Hepcat are a third wave ska band formed in southern California in 1989.
… Read Full Bio ↴Hepcat are a third wave ska band formed in southern California in 1989.

Their soulful harmonies and mellow rhythms were unlike those of contemporaries and more akin to musicians from the heyday of 1960s Jamaican ska, also referred to as the first wave.

Hepcat's debut album, "Out of Nowhere" was released in 1994 on New York-based ska label Moon Records. Two years later, they followed it up with "Scientific" on BYO Records. In 1998, after signing with Epitaph Records subsidiary HellCat Records, they released "Right on Time," scoring a modest hit with the swinging "No Worries" and scored a spot on the Vans Warped Tour. 2000 saw the release of "Push n' Shove," their first album without founding members Raul Talavera and Alex Désert, although the latter appears as a guest vocalist on two tracks.

The band went on indefinite hiatus after 2000, and no new material has surfaced since. Trumpeter Kincaid Smith formed Soul Traffic, a five-piece funk band. Drummer Scott Abels has played with the Rancid side project Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards and the southern California reggae act The Aggrolites. Vocalist Alex Desert has had a successful career in film and television, appearing in the movies PCU, Swingers, and High Fidelity; and the television show Becker.

In early 2004, a remastered version of Out of Nowhere was released with two additional bonus tracks, an early version of "Nigel" and "Club Meditation," both of which appeared on their first single. Occasionally, Hepcat reconvenes to play a few shows a year in the California area. Often, this lineup is that which performed on "Scientific."

They take their name from a term for a 1940s-50s jazz musician.

Lovin' Man
Hepcat Lyrics

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From the Day I was boooorn, (ooo, ooo)
I was born to be your lovin' man, (lovin' ma-an)
And to all that I love, (ooo, ooo)
I was born to be the best I can (the best I can).

I will say to you,
Words of devo-tion,
And the truth flows free in my eyes.

Only love can softly deliver,
That feelin' that you feel inside,
I was born to love you, (I was born to love you)
I was born to love you, (i was born to love you)

If you do me wrong, (ooo, ooo)
I will still be your lovin' man, (lovin' man)
'Cause its in my nature (ooo, ooo)
To give you all the love I can, (the love I can)
I hear your love strengthened by virtue,
Unconditional, free as a bird.

Only love can softly deliver,
What I try to give, with these few words,
I was born to love (I was born to love you)
I was born to love you (I was born to love you)

[saxophone solo to horn solo]

From the Day I was boooorn, (ooo, ooo)
I was born to be your lovin' man, (lovin' ma-an)
And to all that I love (oo oo)
I would fight to be the best I can (the best I can).

I will say to you,
Words of devo-tion,
And the love flows free in my eyes.

Only love can softly deliver
That feeling we feel inside
I was born to love (I was born to love you)
I was born to love you (I was born to love you)

Overall Meaning

The song Lovin' Man by Hepcat is a beautiful love ballad about being born to love someone unconditionally. The opening lines, "From the day I was born, I was born to be your lovin' man, and to all that I love I was born to be the best I can" set the tone for the entire song. The singer professes his love and devotion to his partner, claiming that he was born to love them with all he has. He promises to always love them, even if they do him wrong because it's in his nature to give all the love he can.

As the song progresses, the singer talks about how only love can deliver the feeling that they both share, and how he was born to love that person. The saxophone solo to the horn solo gives the song an instrumental break, which further adds to the romantic tone of the song.

Overall, Lovin' Man is a beautiful and heartfelt love song that speaks to the depths of someone's unwavering love for their partner. The lyrics are honest and pure, and the instrumental elements further enhance the romantic nature of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

From the Day I was boooorn, (ooo, ooo)
Since the moment I existed, I knew that my purpose was to be your loving man.

I was born to be your lovin' man, (lovin' ma-an)
My soul was destined to love and care for you always.

And to all that I love, (ooo, ooo)
Not only do I love you, but I also love and cherish everyone close to me.

I was born to be the best I can (the best I can).
My goal in life is to always strive for greatness in everything I do.

I will say to you, Words of devo-tion,
I pledge to you my heartfelt commitment and dedication.

And the truth flows free in my eyes.
My sincerity and honesty will always shine through my eyes.

Only love can softly deliver, That feelin' that you feel inside,
True love is the only thing that can bring about that special feeling of happiness and contentment inside our hearts.

If you do me wrong, (ooo, ooo)
Even if you hurt me or do me wrong, I will still love you just the same.

I will still be your lovin' man, (lovin' man)
I will always be there for you, offering my love and support unconditionally.

'Cause its in my nature (ooo, ooo)
Loving and caring for others is simply a fundamental part of who I am.

To give you all the love I can, (the love I can)
I will always give you my all, pouring every ounce of love that I have into our relationship.

I hear your love strengthened by virtue, Unconditional, free as a bird.
Your love for me is pure, true, and unbreakable, built on a foundation of honesty and respect.

What I try to give, with these few words,
Through these words, I want to convey the depth and sincerity of my love for you.

I would fight to be the best I can (the best I can).
I am willing to do whatever it takes to be the best possible version of myself, both for you and for those around me.

And the love flows free in my eyes.
My love for you and for life itself is evident in everything I do and everything I am.

That feeling we feel inside
The beautiful feeling we experience when we are together, wrapped up in each other's love.

Contributed by Peyton G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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