Crawford was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He began formal piano studies at age nine and was soon playing for his church choir. His father had brought an alto saxophone home from the service and when Hank entered Manassas High School, he took it up in order to join the band. He credits Charlie Parker, Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges as early influences.
Crawford appears on an early 1952 Memphis recording for B.B. King with a band including Ben Branch and Ike Turner.
In 1958 Crawford went to college at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. While at TSU, he majored in music studying theory and composition, as well as playing alto and baritone saxophone in the Tennessee State Jazz Collegians. He also led his own rock 'n' roll quartet, "Little Hank and the Rhythm Kings". His bandmates all thought he looked and sounded just like Hank O'Day, a legendary local saxophonist, which earned him the nickname "Hank". This is when Crawford met Ray Charles, who hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles' band—becoming its musical director until 1963.
When Crawford left Ray Charles in 1963 to form his own septet, he had already established himself with several albums for Atlantic Records. From 1960 until 1970, he recorded twelve LPs for the label, many while balancing his earlier duties as Ray’s director. He released such pre-crossover hits as “Misty”, “The Peeper”, “Skunky Green”, and “Whispering Grass”.
He also has done musical arrangement for Etta James, Lou Rawls, and others. Much of his career has been in R&B, but in the 1970s he had several successful jazz albums with I Hear a Symphony reaching 11 on Billboard's Jazz albums list and 159 for Pop albums.
David Sanborn cites Crawford as being one of his primary influences. Crawford is recognized by saxophonists as having a particularly unique and pleasing sound. In 1981, he featured, with fellow horn players Ronnie Cuber and David Newman, on B. B. King's There Must Be a Better World Somewhere.
In 1983 he moved to Milestone Records as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands including guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John. In 1986, Crawford began working with blues-jazz organ master Jimmy McGriff. They recorded four co-leader dates for Milestone Records: Soul Survivors, Steppin’ Up, On the Blue Side, and Road Tested, and toured together extensively.
The new century found Crawford, shifting gears and going for a more mainstream jazz set in his 2000 release The World of Hank Crawford. Though the songs are compositions from jazz masters such as Duke Ellington and Tadd Dameron, he delivers in that sanctified church sound that is his trademark. Followed by The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff (2001), and Back (2007).
Ain't No Way
Hank Crawford Lyrics
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If you won't let me, no
I know that a woman's duty is to help and love a man
And that's the way it was planned
Oh, ain't no way (ain't no way)
It ain't no way (ain't no way)
Just ain't no way, baby (ain't no way)
It ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me
You know what I said to him?
I said, stop trying to be someone you're not
And if you need me to love you, say, say you do
Oh, then baby, baby, baby don't you know that
I, whoa, whoa, I
It ain't no way
I'll tell you that it ain't no way,
It ain't no way
It ain't no way, baby, no
It just ain't no way (ain't no way)
It sure ain't no way (ain't no way)
It ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me
The crux of Hank Crawford's Lady Soul rests on the idea that when it comes to love, it's give and take. The first verse asserts that there is no way for the singer to love their partner if the partner will not let them. The second verse adds that while it may be a woman's duty to aid and love her partner, it must be reciprocal. Without that mutual love and support, it is impossible for a harmonious relationship to exist. These lyrics are delivered with a soulful tone and backed by Crawford's smooth saxophone playing.
The chorus, "Ain't no way," emphasizes the frustration in the lyrics, highlighting the fact that without this mutual love, there can be no relationship. The singer makes it clear that their partner must accept and embrace their true self, rather than trying to be someone they are not. The song ends with a final emphatic statement that if their partner does not allow them to love, there is simply no way.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no way for me to love you,
I cannot love you if you won't let me.
If you won't let me, no
It's impossible for me to love you if you don't allow it.
I know that a woman's duty is to help and love a man
I understand that it's a woman's responsibility to support and care for a man.
And that's the way it was planned
This is the way society has traditionally dictated gender roles.
Oh, ain't no way (ain't no way)
There's absolutely no way.
It ain't no way (ain't no way)
It's just not possible.
Just ain't no way, baby (ain't no way)
Absolutely no chance.
Ain't no way baby (ain't no way)
Sorry to say, but it's impossible.
It ain't no way for me to love you
I cannot love you under these conditions.
You know what I said to him?
Do you know what I told him?
I said, stop trying to be someone you're not
I advised him to stop pretending to be someone he's not.
And if you need me to love you, say, say you do
If you want my love, you need to express your feelings and tell me honestly.
Oh, then baby, baby, baby don't you know that
You need to understand that if you do express yourself, I'll love you.
I, whoa, whoa, I
Me, myself.
I'll tell you that it ain't no way,
I can firmly say that there's no way.
It ain't no way
It's impossible.
It ain't no way, baby, no
It's not happening, sorry.
It just ain't no way (ain't no way)
There's absolutely no chance.
It sure ain't no way (ain't no way)
Trust me, it's not possible.
It ain't no way for me to love you
Under these circumstances, I cannot love you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., SPRINGTIME MUSIC INC
Written by: Carolyn Franklin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind