This native of a little country town in South Carolina, called “North”, started his musical journey on a little clay road and pastures of green fields. He affectionately recalls listening to his mother sing as they cleaned the house on hot summer days and bumpy rides to the church house. “Momma would sing songs by gospel greats like Shirley Caesar then switch to soul legends like Betty Wright. It just depended on her mood,” he kindly reflects. This was the beginning of what would later become Cleveland’s maturation as an accomplished singer/songwriter and producer. His voice is simply one of a kind and to experience it, especially live, is a spiritual journey on it’s own.
Penning timeless classics like Free Yard Sale, Cleveland boldly speaks of the liberating experience in giving away the belongings of a past love after holding on to them for nearly four years post break up. Cleveland decided not to sugarcoat the hurt and, in turn, gained a newfound mental and emotional freedom from what was his own personal imprisonment of not knowing when to let go. With his soulful rock tune, Patience, Cleveland compositions are designed to welcome open dialogue often abandoned or non-existent between lovers and friends alike. “Sometimes you’re just tired of the person, but it doesn’t mean I stopped loving you”, he speaks of this captivating soul tune.
When asked about his future in the music industry, he proclaims, “my mission is longevity, not instant fame. I’ve learned by example and experience that rushing a good thing normally ends abruptly and suffers long...what’s intended for me will be,” he says. Cleveland has carefully chosen the unbeaten path to discover his truth, which resulted in this self- written, self-produced, and performed confession, which is Ace of Hearts. He spared nothing to give you his best as he unwaveringly chose live instrumentation throughout this masterpiece of soulful art.
A graduate of two prestigious institutions, Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, and Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, Cleveland became deeply involved in music and theater. He performed and toured many places stateside and abroad. After Morehouse, Cleveland continued to develop his acting and vocal skills later finding himself in the growing underground independent music scene of Atlanta, Georgia. From this experience, he was afforded great opportunities to travel and lend
supporting vocals to some of Atlanta’s most promising soul artists. While in Atlanta for nearly ten years, Cleveland appeared in and lent his voice to Paramount/MTV’s Fighting Temptations soundtrack. From then on Cleveland became highly influenced by artists like Anita Baker, Bobby McFerrin, and Rachelle Ferrell. As he continued to search for “his voice”, he later indulged deeply into soul legends such as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Donny Hathaway, Oleta Adams, and a plethora of others.
Thus these musical influences, Cleveland’s music speaks boldly for itself. No fanfare or polishing needed. Simply put, he committed to his mission to deliver unadulterated “timeless soul music” and therein offers you the golden keys to unlock this soulful brilliance. Ace of Hearts is a faithful story about Cleveland’s road from personal insecurities, abandonment, love, pain, and back to square one of loving oneself wholly. “The heart was made to love, break, and heal” he says. “The best part is when you reflect and discover how strong you were the whole time.” Cleveland P. Jones is well on his way to higher places, yet very rooted in the quest to heal souls one song at a time.
Back To Me
Cleveland P. Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stole my heart away from me down in Louisiana
Take me back to Tulsa I'm too young to marry
Take me back to Tulsa I'm too young to marry
[ steel ]
Little bee sucks the blossom big bee gives the honey
Dark man raise the cotton white man gets the money
Take me back to Tulsa...
Walk and talk to Suzy walk and talk to Suzy
Walk and talk to Suzy walk and talk to Suzy
We always wear a great big smile we never do look sour
Travel all over the country playing by the hour
Take me back to Tulsa...
The lyrics to Cleveland P. Jones's song "Back to Me" are a bit ambiguous, and yet they paint a vivid picture of a time and place that seems to be long gone. The song begins with a reference to a woman wearing a red dress, who some people called Dinah. The singer tells us that she "stole [his] heart away from [him] down in Louisiana." This sets the stage for a story that is equal parts romance and nostalgia.
As the song continues, we hear about bees and cotton fields and the way things used to be. The next verse has the singer yearning to return to Tulsa, but he's too young to marry. There's a sense of longing and restlessness here, as if the singer is searching for something he can't quite name. The fiddle that comes in after this verse adds to the feeling of nostalgia and longing.
The final verse has the singer walking and talking with a woman named Suzy, and they always wear a great big smile. There's a sense of pleasure and enjoyment here, and it's clear that the singer loves playing music and traveling the country. But there's also a sense of wistfulness, as if he knows that these moments are fleeting and can never be recaptured.
Line by Line Meaning
Where's that gal with the red dress on some folks called her Dinah
I can't believe I lost the woman I love, the one in the red dress that some people knew as Dinah
Stole my heart away from me down in Louisiana
She captured my heart when we were in Louisiana together
Take me back to Tulsa I'm too young to marry
I want to go back to Tulsa because I'm not ready to get married yet
Take me back to Tulsa I'm too young to marry
I want to go back to Tulsa because I'm not ready to get married yet
[ steel ]
Little bee sucks the blossom big bee gives the honey
It's like the small things in life consume us, while the big things give us the rewards
Dark man raise the cotton white man gets the money
There's an unfair system of labor where the black man does the hard work but the white man reaps all the profits
Take me back to Tulsa...
I really want to go back to Tulsa
[ fiddle ]
Walk and talk to Suzy walk and talk to Suzy
I love spending time with my girl Suzy, just walking and talking with her
Walk and talk to Suzy walk and talk to Suzy
I love spending time with my girl Suzy, just walking and talking with her
We always wear a great big smile we never do look sour
We live life with joy and positivity, never letting anything get us down
Travel all over the country playing by the hour
We travel all around, making a living by playing music wherever they'll have us
Take me back to Tulsa...
I really want to go back to Tulsa
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BOB WILLS, TOMMY DUNCAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind