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.
Ta Ta
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With all my might
I tell her I'm gonna never
Let her out of my sight
She says ta ta
Just like a baby
You know she fears no harm
When she's in my arms
With me telling her
All about her charms
She says ta ta ta
Just like a baby
Come here, let me bend your ear
Tell you of this love of mine
The way she soothes me
The way she grooves me
She's the only one
That ever moves me
She says it's good to have
A love to call your own
Instead of being in a crowd
Feeling all alone
And I say ta ta
Just like a baby
Come here, let me bend your ear
Tell you of this love of mine
The way she soothes me The way she grooves me
She's the only one
That ever moves me
She says it's good to have
A love to call your own
Instead of being in a crowd
Feeling all alone
And I say ta ta
Just like a baby
The lyrics of Clyde McPhatter's song Ta Ta describe the depth of affection he has for his lover. He expresses his feelings of never letting her go and holding her tightly. As he talks to her about her charms, she responds with the repetition of "ta ta," which represents her trust in him and the safety she feels in their relationship. Clyde explains how his love for her transforms him and how she is the only person who soothes him and moves him.
The use of "ta ta" throughout the song highlights the idea of innocence and vulnerability. It is a reminder of how we behave as babies, and the feeling of safety we got from our parents. This creates an imagery of a love that is pure, innocent, and safe. The lyrics also show how love transforms people, and how having someone to love is better than being alone in a crowd.
Line by Line Meaning
When I hold my baby tight
When I embrace my lover tightly
With all my might
With all my strength
I tell her I'm gonna never
I assure her that I will never
Let her out of my sight
Allow her to leave my presence
She says ta ta
She says goodbye
Just like a baby
Like a child would say it
You know she fears no harm
She isn't afraid of danger
When she's in my arms
When she's close to me
With me telling her
Me whispering to her
All about her charms
How beautiful she is
She says ta ta ta
She says goodbye again
Come here, let me bend your ear
Come here, let me tell you something
Tell you of this love of mine
Tell you about this great love I have
The way she soothes me
How she calms me down
The way she grooves me
How she excites me
She's the only one
She's the only person
That ever moves me
That affects me deeply
She says it's good to have
She thinks it's important to have
A love to call your own
A personal, exclusive love
Instead of being in a crowd
Rather than being around many people
Feeling all alone
Feeling isolated
And I say ta ta
And I say goodbye
Just like a baby
As if I were a child
Contributed by Grace W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@coracochran8622
Love all of McPhatter’s songs
@johnwadd8412
Great voice
@Frnk_3
50 years ago, the world lost a LEGEND. RIP Clyde, forever in the hearts of every R&B and Doo Wop fan.
@kingstonoldie2447
Good
@cleenlivin
Cool song among Clyde Mcphatter like many others. It may have already been said but the song reminds me of another great song by Brooke Benton's and Dinah Washington, A Rockin Good Way. The strings, driving rhythm and arrangements. Both great songs and artists.
@brunon44
Both records were out of the Mercury studios. The Dutch took over Mercury a couple of years later just before the British Musical Invasion
@robertorick6383
Produced by Clyde Otis, arranged by Belford Hendricks, who arranged and produced many of Brook's and Dinah's Mercury recordings from the late 50's and early 60's. The arrangements are unmistakably Clyde Otis's.
@rickfisher1661
Love this song from Summer 1960
@johnwadd8412
Nice
@georgephinn822
Clyde Mc Phatter “The Greatest Voice” in “Rock And Roll” I wish he had More Successful Carrear in Show Business and his singing too. She should have had at least a 100 Golden Records - His voice wAS the “Greatest Voice” in Rock And Roll - Just listen to “The Treasure Of Love” and you will agree and he was one of the pioneers in Rock And Roll