In 1959 Bennett put together the first version of the Rebel Rousers, his backing band. They were good enough to attract the attention of audio engineer and aspiring record producer Joe Meek, with whom they recorded several singles leased to Parlophone. During this period he used to visit a record store in Hayes, Middlesex called Rowley`s Gramophone Records, it was here that he enjoyed cups of coffee with owner Mr John Rowley and listening to the latest single releases. Even after he became famous, Cliff would still visit the shop. It was Mr Rowley that helped Cliff change management to Brian Epstein.
Bennett continued recording for Parlophone, including cover versions of "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "Got My Mojo Working", but failed to make any impact. They were signed by Brian Epstein to a management contract in September 1964, and soon after, on their seventh release, "One Way Love" backed with "Slow Down", they finally charted. But their next record, "I'll Take You Home" b/w "Do You Love Him" only got to #42.[2]
Finally, in early 1966, they were booked as an opening act on The Beatles' last European tour. During those shows, Lennon/McCartney gave Bennett the first hearing of "Got to Get You into My Life", a song that was going to be on their Revolver album later that year, but not to be released as a single. Bennett and company saw their opportunity and took it, with Paul McCartney producing the session. The result was a #6 hit, and that was a double triumph for Bennett, as his own original song "Baby Each Day" graced the B-side.
On bootleg recordings of The Beatles performing at the Star Club in Hamburg, Germany, a performance of "Hully Gully" (recorded the same night as a Beatles set) is often mistakenly included as a Beatles performance.
Cliff Bennett went on to be part of Toe Fat, whilst Chas Hodges (keyboards) and Dave Peacock (guitar) became Chas 'n' Dave (along with drummer Mick Burt). After Toe Fat disbanded, two of their members (Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake) joined Uriah Heep,[2] and Bennett was asked to join them, but declined. He was also considered for the lead vocalist position in Blood, Sweat & Tears when David Clayton-Thomas left in the early 1970s but once again turned the position down. He released a solo album, Rebellion, in 1971 but he was not to rekindle his success of the previous decade.
In the 1970s Bennett retired from the music industry to become a shipping magnate; however since the mid 1980s he has constantly toured with a reformed Rebel Rousers. More recently he has toured alongside Mike d'Abo, Chris Farlowe, Zoot Money, Maggie Bell, Screaming Lord Sutch, The Manfreds, Steve Ellis and New Amen Corner.
2009 sees Bennett embarking on a UK tour alongside Chris Farlowe, Herbie Goins and the Norman Beaker Band.
You'Ve Really Got A Hold On Me
Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seems that I'm always thinking of you.
Oh, oh, oh, you treat me badly,
I love you madly, you really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me, baby,
I don't want you, but I need you,
Don't want to kiss you, but I need you.
Oh, oh, oh, you do me wrong now,
You really got a hold on me, baby,
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
I want to leave you, don't want to stay here
Don't want to spend another day here.
Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now, I can't Baby,
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
The song "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" by Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers expresses the conflicting emotions that one can feel while being in love with someone who mistreats them. The lyrics highlight the paradoxical nature of the singer's love, as he willingly admits to not liking the person he is in love with but still cannot resist their hold on him. The lines "I don't like you, but I love you / Seems that I'm always thinking of you" convey the mixed feelings that come with being in love with someone that treats you badly. The singer is torn between wanting to leave and being unable to resist his strong and passionate feelings for this person.
The chorus of the song focuses on the physical and emotional hold that the singer's love interest has on him. The repetition of the lines "You really got a hold on me, baby / I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me, hold me, hold me" emphasizes the singer's submission to his love interest's power. The song portrays the singer as someone who is stuck in a problematic relationship, unable to control his feelings or resist the hold that this person has on his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't like you, but I love you,
I have mixed feelings about you - I don't particularly like you, yet I cannot deny that I have strong feelings of love towards you.
Seems that I'm always thinking of you.
I cannot stop thinking about you, even though I don't necessarily want to.
Oh, oh, oh, you treat me badly,
Your treatment towards me is far from ideal, and it takes a toll on my mental and emotional well-being.
I love you madly, you really got a hold on me.
Despite your negative treatment towards me, my love for you is exceptionally strong, so much so that you have a tight grip on me.
You really got a hold on me, baby,
You have an unmistakable, inescapable control over me.
I don't want you, but I need you,
I don't necessarily desire to be with you, but I feel like I can't live without you.
Don't want to kiss you, but I need you.
Though I might not be romantically drawn to you, I have a strong emotional need for you.
Oh, oh, oh, you do me wrong now,
Your actions are hurtful towards me.
My love is strong now you really got a hold on me.
Although your actions towards me disappoint me, my love for you has only grown stronger, resulting in a tighter hold that you have on me.
I love you and all I want you to do is just hold me,
My love for you is pure and simple - I just want you to hold me.
Hold me, hold me, hold me.
I crave physical affection and long to be held by you.
I want to leave you, don't want to stay here
Though I love you, I sometimes feel like I should leave and move on from this situation.
Don't want to spend another day here.
Being around you can be emotionally taxing and I'm unsure if I can handle it anymore.
Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now, I can't Baby,
Part of me feels like I should leave, yet I feel unable to do so because you have such a strong hold on me.
You really got a hold on me.
You have a strong and lasting grip on me that is difficult to escape.
You really got a hold on me.
My love for you has caused me to feel trapped and unable to move on from this situation.
You really got a hold on me.
I am at your mercy and feel powerless to resist you.
You really got a hold on me.
You possess an undeniable and unwavering control over me and my feelings towards you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind