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.
Lovey Dovey
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I really love you, baby, won't you come with me?
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time
Lovey dovey, I can't get you out of my mind, oh, no
Every time you kiss me you just thrill me so
Never, never, never, never let me go
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time, uh uh
Ooh, baby, I can't get you, out of my mind, oh, no
I cry with feeling when you're near me
I'm high as a ceiling, oh, baby, hear me
'Cause I'm thinking I love
Place none above you
Come here, pretty baby
I can't wait because my love is coming down
I feel the mood for you for you, pretty babe
I'd break mama's rule
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time, oh, yeah
Lovey dovey, I can't get you out of my mind
I never knew the thrill or ecstacy
So tell me that it's gonna be just you and me
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time, uh huh
Lovey dovey, I can't get you out of my mind
Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no, oh, no, no, no, no
The song Lovey Dovey by Clyde McPhatter is a classic love song that portrays the essence of young love. The first two lines are very clear, and they set the tone for the rest of the song. The song is about a man who has fallen in love with a woman, and he can't stop thinking about her. He regards her as the cutest thing he has ever seen, and he wants her to come with him. The first verse leads to the chorus of the song, where the main theme of the song is expressed. He can't get the woman out of his mind, and he wants to be with her all the time.
The second verse continues in the same vein as the first, with the singer describing how the woman's kisses make him feel. He never wants to let her go, and he expresses this in the chorus. The bridge of the song is a declaration of love. He cries when he's near her, and he's high when he thinks of her. He wants to be with her more than anything, and he can't wait for her. The final verse is a request for the woman to reciprocate the man's feelings. He has never felt such thrill or ecstasy, and he wants it to be just the two of them together. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you're the cutest thing that I did ever see
You are the most adorable person I have ever laid my eyes upon.
I really love you, baby, won't you come with me?
I am deeply in love with you, sweetheart. Would you like to be with me?
Lovey dovey, lovey dovey all the time
Our love is filled with sweetness and affection all the time.
Lovey dovey, I can't get you out of my mind, oh, no
I can't stop thinking about you, my love. You are always on my mind.
Every time you kiss me you just thrill me so
Whenever you kiss me, my heart beats faster with excitement.
Never, never, never, never let me go
Don't ever leave me alone. I want to be with you always.
Ooh, baby, I can't get you out of my mind, oh, no
My love for you is so strong that I can't stop thinking about you even for a moment.
I cry with feeling when you're near me
My eyes fill with joy and emotion every time you are close to me.
I'm high as a ceiling, oh, baby, hear me
My love for you has lifted my spirits so high, and I want you to know how I feel.
'Cause I'm thinking I love
I am sure that I am in love with you.
Place none above you
There is no one else in the world more important to me than you are.
Come here, pretty baby
Please come closer to me, my beautiful darling.
I can't wait because my love is coming down
I am eagerly waiting for my love to be reciprocated by you.
I feel the mood for you for you, pretty babe
I am in the mood to express my love for you, my pretty baby.
I'd break mama's rule
I am willing to break the rules set by my mother to be with you.
I never knew the thrill or ecstacy
I never experienced such a thrilling and ecstatic feeling before.
So tell me that it's gonna be just you and me
Please assure me that we will be together, just you and me.
Oh, no, oh, no, oh, no, oh, no, no, no, no
These lines are repeated to emphasize the intensity of the emotions and the unending love felt towards the loved one.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: AHMET ERTEGUN, EDDIE CURTIS, EDDIE MEMPHIS CURTIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind