Delbert McClinton is a blues musician born 4 November 1940, in Lubbock, Tex… Read Full Bio ↴Delbert McClinton is a blues musician born 4 November 1940, in Lubbock, Texas. He honed his craft working in a bar band, The Straitjackets, backing visiting blues giants such as Sonny Boy Williamson II, Howlin' Wolf, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Jimmy Reed. He made his first recordings as a member of the Ron-Dels and was noted for his distinctive harmonica work on Bruce Channel's 1962 hit "Hey Baby". On a tour of the UK with Channel, McClinton met a young John Lennon and advised him on his harmonica technique, resulting in the sound heard on the Beatles hit "Love Me Do".

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.

Just A Little Bit
Delbert McClinton Lyrics

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Well, I don't want much
Oh, I just want a little bit
Oh, I don't want it all
No, I just want a little bit

Just a little bitty bit
Just a teeny weeny bitty of your love

Turn your lamp down low
Honey, slip me a kiss
Turn your lamp down low
I just can't resist

Oh, just a little bitty bit
Just a teeny weeny bitty of your love

Turn your lamp down low
Honey, slip me a kiss
Turn your lamp down low
I just can't resist

Oh, a little bitty bit
Just a teeny weeny bitty of your love

I'll love you forever
Not just for peace of mind
Please say you'll never leave me
Until the end of time

Just a little bitty bit
Just a teeny weeny bitty of your love

Just don't hit me

Overall Meaning

with it all at once
Darling, give me a chance
Just don't hit me with it all at once

The Delbert McClinton song "Just A Little Bit" is a classic example of a blues love song, with its simple lyrics and catchy melody. The song is about the singer’s desire for a small amount of love and attention from their significant other. This desire is expressed through a series of metaphors and allusions, as the singer asks for just a "little bit" of their lover's affection.

The singer begins by stating that they don't need a lot of love, just a little bit. This could be interpreted as a way of avoiding rejection - by asking for only a small amount of love, the singer is minimizing the risk of being rejected outright. They then ask their lover to "turn their lamp down low" and "slip them a kiss", which are romantic gestures that suggest a desire for intimacy. The singer repeats the phrase "just a little bitty bit" throughout the song, emphasizing their need for only a small amount of love.

The verse about not being hit with it all at once is perhaps a nod to the fact that too much love, like too much of anything, can be overwhelming. The final verse, where the singer asks their lover to stay with them forever, adds a touch of vulnerability to the song. Overall, "Just A Little Bit" is an uncomplicated, romantic plea for affection that encapsulates the simplicity and directness of blues music.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I don't want much
I am not asking for a lot

Oh, I just want a little bit
I only ask for a small amount

Oh, I don't want it all
I don't expect everything from you

No, I just want a little bit
I only want a tiny piece of what you have to offer

Just a little bitty bit
I only want a very small amount

Just a teeny weeny bitty of your love
All I need is a tiny bit of love from you

Turn your lamp down low
Please set the mood for me

Honey, slip me a kiss
Please give me a kiss

I just can't resist
I am unable to control my desire

Oh, a little bitty bit
I just need a small portion

I'll love you forever
My love for you will last for eternity

Not just for peace of mind
I love you not only to put my mind at ease

Please say you'll never leave me
Promise me that you won't leave me

Until the end of time
Promise me that you will stay with me forever

Just don't hit me
This line cannot be accurately explained as it may be interpreted in many different ways and we do not promote or condone violence in any form.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: INESSA ALESSANDROVA, MARCUS BROSCH, TONI COTTURA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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