Born in Pensacola, Florida, McCrae grew up singing in her pentecostal church and later discovered secular singers like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. She began performing in local clubs as a teenager, and singing with local groups like the Lafayettes and the Independents. In 1963, she met a young sailor named George McCrae, whom she married within a week.
From 1963 onward, she recorded as a duo with her husband George, and was first to receive a solo contract, with Henry Stone's TK Records. She found success on the R&B charts with "Lead Me On" in 1970, followed by "For Your Love".
George & Gwen were discovered in 1967 by singer Betty Wright, who helped get them signed to Henry Stone's Alston label. Their debut single, "Three Hearts in a Tangle," was released in 1969; the follow-up, "Like Yesterday Our Love Is Gone," marked the first time they worked with the writing team of Clarence Reid (who would later morph into the bawdy comic Blowfly) and Willie Clarke. Both were regional hits, as was third single, "No One Left to Come Home," although none of those records broke nationally; meanwhile, the McCraes and Wright were collectively earning a reputation as stellar session vocalists.
Following husband George’s unexpected solo success with "Rock Your Baby", Gwen went on to have a major hit of her own in 1975 with "Rockin' Chair", a #1 R&B hit which also reached the US Top 10. The follow-up album, Love Insurance, also made the R&B charts. By this time, the separate successes were taking their toll on the McCraes' marriage. Gwen has since alleged that her husband beat her frequently.
After Gwen and George divorced and TK Records collapsed, Gwen moved to New Jersey, and signed with Atlantic Records, having another hit with "Funky Sensation" in 1981. She continued to record, and the success of some of her earlier recordings on the UK’s Northern Soul scene maintained her popularity as a live act in Europe. In 2004, she released her first gospel album.
Lead Me On
Gwen McCrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What it is to be a stranger in this unfriendly land
Here's my hand, here's my hand
Take it darling and I'll follow you
Let me walk, I want to walk right by your side
Let your love be my only guide
Here's my hand, here's my wand
Lead me on, lead me on
I know I'm a stranger and so all alone
Here's my hand, here's my wand
Why don't you take it darling and just lead me on?
And I'll follow you
The lyrics to Gwen McCrae's song Lead Me On express the feeling of being lost and alone in an unfriendly world, and the desire to find someone to guide and support you. The singer acknowledges that the person she is addressing understands these feelings, and she reaches out to them with her hand, asking them to take it and lead her on.
The singer wants to walk by the side of this person, with their love as her only guide. She feels vulnerable and uncertain, but trusts that this person can lead her to a better place. She repeats the refrain, "lead me on," emphasizing her need for guidance and support.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of trust and vulnerability, as well as a longing for connection and companionship. The singer is willing to put herself in someone else's hands, hoping that they will help her find her way.
Line by Line Meaning
You know how it feels, you understand
You are familiar with the emotions I'm going through
What it is to be a stranger in this unfriendly land
How it feels being an outsider in an unpleasant environment
Here's my hand, here's my hand
I'm offering my hand for us to hold on to each other
Take it darling and I'll follow you
If you accept, I'll let you lead the way, my love
Let me walk, I want to walk right by your side
I want to be close to you and go wherever you go
Let your love be my only guide
I want your love to be the compass pointing the direction for us
Here's my hand, here's my wand
I'm still willing to offer you my hand and make magic happen
Why don't you take it darling and just lead me on?
Please accept my invitation to guide me, my love
Lead me on, lead me on
Please take the lead and show me the way
I know I'm a stranger and so all alone
I'm feeling like an alien, and I am all by myself
Here's my hand, here's my wand
But still, I'm offering my hand and my magic wand, if you're willing
Why don't you take it darling and just lead me on?
If you could just help me find my way, my love, I'll follow you anywhere
And I'll follow you
I'll be your loyal partner, following you till the end of the world, my love
Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.