As a teenager, Bass was attracted by more secular music. Throughout high school she began singing contemporary R&B songs at local contests and fairs. In 1961, Bass found steady work on the local Leon Claxton Show, playing piano and singing in the chorus. She also began playing piano on blues vocalist Little Milton's records. With the support of Bob Lyons, the manager of St. Louis station KATZ, Bass recorded several songs released through Bobbin Records. She saw no notable success outside her home town, however.
Two years later, she moved to Chicago after a dispute with Little Milton. She auditioned for Chess Records, who immediately signed her as a recording artist. Her first works with the label were several duets with blues singer Bobby McClure, also a newcomer to the label. Released early in 1965, "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" found immediate success, reaching the top five at R&B radio and peaking at #33 at pop. They followed their early success with "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" that summer, a song that had mild success, reaching the top 30 at R&B, but barely charting at pop.
After a brief tour, Bass returned to the studio. The result was an original composition with an aggressive bass and drum work by Maurice White, of the future Earth, Wind, & Fire. The song, "Rescue Me," shot up the charts in the fall and winter of 1965. After a month-long run at the top of the R&B charts, the song reached #4 at the pop charts.
She followed with "Recovery," which did moderately well, peaking at #13 at R&B and #37 at pop in early 1966. The same year brought two more R&B hits, "I Can't Rest" (backed with "I Surrender)" and "You'll Never Know." Her only album with Chess Records, The New Look, sold reasonably well, but Bass decided to leave the label after only two years, in 1967.
In 1970 Bass recorded two albums with the Art Ensemble of Chicago, The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass and Les Stances A Sophie. The latter was the soundtrack from the French movie of the same title. Bass' vocals, backed by the powerful, pulsating push of the band has allowed the Theme De YoYo to remain an underground cult classic ever since.
The next few years found Bass at a number of different labels, but saw no notable successes. After her second album, Free, flopped in 1972, Bass retired from music. She returned occasionally, being featured as a background vocalist on several recordings, including those of her husband, Lester Bowie, a jazz trumpeter and member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago. In the 1990s she hosted a short-lived Chicago radio talk show, and has released several gospel records on independent labels.
Like many outstanding artists of her time, Bass experienced a revival of interest. Her still-powerful tones can be heard on the 2002 Cinematic Orchestra album, 'Everyday'.
She has been inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. She is the older sister of R&B singer David Peaston, who was a former Showtime at the Apollo champion.
Fontella Bass, 72, died of heart-attack complications in her home town of St. Louis, Missouri, 26 December 2012. She is survived by four children.
Discography
Albums
* The New Look (1966, Chess) US: #93
* Les Stances A Sophie , with the Art Ensemble of Chicago (1970, Nessa Records)
* The Art Ensemble of Chicago with Fontella Bass, (Prestige Records, 1970)
* Free (1972, Paula)
* From The Root To The Source (1980)
* No Ways Tired (1995, Nonesuch)
* Now That I Found a Good Thing (1996, Jewel)
* Travelin (2001, Justin Time)
Singles
* "Don't Mess Up a Good Thing" (1965, Chess) R&B: #5 US: #33 with Bobby McClure
* "You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone)" (1965) R&B: #27 US: #91 with Bobby McClure
* "Rescue Me" (1965) R&B: #1 US: #4 UK: #11
* "Recovery" (1966) R&B: #13 US: #37 UK: #32
* "Safe and Sound" (1966) US: #100 (b-side of "Recovery")
* "I Can't Rest" (1966) R&B: #31
* "I Surrender" (1966) R&B: #33 US: #78 (b-side of "I Can't Rest")
* "You'll Never Know" (1966) R&B: #34
You'll Never Know
Fontella Bass Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with tears, streaming, down my face.
I can see you, with another,
the one, who has, taken my place.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
and held me, oh so close.
And you whispered, that you loved me,
oh you loved me, loved me so.
Now you're hurtin' me, oh you're hurting me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
Tomorrow will be, another day,
and I'll smile, and be, oh so gay.
And I'll try so hard to hide,
all the pain I feel inside.
But I, I, I still remember.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
And it hurts me, yeah, yeah it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
In Fontella Bass's soulful ballad "You'll Never Know," the singer stands in the shadows, tears streaming down her face, watching her former lover with someone new. She remembers the closeness they once shared and the declarations of love that passed between them. Now he is hurting her by moving on, although he will never know the depth of her pain. Despite her anguish, tomorrow is another day, and she will try her best to mask her feelings and move forward. However, she cannot forget the hurt and loss she has experienced.
The tone of the song is one of sadness and resignation, with a touch of bitterness. The singer acknowledges that her former lover is moving on, but she cannot help but feel the loss and hurt that come with the end of a relationship. She portrays a sense of helplessness, both in her inability to prevent her lover's departure and in her inability to fully express her emotions. The lyrics highlight the complexities of heartbreak and the difficulty of finding closure after a relationship has ended.
Line by Line Meaning
As I stand here, in the shadows,
I find myself standing in the dark corners where no one can see me.
with tears, streaming, down my face.
My eyes are overflowing with tears that won't stop falling.
I can see you, with another,
I can clearly see you being with someone else.
the one, who has, taken my place.
The person who has replaced me in your life.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
It pains me deeply.
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
You will never realize how much you hurt me.
I remember, how you kissed me,
I recall how you used to kiss me.
and held me, oh so close.
How you used to embrace me tightly.
And you whispered, that you loved me,
I still hear how gently you used to whisper your love for me.
oh you loved me, loved me so.
How much you used to love me.
Now you're hurtin' me, oh you're hurting me,
Now you are causing me pain.
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
But you will never acknowledge the hurt that you caused me.
Tomorrow will be, another day,
Tomorrow is a new day.
and I'll smile, and be, oh so gay.
I will try to put on a brave face and be happy.
And I'll try so hard to hide,
I will exert all my strength to conceal
all the pain I feel inside.
The agony that rages within me.
But I, I, I still remember.
But I cannot forget.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
It still causes me pain.
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
But you will never realize.
And it hurts me, yeah, yeah it hurts me,
It aches terribly.
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
But you will never comprehend.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@alejandrodiazcabrera4318
As I stand here, in the shadows,
with tears, streaming, down my face.
I can see you, with another,
the one, who has, taken my place.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
I remember, how you kissed me,
and held me, oh so close.
And you whispered, that you loved me,
oh you loved me, loved me so.
Now you're hurtin' me, oh you're hurting me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
Tomorrow will be, another day,
and I'll smile, and be, oh so gay.
And I'll try so hard to hide,
all the pain I feel inside.
But I, I, I still remember.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
And it hurts me, yeah, yeah it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
@user-jh4ii4qp1w
This lady could ABSOLUTELY SING!!!!💯👏🏾👏🏾
@trentrich11
Thank you .. Love finding great music! The beat breakdowns are amazing, her voice is amazing! Great song !
@b42baritone
I've had not heard this song in years. I love this song.
@dynamic881964
Gives me 'goosebumps' every time . . . LOVE IT !!!!!!
@xToxicTurtlex
WOW...I'd never heard that one before...FANTASTIC!!!
@swifty8538
Whoa bro I've been into northern soul since I was young and a scooterist but I've never heard this singer fantastic ty for playing this ktf
@Mimi2Y2BYAZPHIL
Two years,later and he
STILL will never ,ever know!!!!😣
@alejandrodiazcabrera4318
As I stand here, in the shadows,
with tears, streaming, down my face.
I can see you, with another,
the one, who has, taken my place.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
I remember, how you kissed me,
and held me, oh so close.
And you whispered, that you loved me,
oh you loved me, loved me so.
Now you're hurtin' me, oh you're hurting me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
Tomorrow will be, another day,
and I'll smile, and be, oh so gay.
And I'll try so hard to hide,
all the pain I feel inside.
But I, I, I still remember.
And it hurts me, oh it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
And it hurts me, yeah, yeah it hurts me,
but you'll never, no never, ever know.
@WLDFLD
great tracks, blocker!!
@goldenox2370
Damn i am starting to love her.