He was born Delecta Clark in Blytheville, Arkansas, and moved to Chicago in 1941. His mother, Essie Mae Clark, was a gospel singer and encouraged her son to pursue his love of music. Clark made his first recording in 1952 as a member of the Hambone Kids, who enjoyed some success with a recording of "Hambone" on the OKeh label. In 1953, he joined an R&B group called the Goldentones, who later became the Kool Gents and were discovered by Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent upon winning a talent competition. Kent had the Kool Gents signed to Vee-Jay label's subsidiary Falcon/Abner. The group recorded for Falcon/Abner in 1956, and also recorded a novelty record as "The Delegates".
Clark embarked on a solo career in 1957, initially following the styles of Clyde McPhatter and Little Richard. When Little Richard temporarily abandoned his music career to study the Bible, Clark fulfilled Richard's remaining live dates and also recorded with his backing band, the Upsetters. Over the next four years he landed several moderate hits, two of which ("Just Keep It Up" and "Hey Little Girl") reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100). His records for Abner and Vee-Jay were orchestrated by Riley Hampton. His biggest single, "Raindrops," a power ballad augmented by heavy rain and thunder sound effects and Clark's swooping falsetto, was released in the spring of 1961 and became his biggest hit, soaring to number two on the pop chart and number three on the R&B charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "Raindrops" was also an international success, reaching number one in New Zealand and reaching the top ten in South Africa and Belgium, and selling well in Japan. "Raindrops" remains a staple on oldies and adult standards radio station playlists to this day, and has also been covered by several other artists in the years since, including David Cassidy, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and most notably Narvel Felts, who took the song to number 30 on the country chart in 1974. Clark himself recorded an updated version of "Raindrops" in 1973.
However, Clark's biggest hit was also his last. The follow-up to "Raindrops," "Don't Walk Away From Me," was a flop, and he made the pop charts in America only twice more, with "I'm Going Back to School" (1962) and "Crossfire Time" (1963). By the time "Crossfire Time" came out, Clark had moved from Vee-Jay to the Constellation label. Though he continued to record for Constellation through 1966, none of his records charted nationally. He had considerable local success in Chicago with such standout recordings as "Come Closer" (1964), the double-sided hit of "Warm Summer Breezes" and "Heartbreak" (1964), and "TCB" (1965). He later recorded for the Columbia, Wand, Liberty and Rocky labels, without success. Clark had a brief revival in 1975 when his song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a surprise Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart, becoming his first chart hit in the UK since "Just Keep It Up."
Afterwards, Clark performed mostly on the oldies circuit. By the late 1980s, he was in dire straits financially, living in a welfare hotel in Toccoa, Georgia. Despite suffering a stroke in 1987 that left him partially paralyzed and with a mild speech impediment, he continued to perform until his death on December 7, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia, from a heart attack at the age of 52. His last concert was with the Jimmy Gilstrap Band at the Portman Lounge in Anderson, South Carolina.
I'm A Soldier Boy
Dee Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Remembering his love
I promised her that I
I would always be true
Remembering her heart
As we marched out of sight
I saw three tears as she cried
And she cried so blue
So everybody now
Hut, two, three, four
I'm marching out of sight
Everybody now
Hut, two, three, four
I wish I had my love tonight
I wrote her a letter
Just to tell her how I felt
But nothing in this world
Would ever change me about you
I'm still your soldier boy
Whose heart still melts
And I'll soon be home my love
Yes, please be true
Everybody now
Hut, two, three, four
I'm marching out of sight
Everybody now
Hut, two, three, four
I wish I had my love tonight
I remember her eyes
As we rode out of sight
I saw three tears as she cried
And she cried so blue
So come on you all
Hut, two, three, four
I'm marching out of sight
Everybody
Hut, two, three, four
I wish I had my love tonight
The lyrics of Dee Clark's "I'm A Soldier Boy" tell the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman, but has to leave her to go to war. He promises to always be true to her and remembers her heart as they march out of sight. He remembers the tears in her eyes as she cried and wished he had her with him. He tries to express his feelings through a letter, but knows that nothing in this world will change how he feels about her. He still considers himself her soldier boy whose heart still melts for her. The song shows the emotions and challenges of being in love while also serving for a greater cause.
Overall, "I'm A Soldier Boy" is a poignant song that captures the sacrifices that soldiers make during war. The soldier's role is to serve and fight for his country, but at the same time, he also has to leave behind the people he loves. By presenting vivid imagery and striking emotional notes, this song sheds light on the human cost of war and the toll it takes on those who serve.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a soldier boy
I am a young man serving in the army.
Remembering his love
Thinking fondly of my significant other.
I promised her that I
I made a vow to her that I
I would always be true
I would remain loyal to her no matter what.
Remembering her heart
Recalling the love and compassion she showed me.
As we marched out of sight
As we walked away and disappeared from view.
I saw three tears as she cried
I noticed three tears roll down her cheek as she wept.
And she cried so blue
And she cried wholeheartedly, feeling deeply saddened.
So everybody now
So, all of you now
Hut, two, three, four
Military marching cadence.
I'm marching out of sight
I'm departing out of your sight.
I wish I had my love tonight
I yearn for my loved one to be with me tonight.
I wrote her a letter
I composed a written message for her.
Just to tell her how I felt
To express my emotions to her.
But nothing in this world
But no situation in this world
Would ever change me about you
Would ever alter my feelings towards her.
I'm still your soldier boy
I remain her faithful partner.
Whose heart still melts
Whose heart still softens with affection for her.
And I'll soon be home my love
And I will return home to my beloved soon.
Yes, please be true
Yes, please remain loyal to me.
I remember her eyes
I recall the look in her eyes.
As we rode out of sight
As we left and disappeared from view.
So come on you all
So, everyone,
I wish I had my love tonight
I long for my beloved to be by my side tonight.
Contributed by Juliana T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
COWBOY5863
One of the all time smooth singers.
rg3855
i had this one on a 45 record since 1967 it was one of my favorites
Our NORTHERN SOUL
Big soul sound at the Monday night sessions at the Town Hall in Oakengates. Delecta at his best.
charles randolph
WISH YOU COULD BE HERE,BROTHER! YOU ARE MISSED! GREATNESS!
barney Ryan
Dee Clark = Clyde Mcphatter = Jackie Wilson = Marv Johnson = Sam Cooke = Dee Clark.....Thanks for Posting one of His Best.
Kai
I'm 18 and yes, this is true fucking music.
rg3855
some 1 might say they have copy writes to this and will have 2 remove this 1 also have had 2 remove 4 songs so far --- so listen 2 them while still U can ---they can have copy writes without having the song download it from me claim it --make me remove it --then try to sell it 2 U