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.
that
Dee Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's got big brown eyes, boy is she sweet
She wears a short skirt, sneekers and my big sweater
All the fella's want to date her, but I won't let her no no no
she looks cool, talks cool, dance cool
And that's my girl
Me and my baby's gonna show em who's the best now
She's got a brand new wiggle that you never seen
I'm not putting you on, this chick can dance real mean
I said she looks cool, talks cool, dance cool
And that's my girl
just watch her when she hits the floor
Everybody gather round and say go girl go
She can really turn it on shel really make you flip
She starts shaking so hard youl think she's breaking her hips
There is one thing I want you to know
I'm gonna follow her wherever she goes
She's the ... something.. girl in the land
Try and top her?
You can't
She wears a short skirt, sneekers and my big sweater
All the fellas try an steal her, but I won't let em no no no
Well she looks cool, talks cool, dance cool
And that's my girl
so keep on dancing now
Keep on dancing now
Shake it up, shake it up
Dee Clark's "That's My Girl" is a joyful, upbeat song about the singer's girl who lives down the street. He loves everything about her, from her big brown eyes to the way she talks and dances. She wears a short skirt, sneakers, and his big sweater, as all the guys try to date her, but he won't let them. He is determined to show off his girl's dancing skills at the upcoming dance contest, where they will prove that they are the best. Even when she hits the floor, everyone is amazed, and she keeps dancing until her hips seem to be breaking. The singer is proud of his girl and plans on following her wherever she goes. "That's My Girl" is a fun song that celebrates the singer's romantic relationship, and reminds us that having someone's back is a vital part of love.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got a pretty little girl living down the street
There's a gorgeous girl living nearby
She's got big brown eyes, boy is she sweet
She's got attractive, big brown eyes and is very sweet
She wears a short skirt, sneekers and my big sweater
She wears a short skirt, sneakers, and my big sweater which makes her look cute and stylish
All the fella's want to date her, but I won't let her no no no
Many guys are interested in dating her, but I won't allow it as she's already mine
she looks cool, talks cool, dance cool
She carries herself in a cool and confident way and even dances very well
And that's my girl
And she's mine
next Saturday night their be a dance contest, yeah
There's a dance contest next Saturday night
Me and my baby's gonna show em who's the best now
My girlfriend and I are going to participate and prove ourselves as the best dancers
She's got a brand new wiggle that you never seen
She has learned a new dance move that is unfamiliar to you
I'm not putting you on, this chick can dance real mean
I'm not lying, she's an amazing dancer
just watch her when she hits the floor
Observe her when she starts dancing
Everybody gather round and say go girl go
People cheer for her and encourage her to keep dancing
She can really turn it on shel really make you flip
She's very impressive when she starts dancing and can leave others stunned
She starts shaking so hard youl think she's breaking her hips
She's such a great dancer that it seems like she's putting too much pressure on her hips and might break them
There is one thing I want you to know
I want you to know something important
I'm gonna follow her wherever she goes
I'll be with her wherever she goes
She's the ... something.. girl in the land
She's the best girl in the area
Try and top her?
Can you surpass her?
You can't
You can't beat her
so keep on dancing now
Keep dancing now
Shake it up, shake it up
Dance with energy and enthusiasm
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVE HAVLICEK, GARY BURGER, LARRY CLARK, ROGER JOHNSTON, THOMAS SHAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind