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.
Seven Days
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Seven days, seven days)
And there's not a word from you
(And there's no word from you)
Seven days without love
(Seven days without love)
Tell me what am I to do
Seven days I have cried
(Seven days I have cried)
How I long to feel your touch
(How I yearn for your touch)
Why'd you go, why'd you stray
(Why'd you go, why'd you stray)
When I loved you, oh, so much
(When I love you so much)
The phone won't ring at all
The clock is standing still
My tears are like the raindrops
Upon my windowsill
Seven days, lonely days
(Seven days, lonely days)
I have walked the floor for you
(I have walked the floor for you)
Seven days, seven days
(Seven days, seven days)
Won't you please say you're still true
(And I wonder if you're true)
Seven days, seven days
(Seven days, seven days)
I have been in misery
(I have been in misery)
Seven days, lonely days
(Seven days, lonely days)
Darling, please come back to me
(Seven days, seven days)
Darling, please come back to me
(Darling, please come back to me)
The lyrics to Clyde McPhatter's song "Seven Days" tell the story of a person who has been waiting for seven days to hear from their lover, but they have not received any communication. The person is feeling lonely and abandoned, and they are struggling to cope with the pain of being without their lover. The lyrics express the person's hope that their lover will return and their desperation for any sign that they are still loved.
The song has a slow, mournful tone and a simple arrangement, consisting mostly of piano and drums, which emphasizes the emotional intensity of the lyrics. McPhatter's soulful vocals add to the power of the song, with his voice conveying the longing and heartache of the lyrics.
The lyrics of "Seven Days" are a poignant exploration of the pain of unrequited love and the despair that can come with waiting for someone who may never return. The song has resonated with audiences for decades, and its themes of love, loss, and heartbreak continue to speak to listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven days, seven days
The singer has waited an entire week
And there's not a word from you
The person being addressed has not communicated at all during that time
Seven days without love
The singer has been without affection for seven days
Tell me what am I to do
The artist is asking for guidance in this situation
Seven days I have cried
The artist has been in tears for seven days
How I long to feel your touch
The singer is yearning for physical contact
Why'd you go, why'd you stray
The singer is questioning why the other person left or cheated
When I loved you, oh, so much
The artist believed that their love was sufficient
The phone won't ring at all
The artist hasn't received any phone calls from the other person
The clock is standing still
Time seems to be at a standstill, emphasizing the artist's boredom and frustration
My tears are like the raindrops upon my windowsill
The singer thinks their tears are akin to raindrops accumulating on a window
Seven days, lonely days
The artist has spent a week feeling isolated
I have walked the floor for you
The singer has likely paced the floor worried about the other person
Won't you please say you're still true
The singer wants reassurance that the other person still loves them
And I wonder if you're true
The singer doesn't know if they can trust the other person
I have been in misery
The artist has been in constant emotional pain
Darling, please come back to me
The artist is begging for the other person's return
Contributed by Callie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulcastillojr.9409
one of the best R&B records of the 50's great dancing song !
@alexzinovenko1898
I always loved Doo Wop--and R&B and "soul: music of the 50's and 60's. It speaks to us on such an emotional level. The songs are raw, bare,, unabashed and unforgiven. They speak of the of the heart and soul THE WAY--the heart and soul are feeling RIGHT NOW! Which may alienate some-as the may have never felt the way a particular song has described.
Clyde (post Drifters era) has done a great job with this. i always loved his voice. It has that urgency to it, the one where you KNEW he was feeling what he was singing--if only for the moment and the now. When I am missing another, as I often do, this song comes to mind a lot.
@kevinhouston8466
Love this songs!
@williammolloy5209
the fantastic clyde mcphatter--one great song!
@2011TDG
Clyde sounds so good handsome and talented .Rest in peace Clyde. Tammy
@cuppajoe1
An old favorite of mine. Clyde was always a huge talent.
@jamesschell72
very unique voice...immense talent.
@pauljoseph8691
Mesremising. Poor fellow? days without love. Least it made a good song. Would love to hear Richard doing this at his peak. Would have been over in about 90 minutes even with some slipping and slidiing. Oh my soul.