Benson's next recording was It's Uptown with the George Benson Quartet with Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax. This album showcases Benson's talent in constructing swinging bebop lines at blistering tempos. Benson followed it up with "The George Benson Cookbook," also with Lonnie Smith and Ronnie Cuber.
One of his major hits is the song "This Masquerade", which is included in the top-selling album Breezin' . This album represents a shift to more commercially oriented music which brought Benson a wider audience but alienated some jazz fans. Other singles that have made the Billboard Hot 100 charts include "On Broadway" (1978), "Love Ballad" (1979), "Give Me The Night" (1980) and "Turn Your Love Around" (1982).
Benson continues to play outstanding jazz guitar, as evidenced on recordings such as Jimmy Smith's Off the Top, Benson's own live album Par Excellence, and Tenderly, on which Benson is accompanied by McCoy Tyner on piano.
For his contribution to the recording industry, George Benson has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7055 Hollywood Blvd.
Oh! Darling
George Benson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll never do you no harm
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm
Oh! Darling, if you leave me
I'll never make it alone
Believe me when I beg you
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
You know I nearly broke down and cried
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
I nearly broke down and died
Oh! Darling, if you leave me
I'll never make it alone
Believe me when I tell you
I'll never do you no harm
I'll never do you no harm
The lyrics of George Benson's "Oh! Darling" describe a plea to a romantic partner. The singer is asking their partner to trust them and to believe that they will never hurt them. The singer is also expressing their dependency on their partner, stating they will not be able to make it alone if the partner leaves. The chorus repeats the message that the singer will not harm their partner and seeks to reassure them of this.
The second verse reveals that the partner has expressed a desire to leave the singer, causing great emotional distress. The lines "When you told me you didn't need me anymore / You know I nearly broke down and cried" capture the singer's heartbreak and vulnerability. The repetition of the line "I'll never make it alone" further emphasizes the singer's need for their partner. Overall, the lyrics of "Oh! Darling" are a heartfelt affirmation of love and commitment, as well as a plea for understanding and forgiveness.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh! Darling, please believe me
My love, trust me when I say that I am sincere
I'll never do you no harm
I promise that I will never hurt you
Believe me when I tell you
Have faith in me when I say
Oh! Darling, if you leave me
My dear, if you go away from me
I'll never make it alone
I won't be able to survive on my own
Believe me when I beg you
Please trust me when I plead with you
Don't ever leave me alone
Please never abandon me
When you told me you didn't need me anymore
When you said that you no longer wanted me
You know I nearly broke down and cried
I almost broke down emotionally and wept
I nearly broke down and died
I was so hurt that it felt like it would end me
I'll never do you no harm
I will always take care not to hurt you
Contributed by Madelyn T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.