After winning a nationwide talent contest at the age of four and starring in the motion picture Valley of the Sun Marches On, he continued his acting career on TV in the Amos 'n Andy Shows, the Jack Benny Show, and others, making his first solo recording as Pee Wee Barnum in 1950.[1][2]
He then joined doo-wop groups The Dootones and, in 1956, The Robins (later The Coasters), for whom he played piano. In 1960, under the pseudonym "Dudley" he recorded the radio hit "El Pizza," a parody of Marty Robbins' "El Paso." In 1961 he had the only hit under his own name, the instrumental "Lost Love", and in the same year recorded the first version of "Nut Rocker", credited to Jack B. Nimble and the Quicks. He also recorded three albums as a singer-pianist during the 1960s.[1][2]
Since that time he has become most widely known as an arranger, for a very wide range of performers including Count Basie, O.C. Smith, Frank Sinatra, The Supremes, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard, Gladys Knight, Al Wilson, and the Pump Girls.[1][2] Barnum also produced, along with Johnnie Walls of JWP Productions which distributed the record, the 1985 hip-hop comedy song "Rappin' Duke." He produced "The Fish Song" by The New Creation.
H.B. Barnum had an album recorded by the Novells, a Los Angeles area band, titled, That Did It! in 1968. The album which never was properly promoted surprisingly re-emerged as an import some 40-years later when it was released in the United Kingdom in July of 2005 and again in December of 2007 by Radioactive Records.[citation needed]
H. B. Barnum is the older brother of backup singer Billie Barnum.
References
^ a b c Biography by Jason Ankent at Allmusic.org
^ a b c Biographical note at SoulWalking.com
Tell Me You Love Me
H.B. Barnum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I think I want her
But I've just lost her
They saying that time heals
So maybe I've got her
This is love is torture
My friends said I warned you
But I think I need it
I think I am missing you I'm needing you I'm fiending you
All alone in this bed for two, this house for two, this meal for two
You left I am wanting you, I'm needing you, I'm grieving you
You know that I'm wanting you cas baby girl I dream of you
If you love me baby
You can show me maybe
If you know me baby
You know you drive me crazy
Your driving me insane
Just took two tabs of ecstasy and it's gone straight to the brain
I just wanted you right next to me but you just left me with pain
I think you just wanna fuck me cas
How you saying you love me
But you don't even trust me
But baby I don't trust myself
Cas lately I've been feeling how I've always felt
Always felt
You know that I don't love myself
But you don't understand all of the pain I've dealt
Pain I've dealt(with)
If you love me baby (don't tell me that you love me baby)
You can show me maybe (cas I don't wanna go crazy)
If you know me baby (baby i've been thinking lately)
You know you drive me crazy (that me and you would look good together)
Don't say you love me baby
Cas I don't need you lately
If you know me baby
You know you drive me crazy
I don't think I want her
I don't think I need her
And I've just lost her
They saying that time heals but babe it's not gonna
This is love was a torture
My friends said I warned you
But I don't need it
I know I won't mourn her
I don't think I want it no more
Cas the day you left me so sore
Don't tell me
Please don't tell me that you love me
I don't think I want it no more
Cas the day you left me so sore
I still think I need you baby
Please don't tell me that you love me
The lyrics to H.B. Barnum's Tell Me You Love Me are a call to action for someone to say exactly what they want. The repetition of the line "Tell me what the fuck you want" emphasizes just how important it is for honest communication, especially when everything else in the world feels uncertain or out of control. The singer expresses frustration with someone who talks a lot without saying anything of substance ("You run yo' lip, talk yo' shit"), and questions why people complain when they already have so much ("Why complain when the world is yours?").
The song also touches on the theme of growing older and losing the innocence and idealism of youth ("Mourning our youth, innocence we once knew, been too long gotta let go of this"). The world may be "getting screwed up," but the singer seems to be looking for a way to move past that and find some kind of peace or understanding. By asking someone to be honest about what they want, they may be able to regain some of that sense of control and confidence.
Overall, the lyrics encourage open and direct communication, and express a desire to let go of what cannot be controlled and focus on what can be.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me what the fuck you want
I need you to communicate your desires clearly and honestly
'cause it's starting to feel like too much
I am feeling overwhelmed by uncertainty and confusion
'cause the world is feeling screwed up
The current state of the world is causing distress and discomfort
You run yo' lip
You talk incessantly without considering the impact of your words
Talk yo' shit
You speak offensively and without regard for others
Every goddamn morning
You persist in this behavior daily
You a trip
Your behavior is erratic and difficult to predict
Take a trip
You often escape from your problems rather than facing them
They don't call in the morning
The people in your life are avoiding or distancing themselves from you
Why complain?
There is no point in focusing on negativity and powerlessness
When the world is yours?
There is endless potential for positivity and growth in the world
Lotta things
There are many factors outside of our control
Out of our control
We cannot always influence or dictate the course of events
I don't know
I am unsure of how to move forward
Mourning our youth
We are lamenting the loss of our early innocence and simplicity
Innocence we once knew
We remember a time when things were less complicated and more straightforward
Been too long
It has been too much time since we last felt truly free and happy
Gotta let go
We must release our fears and doubts in order to move forward
Of this, yeah
We need to let go of the negativity and focus on positivity and growth
Yeah, tell me what the fuck you want
Once again, please communicate honestly and openly with me
'cause it's starting to feel like too much
I cannot cope with the uncertainty and confusion anymore
Tell me what the fuck you want
I need to know what you want and need in order to find a way forward
'cause the world is getting screwed up
The current state of the world is causing significant distress and discomfort
Yeah, tell me what the fuck you want
Please be honest and open with me
Yeah
Okay, let's work through this together
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Josh Barnes, Leon Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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