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.

Let's Try Again
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics

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Let's make a goal
Of the love we used to share
That love will grow and grow
If you just say you care

I know, I know the reason why
We didn't make it then
So come on, darling

Let's try again

I've been so wrong
Darling, I apologize
It took me so long
But I finally realized

I can't go on till I know
Love's around the bend
Come on, darling
Let's try again
(Let's try again)

I've been a fool
To ever look at someone new
A fool for ever hurting you

Oh, but I've gone to school
And, honey, now I know the score
It's you, it's you
It's you that I adore

So take my hand
Put your trust in me somehow
Please understand
I've got to have you now

I love you and I know
That our love shouldn't end
Come on, darling
Let's try again
(Let's try again)

So take my hand
Put your trust in me somehow
Please understand
I've got to have you now

I love you and I know
That our love shouldn't end
Come on, darling
Let's try again
(Let's try again)

Oh, come on, baby
Let's try again

Overall Meaning

In Clyde McPhatter's "Let's Try Again," the singer is pleading with his lover to give their relationship another chance. He starts by suggesting that they make a "goal" of reviving the love they once shared. He believes that their love can "grow and grow" if only she would say she cares. He admits that he knows exactly why they failed last time but encourages her to give him one more opportunity because he has changed, and he's not the same person who made the same mistake twice. The singer confesses that he's been wrong and apologizes for the pain he's caused her. The pain of not having her in his life anymore has forced him to realize how much he needs her.

In the chorus, the singer expresses his regret for hurting her and the foolishness of looking for someone else. He's gone to "school" and now knows that his heart belongs to her. He asks her to take his hand and trust him once again. He can't imagine his life without her and vows to make it right this time. The song ends with the singer pleading with his lover to try again, to give their love one more chance.

Line by Line Meaning

Let's make a goal
Let's set an objective

Of the love we used to share
Of reviving the love that we once had

That love will grow and grow
The revived love will flourish

If you just say you care
If you express your feelings

I know, I know the reason why
I have identified the reason

We didn't make it then
Our relationship failed in the past

So come on, darling
Let's do it

Let's try again
Let's give our relationship another chance

I've been so wrong
I made many mistakes

Darling, I apologize
I express remorse for my actions

It took me so long
It has been a while