Edna Wright, Carolyn Willis, and Shellie Clark comprised the vocal trio Hon… Read Full Bio ↴Edna Wright, Carolyn Willis, and Shellie Clark comprised the vocal trio Honey Cone, which only stayed together for four years but was still one of the best female soul groups of the early '70s. Although Honey Cone (which lead singer Wright formed in 1969) was based in Los Angeles, their recordings were Northern-style soul — specifically, Detroit soul. Martha & the Vandellas and the Marvelettes — two of the female vocal groups that epitomized Motown Records' sound in the '60s — were among Honey Cone's main influences, and the group (which favored a blend of sweetness and grit) worked closely with three producer/songwriters who used to work at Motown: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland. However, Honey Cone's members had been in the music industry before they joined forces with the famous Holland/DozierHolland team. Willis (born 1946, Los Angeles, CA) had been with Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, who were known for '60s hits like "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart?" and "Not Too Young to Get Married." Clark (born in 1943, Brooklyn, NY) was an ex-member of the Ikettes, (Ike & Tina Turner's female backup singers), while Wright (born 1944, Los Angeles, CA) had been with the Blossoms. In fact, Wright's older sister is singer/actress Darlene Love, who was a member of Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans as well as the Blossoms (in addition to doing a lot of recording by herself). Wright also recorded as a solo artist in the '60s; her Champion single "A Touch of Venus" (recorded under the pseudonym Sandy Wynns) was a small regional hit in Southern California. And like so many of the soul singers who were active in the '60s and '70s, Wright wasn't without gospel credentials. She had a Christian upbringing and sang gospel with the Church of God in Christ Singers, but ended up making secular R&B her primary focus. Wright, Clark, and Willis had only been together a few months when, in 1969, the group caught the attention of Eddie Holland (who came up with the name Honey Cone). The prolific Holland/DozierHolland team (which wrote countless mega-hits for Motown artists) had recently left Motown and started their own Detroit-based soul label Hot Wax/Invictus, and Honey Cone became the company's first signing. Honey Cone's first release, a 1969 single titled "While You're Out Looking for Sugar," was also Hot Wax's first release. The very Motown-sounding tune was not a major hit; it reached number 26 on Billboard's R&B singles chart and number 62 on the magazine's pop singles chart. But for a small upstart label, that single was a decent start. Honey Cone's next single, "Girls, It Ain't Easy," was equally Motown-sounding and did become a major hit, reaching number eight on Billboard's R&B singles chart. After that, Honey Cone enjoyed their biggest hits of all. Released in late 1970, the infectious "Want Ads" (which Taylor Dayne covered in 1988) got off to a slow start and the song had been out four months before it even charted in either Billboard or Cash Box (Billboard's main competitor at the time). But when "Wants Ads" finally took off, it really took off and soared to number one on Billboard's R&B and pop singles charts. In 1971, Honey Cone had another number one R&B hit with "Stick Up," which was also a number 11 pop hit. And a few more major hits followed in 1972, including the ballad "The Day I Found Myself" and the Latin-influenced "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" (a number five R&B single and a number 15 pop hit). But as big as Honey Cone was from 1969-1972, it didn't fare nearly as well in 1973; none of the three Honey Cone singles that Hot Wax put out in 1973 ("If I Can't Fly," "The Truth Will Come Out," and "Ace in the Hole") were big hits. Sadly, Hot Wax/Invictus found itself experiencing a serious cash flow problem in 1973, despite having put out big sellers by Honey Cone as well as Freda Payne, 100 Percent Aged in Soul, Laura Lee, and the Chairmen of the Board. The problem wasn't that Hot Wax/Invictus' releases lacked commercial appeal; the problem, allegedly, was that the company was not getting paid by its independent distributors. In 1973, Honey Cone broke up, and Hot Wax/Invictus went out of business the following year. Wright went on to record by herself, providing the solo LP Oops! Here I Go Again for RCA in 1976. All five of the LPs that Honey Cone recorded for Hot Wax — Honey Cone in 1969, Take Me With You in 1970, Sweet Replies and Soul Tapestry in 1971, and Love, Peace & Soul in 1972 — went out of print when the label folded. However, all of Honey Cone's major hits are included on a 14-song Greatest Hits CD that Fantasy assembled in 1990. And the comprehensive Soulful Sugar, which Castle put out in 2001, boasts no less than 45 tracks.

Take Me With You
Honey Cone Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Darlin', take me with you wherever you go
Don't leave me, don't leave me
Darlin', take me with you wherever you go
Don't leave me, don't leave me

All our lives through thick and thin, we've been so involved
Whatever problems we have, the two of us will solve
Now you want to go away and leave me by myself

Because you feel the need to try and find yourself

But darlin', take me with you wherever you go
Let's go together, together
Darlin', take me with you wherever you go
Don't leave me, don't leave me

You need a woman by your side that believes in you
It can only make you stronger to face what's ahead of you
'Cause if something should go wrong if plans don't succeed
I should be right there in your time of need

Darlin', take me with you wherever you go
Don't leave me, don't leave me
Darlin', take me with you wherever you go
Let's go together (Don't leave me)

Don't make me live my life from day to day
Wondering how you are while you're miles away
Why can't you understand that you're a part of me
Without you, my whole world would surely seems to be

You say the life you lead would be so hard
And you will send for me when you'll make a start
But did we made it through the years this far together?
And I don't wanna live without you, never

Darlin', I'm begging, take me with you wherever you go
Don't leave me, don't leave me
Darlin', take me with you wherever you go
Let's go together (Don't leave me), I'm begging

Darlin, take me with you wherever you go
Don't leave me, don't leave me

Overall Meaning

The song “Take Me With You” by Honey Cone is a touching plea of a woman to her man not to leave her behind but to take her with him wherever he goes. The woman in the song is afraid of being left behind to live her life day to day, wondering how her partner is faring. The lyrics convey the message that the two of them have been inseparable, a team that can face whatever challenges come their way. They have always been able to solve any problems together, and she believes that they can get through all the difficulties that lie ahead. She urges her partner not to underestimate the value of having someone who believes in him, as she can make him stronger through her support.

The lyrics suggest that the man is leaving her to find himself, but the woman insists that she is a part of him, and she cannot see herself living without him. She argues that if something goes wrong or if his plans don't succeed, she should be there to support him. She feels that the life he leads would be hard without her, and she wants to be a part of it. The song's chorus emphasizes the woman's plea to her partner not to leave her behind but to take her with him wherever he goes. She begs him not to leave her alone, as she would be lost without him.

In conclusion, “Take Me With You” is a powerful song that reflects the deep love a woman has for her partner. She is not willing to let him go alone but wants to be a part of his life, wherever it takes him. The lyrics show that their love is so strong and supportive that it can make them face any challenge that comes their way. It is a song that reminds people how important it is to have someone who believes in us and stands beside us through thick and thin.

Line by Line Meaning

Darlin', take me with you wherever you go
I want to come with you wherever you go

Don't leave me, don't leave me
Don't abandon me

All our lives through thick and thin, we've been so involved
We have been through everything together

Whatever problems we have, the two of us will solve
We can solve any problems together

Now you want to go away and leave me by myself
You want to leave me alone

Because you feel the need to try and find yourself
You want to find yourself

Let's go together, together
Let's go together

You need a woman by your side that believes in you
You need someone who believes in you

It can only make you stronger to face what's ahead of you
It will make you stronger

I should be right there in your time of need
I will be there when you need me

Don't make me live my life from day to day
Don't make me live without you

Wondering how you are while you're miles away
Wondering how you are without me

Why can't you understand that you're a part of me
You are a part of me

Without you, my whole world would surely seems to be
Without you, my world is incomplete

You say the life you lead would be so hard
You say your life will be difficult

And you will send for me when you'll make a start
You will call for me when you are ready

But did we made it through the years this far together?
We have made it this far together

And I don't wanna live without you, never
I don't want to live without you

Darlin', I'm begging, take me with you wherever you go
Please take me with you

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: DAVID COVERDALE, MICK MOODY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Bananadiva1

4y↑1

Without doubt their finest masterpiece.

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