A professional singer since she was fifteen, Brooks' début, a cover of Etta James's "Something's Got A Hold On Me", was released on Decca in 1964. Later she became the vocalist with a British 12-piece Stax-influenced, jazz-rock fusion band called Dada that released one, eponymous, album in 1970.
Brooks, along with guitarist Pete Gage, singer Robert Palmer and bassist Steve York formed Vinegar Joe in 1971, adding keyboard player Dave Thompson. The band was without a drummer; Conrad Isidore and Rob Tait drummed on the first album, released in 1972.
In 1974, after three albums Vinegar Joe split and Brooks went solo. After a time in the US as backing singer with the American southern boogie band Wet Willie, she returned to England. Her first solo album on A&M records was Rich Man's Woman (1975).
Black Coffee
Elkie Brooks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I want is having you and music, music, music!
I'd do anything for you, anything you'd want me to
All I want is kissing you and music, music, music!
Closer, my dear come closer
The nicest part of any melody
Is when you're dancing close to me
Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon
In Elkie Brooks's song Black Coffee, the singer longs for the simple pleasures of life: love and music. Using the imagery of a nickelodeon, the singer expresses a desire for nostalgia and simplicity in a world that seems to grow more complicated by the day. The first line, "Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon," refers to an old fashioned jukebox where the listener would insert a nickel to hear a song. This sets the scene for a time in the past where things were more straightforward and uncomplicated.
The chorus then repeats the phrase "All I want is having you and music, music, music!" expressing a desire for the simplicity of just being with the person they love, accompanied by the soundtrack of music. The singer goes on to say "I'd do anything for you, anything you'd want me to" highlighting their devotion to their loved one. More than anything, they want to be close to them, expressing this in the line "Closer, my dear come closer". The singer then reveals that the nicest part of any melody is when they are dancing close to their loved one, following the rhythm of the music together.
Overall, Elkie Brooks's Black Coffee is a song about finding joy in the simple things in life. It's a nostalgic nod to the past, where music was a simple nickel away and love was all-consuming. It is a celebration of the power of music to bring people together and express the deepest desires of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon
I want to keep the music playing, let's keep the good times rolling.
All I want is having you and music, music, music!
Being with you and the sound of music is all I need to be happy.
I'd do anything for you, anything you'd want me to
I'm devoted to you and willing to go to great lengths to make you happy.
All I want is kissing you and music, music, music!
Kissing you while listening to music is my idea of a perfect moment.
Closer, my dear come closer
Let's get even closer to each other so we can share this special moment.
The nicest part of any melody
The best part of any song
Is when you're dancing close to me
Is when we're dancing and holding each other close
Put another nickel in, in the nickelodeon
Let's keep the music playing, it makes me feel alive.
All I want is loving you and music, music, music!
My love for you and the music that surrounds us is all I need to feel complete.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management
Written by: BERNIE BAUM, STEPHAN WEISS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind