James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles, California, on 25th January 1938, to an unmarried fourteen-year-old mother, Dorothy Hawkins. According to Etta, her mother claimed that her father was the white Rudolph "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, and that they received financial support from him on the condition that they keep his paternity a secret. This seems unlikely, though it has not been definitively disproved. Etta was born in Los Angeles in 1938. At the time, Wanderone was known to be managing a pool hall in Washington, D.C. and had not yet become known to be the cross-country traveller he later became.
She received her first professional vocal training at five years old from James Earle Hines, musical director of the Echoes of Eden choir at St Paul Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Her family moved to San Francisco in 1950, and she teamed up with two other girls to form a doo-wop singing group. When the girls were fourteen, band leader Johnny Otis had them audition. They sang an answer to Hank Ballard's "Work with Me, Annie" called "Roll Wwth Me Henry". Otis particularly liked the song, and against her mother's wishes, James and the trio went to Los Angeles to record the song in 1954. The song was recorded on the label Modern Records. By this time, the trio renamed the song "The Wallflower (Dance with Me, Henry)" and released it in 1955. James named her vocal group The Peaches. Richard Berry, a Los Angeles doo-wop luminary, is featured on some of their records.
"The Wallflower" reached number two on the rhythm and blues charts in February 1955, but was undercut in the wider market by a rushed-out cover version by Georgia Gibbs on Mercury Records; in fact, the very first time Gibbs was recorded in studio, they used the first take recorded and it became number one on the top 100 songs nationally. The song's royalties were divided between Hank Ballard, Etta James, and Johnny Otis, and its huge success attracted the attention of the R&B world, resulting in James going on tour with Little Richard. On the tour, though, according to James, she witnessed and experienced situations to which minors are not usually privy, and she allegedly acquired a drug habit.
Soon after the success of "Wallflower", The Peaches and James parted company, but this did not halt her career. Shecontinued to record and release albums throughout much of the decade, and enjoyed more success. Her follow-up, "Good Rockin' Daddy", became another fifties hit. Other songs however, such as "Tough Lover" and "W-O-M-A-N" failed to gain any significant success. James toured with Johnny "Guitar" Watson and Otis Redding in the fifties, and has cited Watson as the most significant influence on her style..
In 1960, James signed a recording contract with Chess Records. She went on to have the biggest success of her career from this label, recording her biggest and most memorable hits. Chess went into high gear with James, releasing many duets with her then boyfriend, the married Harvey Fuqua, who was the lead singer of the Moonglows. One of her duets with Fuqua, "If I Can't Have You", became a hit on the R&B charts in 1960. As a solo artist however, she had more enduring success. One of her first singles released by Chess in 1960 was called "All I Could Do Was Cry"; this blues number became a big hit on the R&B charts in 1960. Leonard Chess, one of the founders of Chess Records, helped James along the way. He saw the potential for her to go in a more pop-oriented direction, and she started recording more pop tunes for the label.
The year 1961 became a year of great change for James. In 1961 came the release of one of her first pop-oriented tunes called "At Last". The song became a big hit in 1961, reaching number two on the R&B charts. The song even went as far as twenty-two on the pop charts that year. It became her signature song. Other songs, such as "Trust in Me", also became hits, and the 1962 tune "Something's Got a Hold On Me" showed more of James' gospel side, a genre she had sung since childhood.
She had other big hits in the 1960s, but mainly on the R&B charts: the song "Pushover" in 1963 and "Stop the Wedding", "Fool That I Am", and "Don't Cry Baby", were hits for her between 1961 and 1963. Her 1963 album Etta James Rocks the House, recorded at Nashville's "New Era" club, also gave her career a boost. James then became one of the most successful R&B artists of the 1960s, having many more top ten and top twenty hit singles. Performing in Memphis, Tennessee helped make her into a blues icon.
In 1967, James released her next hit single, "Tell Mama", and it became a top ten hit on the R&B charts. After a dry period of no hits for almost four years, the song once more made James a household name. The follow-up, "Security", was also a success, and proved that James had staying power on the charts again. Whilst less success came for James after this hit, she was still on the charts regularly and, despite the death of Leonard Chess, stayed with the Chess label into 1975. Towards the end of the Chess years though, she went into more rock-based songs. She recorded for many other labels, and continued to release albums, such as 1978's Deep In the Night on Atlantic Records.
Despite a dry period during the early to mid 1980s, James got back on track and began to record music again. She received accolades for her 1981 rendition of Randy Newman's "God's Song". Her 1988 album Seven Year Itch proved this comeback capability; the album showed more of her soul side. In 1989, she recorded the song "Avenue D" with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics. The song was featured on the soundtrack to the Robert Wise film Rooftops. She also performed with the Grateful Dead for two shows in 1982. In the 1990s she continued to record and perform. Her albums widely varied in styles and genres. Her 1992 album, The Right Time, was another soul album that was released by Elektra Records. She also began to record more jazz, which became the style for many of her 1990s albums.
Drug-related and romantic problems interfered with her career, but James managed to maintain a career throughout the latter half of the twentieth century. Later in life, she struggled with obesity, experiencing mobility and knee problems. In 2003, she underwent gastric bypass surgery.
In 2011, a vocal sample from Etta's "Something's Got a Hold on Me" was used in "Levels" by Avicii. "Levels" became a monster EDM hit, making Etta's "sometimes I get a good feeling" one of the most recognizable samples in 21st century music.
She died on 20th January 2012.
There's Something On Your Mind
Etta James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the way you look at me
There is something on your mind, baby
By the way you look at me
And what you're thinking brings happiness
Oh, and it bring misery
Please, please, don't try to tell me
No, no, don't try to tell me, baby
'Cause I think, I, I understand
You want me to try and forget you
Well, I'll do, baby, I'll do the best I can
You know it hurts you when you're in love with someone
And you know that someone don't love you
It carries a heavy burden on your heart to know
That the someone that you're in love with
Is in love with your best friend
And I'll tell you, when someone else is rocking you
Rocking your cradle, you know, better
Than you can rock your cradle yourself
Then there's only one thing for you to do
You just pack your clothes turn around
And slowly walk out of the door
Look over your left shoulder as you go out
Then you hang your head and you say
Oh please don't try to tell me
Uh huh, I think, I understand
No, no, no, no please don't try to tell me
Because you think, you think I understand
Oh you want me to try, to try to forget you, baby
And I'll tell you, I'll do the best I can
You know after you have done all you could do
And you can't take no more, then you go downtown
You get your big baseball bat
And you come back on the scene
Where they both are still together
And then you just go and kick down the door
Now as you kick down the door you just start
Beating the hell of everybody that you can see
Everybody that comes through the door
And just as you make up your mind that you're gonna try
To forgive her, then out comes another one of your friends
And that really blows your mind so you go and think about
You say to yourself, baby I realize I've done wrong
But please forgive me and with a smirky smile on her face
Then she look up at you and she say
If you ever think about me
(Oh I think about you, baby)
If you ever change your mind
(Oh you're staying on my mind, baby)
If you ever think about me
(Oh I think, I think about you all the time)
And if I ever cross your mind
(You stay on my mind)
Well, you know, you know
You know I'm yours
And I know, I know you got to be mine
(Yeah)
There's something on your mind, be
I can tell by the way you look at me
(Oh, there's something, on my mind, baby)
There is something on your mind
(Oh can you tell, there's something on my mind)
By the way you look at me
(Oh the way I look at you, you look good to me)
And what you're thinking brings happiness
(Yes, baby)
Oh and it can bring misery
(Yes, all right)
The lyrics to Etta James’s “There’s Something on Your Mind” tell the story of a man who is struggling with his emotions and contemplating leaving his woman for another person. The way he looks at the singer reveals that something is bothering him, and she understands that he’s thinking about someone else. She tries to convince him not to tell her about it because she already knows what’s going on. Even though she’ll try to forget him, it’s clear that she’s still holding onto him and the happiness he brings her.
The man is torn between his love for the singer and his attraction to someone else. He knows that his feelings are causing her pain, but he can’t help how he feels. The lyrics describe the weight that comes with loving someone who doesn’t love you back, especially when that person is in love with your best friend. The singer suggests that the man should leave and never come back, but she still wants him to think about her and come back if he ever changes his mind. Even though they are both hurting, they can’t seem to let go of what they once had.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something on your mind
You have something troubling you
By the way you look at me
Your expression indicates that something is bothering you
And what you're thinking brings happiness
Your thoughts have the power to make you happy
Oh, and it bring misery
But they can also make you feel miserable
Please, please, don't try to tell me
Don't bother trying to explain
I think, I, I understand
I already know what you're thinking
You want me to try and forget you
You want me to move on
Well, I'll do, baby, I'll do the best I can
I'll try to forget you, but it won't be easy
You know it hurts you when you're in love with someone
Being in love can be painful
And you know that someone don't love you
Especially when the person you love doesn't love you back
It carries a heavy burden on your heart to know
This knowledge weighs heavily on your heart
That the someone that you're in love with
The person you are in love with
Is in love with your best friend
Is in love with someone who is close to you
And I'll tell you, when someone else is rocking you
When someone else is making you feel good
Rocking your cradle, you know, better
Taking care of you better than you can care for yourself
Than you can rock your cradle yourself
It can make you feel inadequate
Then there's only one thing for you to do
You have to take action
You just pack your clothes turn around
You leave and never look back
And slowly walk out of the door
You leave methodically, with purpose
Look over your left shoulder as you go out
You take one last glance before you leave
Then you hang your head and you say
And you express your sadness
Oh please don't try to tell me
Don't try to explain, I understand
Uh huh, I think, I understand
I already know what you're going to say
Oh you want me to try, to try to forget you, baby
You want me to move on and forget about you
And you can't take no more, then you go downtown
When you've had enough, you take action
You get your big baseball bat
You prepare to do something drastic
And you come back on the scene
You return to confront the situation
Where they both are still together
Where the person you love and your best friend are still together
And then you just go and kick down the door
You take aggressive action
Now as you kick down the door you just start
You lose control
Beating the hell of everybody that you can see
You lash out at anyone in your path
Everybody that comes through the door
You attack anyone who comes near you
And just as you make up your mind that you're gonna try
When you decide to try to forgive
To forgive her, then out comes another one of your friends
Another friend betrays you
And that really blows your mind so you go and think about
This is overwhelming and you need time to process
You say to yourself, baby I realize I've done wrong
You realize you've made mistakes
But please forgive me and with a smirky smile on her face
You apologize even though you were wronged
Then she look up at you and she say
She responds with an insincere expression
If you ever think about me
If you ever remember me
(Oh I think about you, baby)
You say you always think about them
If you ever change your mind
If you ever have a change of heart
(Oh you're staying on my mind, baby)
You admit that you are also lingering on their mind
And if I ever cross your mind
If I ever come to your thoughts
(Oh I think, I think about you all the time)
You confess that you think about them all the time
Well, you know, you know
You both know
You know I'm yours
That you belong to each other
And I know, I know you got to be mine
That you both feel a deep connection
(Yeah)
There's something on your mind, be
You have something troubling you
I can tell by the way you look at me
Your expression indicates that something is bothering you
(Oh, there's something, on my mind, baby)
You confess that there is something on your mind
There is something on your mind
You are preoccupied with something
(Oh can you tell, there's something on my mind)
You ask if your partner can tell what is bothering you
By the way you look at me
Your partner's expression indicates that they sense your concern
(Oh the way I look at you, you look good to me)
Despite your worries, you find comfort in your partner's appearance
Oh and it can bring misery
Your thoughts have the power to make you feel miserable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Cecil James McNeely
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@willfrednow
Playing blues for 62 years and this is one that gives it all. Loved the few flat-out Big Momma and Big Daddy shows where I let my blues harp and shared vocals spark the souls of everyone there. Best ever a guy stopped me in the parking lot after the show and said "You ain't got but one problem, my friend: you trapped in the body of a white man, that's your problem." Thanks BB and Etta--have mercy, thank you so very, very much.
@thomas313100
💯
@kettymartire7660
Dio mio che meraviglia e che duetto ❤❤❤❤💯💯💯💯
@MrMydino123
Beautiful
@kylerudisill4044
This is the coolist song I have heard. What a beautiful combination.
@anababy532
I soooooo agree!
@pedrocorrea5563
MY GOD THAT WONDER THAT DOUBLES MY GOD WOW
@jimshelley8831
Amazing, Wonderful and fantastic, listening to this in the gym at home in Bangkok.Listening to it right now in the gym and still fabulous.
@ChrisM-ne4bc
I fell in love with this music when I was 13 years old digging around Antique stores for old records. I wish kids today would understand the pure talent and expression that goes into this music. Over the over sexualized rap and Inappropriate lyrics have a listen to today
@MrPoodleguy
I’m 86 & a white boy. I started listening to the blues stations in St Louis, 20 miles from my home in Alton, Illinois. AM radio - there was no FM or TV then & the local radio played Bing Crosby, Tenneshoe Ernie & Perry Comosayama. It wasn’t for this boy. Been a blues fan ever since. Saw BB. 4 times - twice in Phx, once in St Louis & once in Coeur d’Alene Idaho.