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.
Thirty Days
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I done talked to the gypsy woman on the telephone
She gonna send out a world wide hoodoo
That'll be the very thing that'll suit ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Oh thirty days (thirty days!)
Oh thirty days (thirty days!)
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
That'll be the very thing that'll suit ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days.
I done talked to the judge in private early this morning
And he took me to the sheriff's office to sign a warning (warrant?)
Gonna put a false charge again ya (against ya)
That'll be the very thing that'll send ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Oh thirty days (thirty days)
Oh thirty days (thirty days)
Baby I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Gonna put a false charge again ya
That'll be the very thing that'll send ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
If I don't get no satisfaction from the judge
I'm gonna take it to the FBI and voice my grudge
If they don't give me no consolation
I'm gonna take it to the United Nations
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Oh thirty days! (thirty days)
Oh thirty days! (thirty days)
Babe I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
You don't give me no consolation
I'm gonna take it to the United Nations
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days!
The lyrics of Clyde McPhatter's "Thirty Days" are about a man who has given his partner thirty days to get back home. He had spoken to a gypsy woman on the phone who is going to send out a worldwide hoodoo to bring her back. However, if this fails, he is going to take the matter to the judge and the sheriff, and falsely accuse her to have her arrested. If that does not work, he is even willing to take the matter to the FBI and the United Nations to bring her back. The singer seems to be desperate, using every possible means to bring his partner back home.
The song's lyrics suggest that the singer is controlling with an obsessive and possessive personality. The phrase "I'm going to see" is repeated many times throughout the song, emphasizing his determination to get what he wants. He is even willing to go to great lengths, including falsely accusing his partner, to bring her back, highlighting the toxic dynamic of their relationship. Overall, the lyrics of "Thirty Days" paint an image of desperation, obsession, and control.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna give you thirty days to get back home
I am giving you a deadline of one month to return home
I done talked to the gypsy woman on the telephone
I have spoken with a fortune teller on the phone
She gonna send out a world wide hoodoo
She will cast a spell that will reach all corners of the world
That'll be the very thing that'll suit ya
That will be exactly what you need
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
I will ensure that you return home within the given period
Oh thirty days (thirty days!)
Repeating the period of time given
Gonna send out a world wide hoodoo
Will cast a spell that will reach all corners of the world
That'll be the very thing that'll suit ya
That will be exactly what you need
I done talked to the judge in private early this morning
I have spoken to the judge privately this morning
And he took me to the sheriff's office to sign a warning (warrant?)
And he took me to the sheriff's office to sign a warning or warrant
Gonna put a false charge again ya (against ya)
Will falsely accuse you of a crime
That'll be the very thing that'll send ya
That will be the event that leads to your return
If I don't get no satisfaction from the judge
If I am not satisfied with the result of speaking to the judge
I'm gonna take it to the FBI and voice my grudge
I will escalate the matter to the FBI and express my complaints
If they don't give me no consolation
If they do not provide me with any relief or satisfaction
I'm gonna take it to the United Nations
I will take the issue to the United Nations
You don't give me no consolation
If you do not provide me with any relief or satisfaction
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
I will ensure that you return home within the given period
Oh thirty days! (thirty days)
Repeating the period of time given
Babe I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Darling, I will ensure that you return home within the given period
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHUCK BERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind