From the mid-1950s until 1975, Estil Cortez Ball performed with his wife Orna and their Friendly Gospel Singers in churches and on the radio, especially on WKSK (AM) in West Jefferson, North Carolina and WBOB (AM) in Galax, Virginia. Ball's first recordings were made by John A. Lomax on behalf of the Library of Congress at the 1937 Galax Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Virginia, where E.C. performed with his Rugby Gully Jumpers string band (named after Paul Warmack's Gully Jumpers). Lomax recorded the string band and several duets by E.C. and Orna. John's son Alan Lomax recorded Ball three years later, in 1941, at E.C.'s home in Rugby, Virginia, and there again in 1959.
County Records released Ball's first LP in 1967, as E.C. Ball and the Friendly Gospel Singers. Two more LPs followed in the 1970s on Rounder Records: E.C. Ball and Fathers Have A Home Sweet Home. Ball was also recorded by John Cohen for his 1975 compilation album High Atmosphere: Ballads and Banjo Tunes from Virginia and North Carolina.
E.C. Ball's most famous composition was a piece he called "Tribulations," based, as he told Alan Lomax in 1959, "on the last book in the Bible: Revelations." It has been frequently covered by other musicians as "Trials, Troubles, Tribulations."
Ball died in 1978 in Grassy Creek, North Carolina, and is buried at Corinth Baptist Church in Rugby, Grayson County, Virginia.
In December 2009, a tribute album was released entitled Face A Frowning World: An E.C. Ball Memorial Album, on the Tompkins Square label, produced by Nathan Salsburg. Singers interpreting songs from E.C.'s repertoire include Jolie Holland, Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Jon Langford, the Handsome Family, Rayna Gellert, and Catherine Irwin, among others.
Give Me Just A Little More Time
E.C. Ball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you really cared
Said if there were days I was lonely
Just call you - you'd be there
You tried your best convinced me
That you understand
And if I need someone to hold on to
Then I knew it was true
All the feelings that I had inside for you
I could not deny
Though many times I tried
Give me a little more time
I need to make up my mind
'cause you know I'm in two minds
I want to be more than your friend
Ooh I just can't pretend any longer
Feelings getting stronger
Give me a little more time
You've been there when I've needed
You've never let me down
I just don't know how I'd cope
Without you being around
Feelings have grown between us
Though friends we have been
Don't you think it complicates things
Or is it just me
Then I knew it was true
All the feelings that you had
I shared them too
I could not deny
Though many times I tried
Give me a little more time
Give me a little more time
I need to make up my mind
The song "Give Me Just A Little More Time" by E.C. Ball Orna Ball explores the complicated feelings that come with realizing a close friend could be so much more. The lyrics speak to the struggle of wanting to take that next step in a relationship, but also feeling hesitant and uncertain about if it's the right thing to do. The song starts with the singer acknowledging that their friend has been there for them and tried to show them that they care, but they still need more time to think about what they want. This sets the stage for a deep introspection about their feelings towards the friendship, before finally admitting that the feelings are mutual and that they need more time to decide whether they should progress towards a romantic relationship.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is grappling with two opposing ideas: wanting to be more than just friends with the person they're singing about, and not wanting to destroy the delicate balance of their existing relationship. The singer acknowledges that they've shared a lot of intimate moments with the other person, and that feelings have grown, but they're still unsure about how to move forward. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer requesting a little more time to figure out what they want and make up their mind.
Overall, the song is a heartfelt exploration of the complicated emotions that arise when two close friends realize that there might be more to their relationship than just friendship. The lyrics are relatable and speak to the universal human experience of struggling with conflicting emotions and trying to make the right choice, even when it's not clear what that choice should be.
Line by Line Meaning
You tried your best to show me
You put forth your best effort to display your affection towards me
That you really cared
You wanted me to know that you truly cared about me
Said if there were days I was lonely
You promised to be there for me during days of loneliness
Just call you - you'd be there
You instructed me to reach out to you if I ever needed someone to talk to
You tried your best convinced me
You did everything in your power to make me believe
That you understand
That you comprehended my emotions and feelings
And if I need someone to hold on to
If I ever needed someone to lean on
You wanted to be the man
You desired to be that person for me
Then I knew it was true
It was at that moment that I realized it was authentic
All the feelings that I had inside for you
All of the emotions that I had within me towards you
I could not deny
I was incapable of rejecting or invalidating those emotions
Though many times I tried
Despite all of the efforts I made to ignore or deny those feelings
Give me a little more time
I require additional time to make a decision
I need to make up my mind
I have to determine what I truly want
'cause you know I'm in two minds
Because I am uncertain and vacillating
I want to be more than your friend
I desire to be in a romantic relationship with you
Ooh I just can't pretend any longer
I am unable to continue pretending that I do not have these feelings
Feelings getting stronger
My emotions for you are increasing in intensity
You've been there when I've needed
You were present when I required you
You've never let me down
You have never disappointed or failed me
I just don't know how I'd cope
I am unsure how I would manage without you
Without you being around
If you were not present in my life
Feelings have grown between us
Our emotions for one another have developed
Though friends we have been
Even though we have only been friends
Don't you think it complicates things
Do you believe that it introduces complexity into our relationship
Or is it just me
Perhaps it is only a concern I have
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOUISA BOBB, BEN BARSON, BENJAMIN WOLFF, ANDREW DEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Murray Callahan
So good.