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.
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
Clarence Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said you would always stay
It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
Don't you see that now you've gone
And I'm left here on my own
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
But believe me I'll never tie you down
Left alone with just a memory
Life seems dead and quite unreal
All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand believe me, believe me
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You don't have to stay forever
I will understand, believe me, believe me
In Clarence Carter's song "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," the singer laments the loss of a loved one who has left him alone. He recalls a time when he expressed a need for this person to stay with him, and they promised to always be by his side. However, now that they have left, he feels abandoned and must beg for their return. In the chorus, he pleads with the person to just be close at hand and doesn't require them to express their love or stay forever. He understands that they may not be able to commit to a long-term relationship, but he can't help but love them anyway. The song ends with the realization that left alone, all that is left is loneliness, where there is nothing left to feel.
The song's message is one of resignation to the fact that love doesn't always last forever, and often people can't commit to long-term relationships. However, this doesn't stop the singer from feeling a deep love for the person who has left him, even though they may not feel the same way. The lyrics also highlight the pain of loneliness and how it can feel unbearable when there is no one to share life's experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
When I said I needed you
I expressed my dependence on you.
You said you would always stay
You promised to remain always by my side.
It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
I remained constant, but you became different and left me.
Don't you see that now you've gone
Do you realize that since you left
And I'm left here on my own
I am alone and without your support,
That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
I must pursue and plea for your return.
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You need not declare love for me as long as you're near.
You don't have to stay forever I will understand
You don't have to remain eternally for I comprehend.
Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
Honestly, I cannot stop loving you.
But believe me I'll never tie you down
Instead, I guarantee to never confine you.
Left alone with just a memory
Abandoned and left with only reminiscences
Life seems dead and quite unreal
My existence appears vacant and alienated.
All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
The only emotion left is lonesomeness.
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You need not declare your devotion for as long as you're near.
You don't have to stay forever
You don't have to remain forever.
I will understand believe me, believe me
I will accept and comprehend.
You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You need not declare your affection for me as long as you're near.
You don't have to stay forever
You don't have to remain eternally.
I will understand, believe me, believe me
I assure you I will comprehend.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Giuseppe Donaggio, Simon Napier-Bell, Vito Pallavicini, Vicki Heather Wickham
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