Evelyn King was born on July 1, 1960, in New York, New York, and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is one of eight children. Her uncle Avon Long had played the part of Sportin' Life in the first Broadway revival of Porgy and Bess and worked with Lena Horne at the Cotton Club. Her father sang back-up for groups at Harlem's Apollo Theater. Her mother managed a group called Quality Red.
King was discovered as a young woman while working with her mother at Philadelphia International Records as an office cleaner. Producer Theodore T. Life overheard her singing in a washroom and began coaching her. She was eventually signed to a production deal with Life's Galaxy Productions and a recording contract with RCA Records.[5]
In 1990, King married smooth jazz guitarist Freddie Fox. In 1997, she lost three family members to various illnesses. In 1987 her daughter Johnniea was born with brain damage and other health problems, dying two years later.[6]
Career
Shame
Evelyn "Champagne" King Lyrics
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Burning, you keep my whole body yearning
You got me so confused
It's a shame
Sometimes I think I'm going insane
But still I wanna stay
Wrapped in your arms
Wrapped in your arms
That's my high, my high
Shame, ooh
My mother says you're playing a game
And what you do to me is a
Shame
Ooh, gonna love you just the same
Mama just don't understand
Wrapped in your arms
Is where I wanna be, wanna be
Wrapped in your arms
That's my high, my high
I can't get enough, ooh baby
Enough of that magic touch
Love is in my heart
Tearing the rules apart
So, why should I be ashamed
Only love can be to blame
If we lose our love it's a
Shame
Ooh, I wouldn't want to live with the pain
Gonna stay forever
Wrapped in your arms
Is where I wanna be, wanna be
Wrapped in your arms
That's my high, my high
Shame
Ooh, only love can be to blame
If we lose our love it's a
Shame
Ooh, I wouldn't wanna live with the pain
Shame
Ain't no reason for me to need to wait
Ooh, ooh it's a shame
In this song, Evelyn "Champagne" King depicts a love that leaves her yearning, confused and a little insane. She admits she is addicted to her lover but her mother has warned her that he is playing a game. Despite this, she chooses to love him just the same. She finds solace in her lover's arms, and being with him is her high. In her world, only love should be blamed if they lose their relationship. She wouldn't want to live with the pain of losing him, and she wants to stay with him forever.
Throughout the song, Evelyn expresses her vulnerability and helplessness in the face of love, and how she cannot resist it even if it means going against her better judgment. She acknowledges the risks involved in this game of love but still chooses to put her heart on the line. The song hints that her lover is not trustworthy, and that her mother can see that, but she cannot.
Line by Line Meaning
Burning, you keep my whole body yearning
Your touch makes me feel so passionately that I can't resist wanting more.
You got me so confused
Your actions and words send mixed signals, making it hard for me to understand where we stand.
It's a shame
It's unfortunate that I'm in this situation of feeling torn between my desire for you and the need for clarity.
Sometimes I think I'm going insane
My conflicting feelings and the lack of clarity about our situation are driving me crazy emotionally.
But still I wanna stay
Despite the confusion and turmoil, I can't help but want to be with you and experience that passion.
Wrapped in your arms
Being physically close to you is where I feel the most comfort and security.
That's my high, my high
That's the feeling that I most desire and seek out when I'm with you, the rush of dopamine and feel good hormones.
My mother says you're playing a game
My mother suspects that you're not being genuine and that you're playing with my feelings for your own enjoyment.
And what you do to me is a
She believes that your actions are manipulative and potentially hurtful.
Shame
It's disappointing that you might not truly care about me and are just using me for your own pleasure.
Ooh, gonna love you just the same
Despite my mother's warnings, I can't help but continue to love and desire you.
Mama just don't understand
My mother's perspective might not fully capture the complexity of my feelings and situation.
I can't get enough, ooh baby
I'm addicted to the intense feelings that being with you brings me and can't get enough of it.
Love is in my heart
I truly care about you and have strong romantic feelings for you.
Tearing the rules apart
My feelings for you are making me go against societal norms and expectations.
So, why should I be ashamed
Despite the potential judgment and risks that come with our relationship, I shouldn't feel guilty or embarrassed about my emotions and choices.
Only love can be to blame
The intense emotions and passion that we feel for each other are responsible for our actions and decisions.
If we lose our love it's a
If our relationship doesn't work out, it will be a significant loss and disappointment.
Ooh, I wouldn't want to live with the pain
The thought of losing you and the pain that would come with it is unbearable.
Ain't no reason for me to need to wait
I don't want to delay or wait to be with you, I want to fully embrace my feelings and be with you completely.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN H. FITCH, JOHN H. FITCH JR., REUBEN CROSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind