Born James Moore in Lobdell, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, he worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim and later accompanied his brother-in-law, Lightnin' Slim, both live and in the studio. Named Slim Harpo by producer J.D. "Jay" Miller, he started his own recording career in 1957. His solo debut was the Grammy Hall of Fame single "I'm a King Bee" backed with "I Got Love If You Want It."
Harpo recorded under A&R man J.D. "Jay" Miller, in Crowley, Louisiana for Excello Records based in Nashville, Tennessee, and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles, including Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961) and the number one Billboard R&B hit "Baby Scratch My Back" (1966). On these recordings he was accompanied by the regular stable of Excello musicians, including Lazy Lester.
British rock bands like The Rolling Stones, The Pretty Things, The Yardbirds, Pink Floyd and Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's 1966 hit "Shake Your Hips", which itself was derivative of Bo Diddley's "Bring It to Jerome," was used in the ZZ Top hit "La Grange" and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album Exile On Main Street. Also, Th' Legendary Shack Shakers covered and released "Shake Your Hips" in 2003 on their album Cockadoodledon't.
Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s.
He died following a heart attack at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana.
One More Day
Harpo Slim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One mo' day I been alone
One mo' day
One mo' day I been alone
Got a letter from my baby
Sayin' she's on her way back home
Why don't ya call me, baby
Why don't ya call me, baby
Sayin' you bringin' yo' clothes back home?
You know I'm crazy 'bout you, baby
But you been gone away too long
In the first verse of "One More Day" by Harpo Slim, the lyrics depict a sense of loneliness and longing. The repetition of "One mo' day" emphasizes the passage of time, highlighting how the singer has been alone for an extended period. The line "Got a letter from my baby/Sayin' she's on her way back home" brings a glimmer of hope, indicating that the singer's significant other is finally returning after being apart. This sets the stage for the emotional journey expressed in the rest of the song.
In the second verse, the singer questions why their partner hasn't reached out to them yet. The lyrics "Why don't ya call me, baby/Sayin' you bringin' yo' clothes back home?" reveal the singer's desire for communication and reconciliation. It suggests that the partner had left abruptly, possibly taking their belongings, but now has the opportunity to return. The plea for a call indicates the singer's eagerness to reconnect and the hope of their partner coming back with a willingness to reconcile.
The repetition of the phrase "You know I'm crazy 'bout you, baby" conveys the intense love and longing the singer still feels for their partner. Despite the partner's extended absence, the feelings haven't diminished. The line "But you been gone away too long" expresses frustration and sadness, indicating how long the separation has felt for the singer.
Overall, the lyrics of "One More Day" focus on the singer's longing for their partner's return and the underlying emotions of loneliness, hope, and love. It highlights the impact that being apart has had on the singer and their strong desire to reconnect and reconcile with their loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
One mo' day
Just one more day
One mo' day I been alone
I've been lonely for one more day
Got a letter from my baby
Received a letter from my lover
Sayin' she's on her way back home
Saying she's coming back to me
Why don't ya call me, baby
Why don't you give me a call, darling
Sayin' you bringin' yo' clothes back home?
Saying you're bringing your belongings back with you
You know I'm crazy 'bout you, baby
You know I'm deeply in love with you, darling
But you been gone away too long
But you have been gone for far too long
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: Jerry West
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind