Relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, McClinton emerged in a partnership with fellow Texan Glen Clark, performing a combination of country and soul music. They achieved a degree of artistic success, releasing two albums before splitting, with McClinton embarking on a solo career. Emmylou Harris had a number 1 hit in 1978 with his composition "Two More Bottles of Wine", and McClinton's "B Movie Boxcar Blues" was covered on the first album of The Blues Brothers, Briefcase full of blues. His 1980 album, The Jealous Kind contained his only Top 40 hit single "Givin' It Up for Your Love".
After a rest period during much of the '80s, McClinton made a welcome return in 1989 with the fiery album Live From Austin, taped during an Austin City Limits appearance. He won a 1991 Grammy for his duet with Bonnie Raitt, "Good Man, Good Woman", and reached the Top 5 of the country charts with the Tanya Tucker duet, "Tell Me About It". He recorded the opening title song "Weatherman" for the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. The fledgling label Rising Tide offered One of the Fortunate Few in 1997, but the label quickly folded. In addition to releasing two new studio albums in the early 2000s, New West Records issued Delbert McClinton Live in 2003, a compilation of songs from throughout his career.
McClinton is the star of the upcoming musical documentary: "Rocking the Boat: A Musical Conversation and Journey" by Hawaii-based film maker Jay Curlee. The feature includes interviews and performances by McClinton, Marcia Ball, Rodney Crowell, Stephen Bruton, Wayne Toups, Jimmy Hall,Paul Thorn, Jeffrey Steele and Teresa James. Sometime author, musician, sheriff and now Texas gubernatorial candidate Kinky Friedman also stars. The film will be entered in the 2006 Telluride Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and Hawaii International Film Festival.
Don't Let Go
Delbert McClinton Lyrics
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Don't let go, Don't let go.
Come on, baby, it's time to rock,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'm so happy I got you here,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Keeps me grinnin' from ear to ear.
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
Thunder, lightening, wind and rain,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Love is stormin' inside my brain,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'm so eager, I'm nearly dyin',
Don't let go, Don't let go.
You've been keepin' your lips from mine.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
Hound dog barkin' up side the hill,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Love is draggin' him thru the mill,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
If it wasn't for havin' you,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'd be barkin' and howlin' too.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
One day, baby, you'll quit me yet,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
I'll be cryin' and soakin' wet,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
One thing, baby, I'll never stand,
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Your lips kissin' some other man.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
Don't let go!
Just hold me tight, Don't let go!
The song "Don't Let Go" by Delbert McClinton is about a thrilling and passionate moment between two lovers. The song starts with the sound of a train whistle blowing, indicating that it is 10 o'clock, and the singer urges his lover not to let go. He wants to rock and roll with her and is happy to have her with him. The feeling of being with her is so overwhelming that it's killing him, and he wouldn't stop for a million bucks. The urgency in his voice suggests that he may fear losing her, and he wants her to hold him tight and never let go.
The second verse brings up the idea of a storm brewing outside, but the real storm is inside the singer's brain, and it's all because of his love for her. He is eager to be with her and wants to kiss her but has been holding back. The singer imagines even the hound dog outside is affected by their love and would be howling too if it weren't for them being together. The chorus repeats, and the singer implores his lover to hold him tight and never let go.
The final verse has a melancholic undertone as the singer predicts that his lover may leave him someday, and he would be left crying and soaking wet. He says he would never stand for her kissing another man's lips. The song ends with the plea to hold him tight and never let go. Overall, the lyrics suggest that the singer is deeply in love and fears losing his beloved, and expresses his urgent desire to be with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Hear that whistle, it's ten o'clock.
The time is now to enjoy music.
Don't let go, Don't let go.
Hold onto what we have tightly.
Come on, baby, it's time to rock,
Let's dance, the music is calling us.
I'm so happy I got you here,
I am overjoyed to have you with me.
Keeps me grinnin' from ear to ear.
You make me so happy.
Oo-wee, This feelin's killin' me;
This feeling of love is overpowering in a good way.
Ah shucks, I wouldn't stop for a million bucks.
I am so in love with you that I wouldn't give you up for anything.
I love you so, Just hold me tight.
I am deeply in love with you, and I want you to hold me close.
Thunder, lightening, wind and rain,
Love is powerful and uncontrollable, like a storm.
Love is stormin' inside my brain,
My love for you consumes my thoughts.
I'm so eager, I'm nearly dyin',
I can't wait to be close to you again.
You've been keepin' your lips from mine.
I want to kiss you, but you're holding back.
Hound dog barkin' up side the hill,
Even the dog can sense the love between us.
Love is draggin' him thru the mill,
Love can be tough and wear on you, but it's worth it.
If it wasn't for havin' you,
Without you, I would feel lost and alone.
I'd be barkin' and howlin' too.
I would be as miserable as the dog without you.
One day, baby, you'll quit me yet,
I fear that you may leave me someday.
I'll be cryin' and soakin' wet,
If you leave, I will be devastated and heartbroken.
One thing, baby, I'll never stand,
I could never handle seeing you with someone else.
Your lips kissin' some other man.
It would break my heart to see you with another person.
Just hold me tight, Don't let go!
Please stay with me and hold me, I never want to lose you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JESSE ALBERT STONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind