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.
Ride a Wild Horse
Dee Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Saddle up, get down to the source
If you can tame me
You can claim me
I'll be yours
You say you're sick and tired
Of all those phoney stallions
And to you I'm just another bronco
Who'll come on strong
Then leave you high and dry
Come on and
Ride a wild horse
Saddle up, get down to the source
If you can tame me
You can claim me
I'll be yours
Giddy up girl
Come on, come on
Come on ride me
Giddy up boy
Come on, come on
Come on ride
Ride a wild horse
Saddle up, get down to the source
If you can tame me
You can claim me
I'll be yours
Now you've coralled a hundred thoroughbreds
And still you ain't been satisfied
But girl, with me fast at your reins
We'll gallop home
And never lose our stride
Come on and
Ride a wild horse
Saddle up, get down to the source
If you can tame me
You can claim me
I'll be yours
Giddy up girl
Come on, come on
Come on ride me
Giddy up boy
Come on, come on
Come on ride.
The lyrics in Dee Clark's song "Ride a Wild Horse" are a metaphor for pursuing wild love and passion. The singer is essentially saying that if his love interest can handle the wild and untamed side of him, then she can claim him as her own. He is challenging her to take a risk and ride this "wild horse" of love with him, abandoning the mundane and predictable experiences she has had with others.
Throughout the lyrics, Dee Clark acknowledges that his love interest has encountered an abundance of "phony stallions" who haven't provided her with genuine experiences. He believes that he is different and capable of imparting unwavering passion which she won't be able to find anywhere else. He encourages her to take a leap of faith with him and experience the wild and unpredictable side of love.
In the end, the lyrics suggest that the singer has great confidence in his ability to satisfy his love interest's desires better than any other man she has come across. The metaphor of the wild horse represents the intensity of the passion he has to offer and the challenge that he presents to anyone who wants to pursue it.
Line by Line Meaning
Ride a wild horse
Get ready for adventure and excitement - take control and try something new and daring.
Saddle up, get down to the source
Prepare yourself and get ready to ride - find the starting point and take charge.
If you can tame me
If you can handle my wild and unpredictable nature
You can claim me
You can have me as your own, conquer me and make me yours.
I'll be yours
Once you can overcome my challenges and win my heart, I will belong to you completely.
You say you're sick and tired
You are fed up and weary of the same old situation.
Of all those phoney stallions
You are tired of insincere and fake people who pretend to be something they are not.
Handlin' you those lines
Fooling you with smooth talk and false promises.
And to you I'm just another bronco
You see me as just another wild and stubborn horse that needs to be tamed.
Who'll come on strong
I will be bold and assertive with you.
Then leave you high and dry
But you fear that I will only be in it for the thrill and will abandon you when the excitement dies down.
Giddy up girl
Let's go and get started quickly
Come on ride me
Get on top of me and let's go!
Now you've coralled a hundred thoroughbreds
You have tried and experienced many different things, but have not been completely satisfied yet.
And still you ain't been satisfied
Despite your many attempts, you are still seeking something more fulfilling.
But girl, with me fast at your reins
But if you take a chance on me and hold on tight, I will take you on a wild and exciting journey
We'll gallop home
We will ride with passion and enthusiasm towards our destination
And never lose our stride
We will maintain our speed and enthusiasm throughout our entire journey
Writer(s): KENNY NOLAN
Contributed by Landon R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@garychapman1
What a track from my old school disco days ❤
@Gumblina1
I was 11 - memories of the school disco 😅
@anitawrigley417
A good soul record
@paulchapman7951
Love this still have the 7 inch it came out the year I left school..
Paul from Essex .. England
@rossi6113
Takes me right back. Thank you.
@milesrost6674
"We The People" celebrate the birthday of an American Hero. - Godspeed
@Doctor_Kissworthy
I remembered this from 1975 when I was twelve years old. Very memorable song with a great beat!
@thomasnelson6264
Love it ❤
@jamesheath7596
Wow not heard that for years. What a fab soul record !!
@denzylebenjamin8089
My father have this track in 1975 Wicked tune 🙏