Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential Afri… Read Full Bio ↴Clyde McPhatter (November 15, 1932 – June 13, 1972) was an influential African-American R&B singer, born in Durham, North Carolina. He was raised in a religious Baptist family, and formed a gospel group in 1945 after his family moved to New Jersey. They soon relocated to New York City, and McPhatter joined the Mount Lebanon Singers, a popular gospel group.

In 1950, McPhatter joined Billy Ward & the Dominoes, and was present for the recording of "Sixty Minute Man", which was a huge hit in 1951, and was one of the earliest rock and roll records. After several more hits, McPhatter quit the group in 1953 because he made little money and gained virtually no fame, in spite of his voice being the lead on most of the group's songs. McPhatter then signed to Atlantic Records after forming a group, The Drifters. "Money Honey", "Such a Night", "Honey Love", "White Christmas" and "Whatcha Gonna Do" became huge hits.

In 1954, McPhatter was drafted but was assigned in the U.S., allowing him to continue recording. He soon left The Drifters and launched a solo career. His first solo hit occurred just after being discharged - "Love Has Joined Us Together" (with Ruth Brown). He released several R&B hits in the next few years, but only made one serious dent in the pop charts with the Brook Benton penned song "A Lovers Question", which made it to #6 in 1958. White groups usually covered his best compositions and achieved more widespread mainstream success. In spite of this, McPhatter became one of the most popular black musicians among white listeners. His 1956 recording of "Treasure of Love" saw him enjoy just one week in the UK singles chart. The lack of any subsequent entry gave him the unenviable tag there of being a one hit wonder

McPhatter soon signed to MGM Records, and released several more hits. "I Told Myself a Lie" and "Think Me a Kiss" (1960) became minor pop hits, as was "Ta Ta", his first single for Mercury Records. "I Never Knew" and "Lover Please" (1962) became even bigger pop hits, but his career started suffering due to his alcoholism. Other black artists were following McPhatter's blueprint into pop audiences, including Rudy Lewis, Johnny Moore, Sam Cooke and an all new line-up of The Drifters. McPhatter's unreliability kept him from maintaining his career in the face of this competition. As the 1960s wore on, McPhatter's career kept falling in spite of a few minor hits.

In the early 1970s, McPhatter spent some time living in England, where he still had a significant audience, but this was short-lived. Back again in America, Clyde McPhatter died of a heart attack in 1972, at the age of 39.

In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Just Give Me A Ring
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When love has come and gone
And you feel so all alone
Don't worry 'bout a thing
Just give me a ring

If the Blues ever get you down
And you can't find a friend around
Don't worry 'bout a thing

Just give me a ring

If you're sad and lonely
Thinkin' love was only a dream
Well, you've just got a case of a broken heart
Things are not as bad as they seem
Oh, when your world falls apart
And you're left with a broken heart
Don't worry 'bout a thing
Just give me a ring

When you're sad and lonely
Thinkin' love was only a dream
Well, you've just got a case of a broken heart
Things are not as bad as they seem
Oh, when your world falls apart
And you're left with a broken heart
Don't worry 'bout a thing
Just give me a ring

Don't worry 'bout a thing
Just give me a ring

Don't worry 'bout a thing
Just give me a ring...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Clyde McPhatter's song Just Give Me A Ring are a comforting assurance to anyone going through a rough patch in their love life. The song encourages the listener to reach out to McPhatter himself as a shoulder to cry on when they feel lonely, heartbroken, or feel like they have no one to turn to. When a relationship comes to an end, and someone is feeling isolated and alone, McPhatter is saying that he will always be there to offer support, possibly even in the form of a listening ear. He understands that sometimes people just need someone to talk to, someone who is willing to listen and give some comfort, and he is more than happy to be that person.

Furthermore, the use of the term "Blues" in the second verse may refer to a feeling of sadness or depression in African American culture, particularly in relation to the genre of music with the same name. The lyric suggests that, during these moments of sadness and loneliness, the listener can find solace in McPhatter's voice, knowing that he is always there to help them overcome their heartbreak. The song, therefore, is a testament to the power of human connection, empathy, and understanding.

Overall, McPhatter is reminding us that we all need someone to lean on at times and that, even if we feel completely alone, there is still someone out there who cares.

Just Give Me A RingClyde McPhatter Lyrics

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Just Give Me A Ring
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics