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.
You
Clyde McPhatter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sitting here thinking, oh why was I born?
I'm so broken hearted, I just can't go on
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
Now I was so happy, with you by my side
You told me you loved me, but a honey you lied
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
The night seems like a million years
Waitin' till the break of day appears
All night long weeping like a willow
Tossing and turning on my tear-stained pillow
Guess I'm gonna drown in my own tears
I'm gonnna go walking by the railroad track
I'm just gonna let the ChooChoo, cross over my back
Life ain't worth living, can't go on
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
All night long weeping like a willow
Tossing and turning on my tear-stained pillow
Guess I'm gonna drown in my own tears
I'm gonna go walking by the railroad track
Gonna let the, Choo, Choo, Choo, run over my back
Life ain't worth living, how can I go on?
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
Since you've been go-one (since you've been gone)
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
(SINCE YOU''VE BEEN GONE)
The lyrics of "You" by Clyde McPhatter discuss the pain and heartache that come with losing someone you love. The singer of the song is sitting alone in the early hours of the morning, unable to move on from the loss of his lover. He remembers how happy they were together, and how he was led to believe that she loved him too, but she lied and left him crying.
The night feels never-ending to the singer, who spends it crying like a willow and tossing and turning on his tear-stained pillow. He admits to feeling like he's drowning in his own tears and feels that his life is no longer worth living. The last verse describes him walking by the railroad track, almost as if he has lost the will to live as he plans to let the ChooChoo run over him.
In summary, the lyrics of "You" express the depths of grief and loss. They show how much it hurts to have believed in a love that was only a lie and to live with the pain of that betrayal. The singer of the song is struggling to cope with the overwhelming feelings of sadness and hopelessness that come with losing someone so important to him.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the mornin, before the crack on dawn
It's early morning and I'm awake before sunrise
I'm sitting here thinking, oh why was I born?
I'm questioning the reason for my existence
I'm so broken hearted, I just can't go on
My heart is shattered and I'm struggling to cope
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
My struggles have been since you left
Now I was so happy, with you by my side
I was content when you were with me
You told me you loved me, but a honey you lied
Your declaration of love was false
You left me here crying, how can I go on?
I'm left in tears and don't know how to move forward
The night seems like a million years
The night is dragging on for eternity
Waitin' till the break of day appears
I'm waiting for the sun to rise
All night long weeping like a willow
I've been crying throughout the night
Tossing and turning on my tear-stained pillow
I can't sleep and my tears are staining my pillow
Guess I'm gonna drown in my own tears
My tears are overwhelming me
I'm gonnna go walking by the railroad track
I'm going for a walk by the train tracks
I'm just gonna let the ChooChoo, cross over my back
I don't care if the train runs over me
Life ain't worth living, can't go on
My life feels meaningless and unbearable
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
My struggles are because of your absence
All night long weeping like a willow
I've been crying throughout the night
Tossing and turning on my tear-stained pillow
I can't sleep and my tears are staining my pillow
Guess I'm gonna drown in my own tears
My tears are overwhelming me
I'm gonna go walking by the railroad track
I'm going for a walk by the train tracks
Gonna let the, Choo, Choo, Choo, run over my back
I don't care if the train runs over me
Life ain't worth living, how can I go on?
My life feels meaningless and I'm struggling to cope
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
My struggles are because of your absence
Since you've been go-one (since you've been gone)
My struggles are because of your absence
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
My struggles are because of your absence
Since you've been gone (since you've been gone)
My struggles are because of your absence
(SINCE YOU''VE BEEN GONE)
My struggles are because of your absence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Terry Stroud
My favorite single of his.but yes they were all Great.always 💘 loved Clyde.😍😍😍😍😍
Mike Mangan
Loved the former front man from THE DRIFTERS.
山田新吾
このナンバーは初めて知った。🎵「サッチアナイト」くらいしか知らなかった。
louis hubbard
good
Albert Patterson
Not "A Lover's Question", but not bad. Is the co-writer the famous William "Micky" Stevenson from Detroit?
The45Prof
It was Bobby Stevenson: https://secondhandsongs.com/work/145233
Bryan Rendleman
Was that ending kind of abrupt?
Darryl C Preston
She didn't deserve any more time: She went back on her word!
Bryan Rendleman
@Darryl C Preston lol, good one!