mitchell Schwartz
The intensity, phrasing and that magic tone. Sounds like the damn world is ending.
Long live the memory of Duane...GOAT
RIP both Gregg and Duane...they are back together again.
s l
The GOAT.
Kris
I'm with Clarence i damn sure like what I'm listening to right now!!! SkyDog was the man and still is his awesome slide playing lives on!!!
Dennis Scalici
Clarence Carter and Duane tear it up together with some great stings and fine gritty vocals
Heather Raffidy
Duane lives on thru his music. Luckily for us he played with many people.
hogiesanKenobi
This is one of the must have albums.. Has to be in anyone's top whatever. True classic ..
Donnie Maxwell
Clarence and Duane nailed it ...
Sherryl Goins
Love this Album all of it .Duane and friends ❗❗❗❗❤
Cesar Narro
Duane Allman is still my favorite guitarist !!!
Peri Jetton
Me too!!