Elbert was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but when aged three his family relocated to Buffalo, New York. He learned to play guitar and piano as a child, and in 1955 formed a doo-wop group, the Vibraharps, with friend Danny Cannon. Elbert acted as the group's guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and background vocalist, making his recording debut on their single "Walk Beside Me". He left the group in 1957 for a solo career, and recorded a demonstration record that earned him a recording contract with the King label's DeLuxe subsidiary. His solo debut "What Can I Do?" reached #12 in the U.S. R&B chart, and he followed it up with the less successful "Believe It or Not" and "Have I Sinned?", which became a regional hit in Pittsburgh.
He continued to release singles on DeLuxe, but with little commercial success, and also played New York's Apollo Theater and toured the chitlin' circuit of African-American owned nightclubs. After completing an album, The Sensational Donnie Elbert Sings, he left DeLuxe in 1959, joining first Red Top Records, where in 1960 he recorded "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)", and then Vee-Jay Records, where he had another regional hit with "Will You Ever Be Mine?," which reportedly sold 250,000 copies in the Philadelphia area but failed to take off nationwide. His career was also interrupted by a spell in the US Army, from which he was discharged in 1961. He then recorded singles for several labels, including Parkway, Cub and Checker, but with little success. However, although the 1965 Gateway label release of "A Little Piece of Leather" failed to chart in the US, the record became a #27 pop hit when released on the London label in the UK several years later in 1972, and remains a Northern soul favorite.
Elbert relocated to the UK in 1966, where he married. There, he recorded "In Between The Heartaches" for the Polydor label in 1968, a cover version of The Supremes' hit "Where Did Our Love Go?". and an album of Otis Redding cover versions, Tribute To A King. His 1969 Deram release "Without You" had a rocksteady rhythm, and went to the top of the Jamaican charts. He returned to the US the same year, and had his first US chart hit in over a decade with the Rare Bullet label release "Can't Get Over Losing You," which reached #26 on the Billboard R&B chart. Following the success of that record, "Where Did Our Love Go?" was released on the All Platinum label, and became his biggest hit, reaching #15 on the US pop charts, #6 on the R&B charts, and (in 1972) #8 in the UK. Its follow-up "Sweet Baby" reached #30 on the R&B chart in early 1972.
Elbert then signed with Avco-Embassy, where he entered the recording studio with the successful production team of Hugo & Luigi. Although his cover of The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" reached #14 on the R&B chart, Elbert balked at the label's insistence that he record material associated with Motown. He returned to All Platinum and had a run of minor R&B hits, but left after he claimed authorship of Shirley & Company's R&B chart-topper "Shame Shame Shame" which was credited to label owner Sylvia Robinson. For 1975's "You Keep Me Crying (With Your Lying)," Elbert finally formed his own label, and "I Got to Get Myself Together," appeared on an imprint bearing his surname, but it was among his final recordings.
By the mid-1980s Elbert had retired from performing, and became director of A&R for Polygram's Canadian division. He suffered a massive stroke and died in 1989, at the age of 52.
Sweet Baby
Donnie Elbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, sweet baby
I just can't get you off my mind
Hey, sweet baby
You're on my mind all the time
Just a taste of your sweet lips
Sends a thrill to my fingertips
Girl, makes me realize
You're all
All I need to get me by
[Chorus:]
No one can love me like you do
No one can do the things you do
Nothing can be warmer
Than your embrace
Nothing can be righter
Than your smiling face
Heaven was never like this
Good God almighty
What a heavenly bliss
[Chorus:]
I don't care what people say
I'm gonna love you anyway
I'm a fool for you, baby
Good God almighty, come what may
Girl, you groove me
Girl, how you move me
[Chorus:]
It ain't the way you do it, baby
It's how you do it, honey
It ain't the way you say it, baby
It's how you say it, baby
[Chorus:]
Hey, sweet baby...
Donnie Elbert's song "Sweet Baby" is a love song expressing the singer's affection for his significant other. The chorus, with its repeated use of "Hey sweet baby, I just can't get you off my mind," reveals that the singer is completely smitten with his lover and that their presence is constantly on his mind. The first verse of the song, with its mention of the taste of sweet lips and the thrill it sends through the singer's fingertips, conveys the idea that the physical attraction between the two is strong. The second verse, with its mention of the lover being all that the singer needs, indicates that their relationship is more than just physical; it is an emotional connection that fulfills the singer's needs.
The lyrics continue to express the unique love between the singer and his lover, stating that no one can love him like his partner does and that nothing can be warmer than their embrace or righter than their smiling face. The chorus is repeated again, indicating that the singer cannot get their partner off their mind. The bridge of the song reveals that the singer does not care what others say about their relationship, as he is a "fool" for his partner no matter what. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the sentiment that it is not just what his partner does or says, but how they do or say it that makes the singer love them so much.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sweet Baby" convey the idea that the singer is deeply in love with his partner and that their connection is more than just physical. Their relationship is emotionally fulfilling and something that the singer cannot get off their mind, despite what others may say. Through the use of phrases like "heavenly bliss" and "Good God almighty," the song conveys a sense of celestial wonder and joy that the singer feels in his relationship with their beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, sweet baby
Addressing the person being spoken to in an affectionate manner
I just can't get you off my mind
Expressing how the person being spoken to is frequently on the singer's mind
You're on my mind all the time
Further emphasizing that the person being spoken to is a constant thought for the singer
Just a taste of your sweet lips
Describing how enjoyable the artist finds being intimate with the person being spoken to
Sends a thrill to my fingertips
Describing the physical sensations the artist experiences when being intimate with the person being spoken to
Just to look into your eyes
Expressing how the person being spoken to has a captivating gaze that the singer enjoys looking at
Girl, makes me realize
Addressing the person being spoken to in a flirtatious manner
You're all
Emphasizing how important the person being spoken to is to the artist
All I need to get me by
Expressing how the artist relies on the person being spoken to to feel content
No one can love me like you do
Expressing how the artist feels that the person being spoken to loves them in a unique way
No one can do the things you do
Describing how the person being spoken to has unique qualities and abilities that the singer appreciates
Nothing can be warmer
Emphasizing how pleasant it feels to be embraced by the person being spoken to
Than your embrace
Describing the person being spoken to as a source of comfort for the singer
Nothing can be righter
Emphasizing how the singer feels that being with the person being spoken to is the right choice for them
Than your smiling face
Describing the person being spoken to as a source of joy and positivity for the singer
Heaven was never like this
Expressing how being with the person being spoken to feels like an otherworldly experience
Good God almighty
An exclamation of enthusiasm or surprise
What a heavenly bliss
Describing the person being spoken to as a source of intense pleasure and happiness for the singer
I don't care what people say
Expressing how the singer is not influenced by the opinions of others when it comes to their feelings for the person being spoken to
I'm gonna love you anyway
Promising to continue loving the person being spoken to no matter what obstacles may arise
I'm a fool for you, baby
Describing the artist's strong feelings of love for the person being spoken to
Good God almighty, come what may
An expression of determination to love the person being spoken to no matter what happens
Girl, you groove me
Addressing the person being spoken to in a flirtatious manner
Girl, how you move me
Describing how the person being spoken to has a powerful emotional impact on the artist
It ain't the way you do it, baby
Expressing how it's not just about the person being spoken to's actions, but also their character and demeanor
It's how you do it, honey
Further emphasizing that it's not just about what the person being spoken to does, but also how they do it
Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Graham Chambers
the great Donnie elbert'' another underrated singer'' he could cover any song and make them sound better than the original''always a dance floor filler sweet soul at its best''great memories of dancin'' at youth clubs at the time''soulgray ktf;
Joe Gribbin
Awesome. A beautiful song by a great talent. Love the energy choreography of the video too! Thanks for sharing!
Sylvia Bolan
Donnie, what a voice!🎶🎵🎤🎼🎶🎵🎼🎶
Mary Denise
Love it great tune and video...
ee
Hey Doc, thank you for Donnie Elbert singing to the video. It is how you do it.
Dose of Josh
Wow, this made my heart so happy🥰😁
Darrel Eggemeyer
Everybody having fun, things should be that way today!
Indigo558
This is awesome, great song.
steven cater
AWSOME DANCING,TUNE!
chylogurti
Good stuff. I bought this as an import when it was first released. I still have it somewhere.Thanks