Edwin Starr was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1942. He and his cousins (soul singers Roger and Willie Hatcher) moved to Cleveland, Ohio where they were raised.
In 1957 Starr formed a doo-wop group The Future Tones and began his singing career. Starr lived in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s and recorded at first for the small record label Ric-Tic, and later for the famed Motown after it absorbed Ric-Tic in 1968.
The song which began his career was "Agent Double'O'Soul" (1965), a take-off on the James Bond films which were popular at the time.
He recorded more soul music for the next three years before having an international chart-topper in "25 Miles" (1968). As of 2005 it is one of only two Starr songs on oldies radio.
The biggest hit of his career, which cemented his reputation as a great soul artist, was the anti-Vietnam War protest song "War" (1970). A rousing tour-de-force, the vocals to "War" were - according to Starr - recorded in one take: an accomplishment which might make modern artists quail with apprehension. In explanation, Starr remained characteristically modest, explaining that he'd been allocated little studio time, so had to give each song his best shot.
Starr's intense vocals transformed a Temptations album track into a #1 chart success, which spent three weeks in that top position on the US Billboard charts, an anthem for the antiwar movement and a cultural milestone that continues to resound a generation later in movie soundtracks and hip hop music samples.
"War" appeared on both Starr's War and Peace LP and its follow-up, Involved. Involved also featured another song of very similar construction titled "Stop the War Now", which was a minor hit in its own right.
Moving to England in 1973, Starr continued to record music into the 1970s, most notably recording the song "Hell Up In Harlem" for the 1974 film, Hell Up In Harlem, which was the sequel to Black Caesar, an earlier hit with a soundtrack by James Brown.
In 1979 Starr reappeared on the charts with a pair of disco hits, titled "(Eye-To-Eye) Contact" and "H.A.P.P.Y. Radio". By now he had joined the well-established disco boom, and had further singles out on the record label 20th Century Records. Over the years he released tracks on many labels including Avatar, Calibre, 10 Records, Motown (a return to his former label for a 1989 remix of "25 Miles"), Streetwave and Hippodrome.
In 1985 Starr released "It Ain't Fair". Despite garnering the attention of many in the soul and dance clubs, it fell short of becoming the hit many felt it deserved to be.
In 1988 Starr teamed up with the popular and successful Stock, Aitken and Waterman production company for the club hit "Whatever Makes Our Love Grow".
In 1989, a number 17 uk hit by the Cookie Crew called "Got to Keep On" sampled a portion of "25 Miles" [1]. This track was then featured on a 1990 dance medley made for the BRIT Awards which made number 2 in the UK Singles Chart [2]. A club mix of various artists, it included the previous years remix of "25 Miles". Starr also appeared on the charity number one single "Let It Be" by Ferry Aid, again a various artist project.
Starr resurfaced briefly in 2000, to team up with the UK band Utah Saints to record a new version of his song "Funky Music Sho Nuff Turns Me On". He appeared again in 2002 to record a song with the British musician Jools Holland, singing "Snowflake Boogie" on Holland's compact disc More Friends; and to record another track with Utah Saints, a so far unreleased version of his number one hit "War" - his last ever recording.
Starr remained a hero on England's Northern Soul circuit - and also in Germany, where his energy and dedication to delivering a quality performance were greatly appreciated. He was affectionately renowned to be "The nicest man in Showbiz."
Edwin Starr died of a heart attack at the age of 61 in his home in Beeston near Nottingham.
Stop Her On The Sight
Edwin Starr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
And if you see my baby
If you see my baby, stop her on sight
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Yes I am)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(From me to Mexico)
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Hey now)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
I'm gonna tell the F.B.I.
I'm likely to get myself a secret spy
Because I lost my baby
So if you see my baby, stop her on sight
I lost
I lost my baby
I lost my baby
You can tell her by the way she walks
You can tell her by the way she talks
And you can tell her by the way she smiles
I guarantee you it will drive you wild
So if you see my baby
If anybody sees my baby
Stop her on sight
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Yes I am)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(Cause I miss my baby so)
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Hey now)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(I don't know, I don't know where she's gone)
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(But I want you)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(I want you to stop my baby)
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Stop her on sight)
Out an S.O.S.
The lyrics of Edwin Starr's "Stop Her On Sight" tell a story of a man who is in extreme distress because he has lost his beloved. He is sending out an SOS to anyone who will listen, and he's even willing to go as far as getting the FBI involved. He lost his baby, and he's doing everything in his power to find her. He describes how anyone can identify his baby by the way she walks, talks, and smiles, and how she can drive anyone wild. The repeated phrase “stop her on sight” indicates how much he wants her back and how much he misses her.
The song is sung with great emotion, and the lyrics reflect a deep sense of longing and desperation. They also highlight the importance of the loved one to the singer.
Overall, "Stop Her On Sight" is an upbeat, soulful track that showcases Starr's powerful vocals and ability to convey a story through his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
The singer is urgently sending out an S.O.S. message.
I'm sending out an S.O.S.
Because I'm in so much distress
And if you see my baby
If you see my baby, stop her on sight
The singer is in distress because he has lost his baby, and is asking anyone who sees her to stop her immediately.
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Yes I am)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(From me to Mexico)
The singer is still sending out an S.O.S. message, even if his baby may now be in Mexico.
I'm gonna tell the F.B.I.
I'm likely to get myself a secret spy
Because I lost my baby
So if you see my baby, stop her on sight
The singer is so desperate to find his baby that he plans to tell the F.B.I. and hire a secret spy, and still asks anyone who sees her to stop her immediately.
You can tell her by the way she walks
You can tell her by the way she talks
And you can tell her by the way she smiles
I guarantee you it will drive you wild
So if you see my baby
If anybody sees my baby
Stop her on sight
The singer describes his baby's distinct mannerisms and urges anyone who sees her to immediately stop her.
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Yes I am)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(Cause I miss my baby so)
The singer misses his baby so much that he still sending out an S.O.S. message and asking anyone who sees her to stop her.
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Hey now)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(I don't know, I don't know where she's gone)
The singer is still sending out an S.O.S. message, but he doesn't know where his baby has gone.
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(But I want you)
Out an S.O.S.
(Sending, sending)
(I want you to stop my baby)
Hey, hey, hey, I'm sending
(Stop her on sight)
Out an S.O.S.
The singer is still sending out an S.O.S. message and still wants anyone who sees his baby to stop her immediately.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALBERT HAMILTON, EDWIN STARR, RICHARD MORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Donald Freeman
One of the greatest records ever, feat the Funk Brothers who played on hundreds of Motown tracks!
Jim Jackson
Yep.
Musicfan
I love this song, Perfect arrangement Perfect vocals !
K Dub
This is a HOT tune! Edwin Starr was one of the best and deserves a lot more recognition!!!
thomas fisher
i can remember dancing to this in 65"....don't think i can CUT THOSE moves now lol
Paul Nash
Marvellous 60's Motown, Edwin Starr at his best with the great Funk Brothers backing, what could be better, RIP Edwin
Jim Jackson
Yep.
donald bonds
1965 Majic no doubt. An upbeat song for an upbeat time of changes. My last year before being sent to Vietnam. Listening to it now in 2022 still brings me "up". Thanks for the good music.
LESLEY A. LOVE
THIS SOUNDS GREAT JUST LIKE
THE DAY IT WAY RELEASED
IN STEREO AND THAT BASS WAS
OFF THE HOOK AND SOUNDED SO
NICE,
THAT I HAVE TO HEAR IT TWICE
dave villa
I had the pleasure of knowing Edwin, the world was robbed when he left us !!!!