Jackson started out as a songwriter and arranger for Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Witherspoon, and the Shangri-Las, among others. He also composed the Pretty Things' 1960s hit single "Come See Me."
Jackson had his own 1966 hit with "But It's Alright," which he wrote with Pierre Tubbs. “Boogaloo Baby” was presented as the designated A-side of the record, but within a week of release, Calla was promoting “But It’s Alright.” The song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. The single was recorded in the United Kingdom, featuring some of Britain's top jazz musicians of the day, including Terry Smith on guitar, Dick Morrissey on tenor sax and John Marshall on drums. He currently lives in Palmdale, CA.
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
J.J. Jackson Lyrics
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But I refuse to let you go,
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy,
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
Now I've heard a cryin' man
Is half a man with no sense of pride,
But if I have to cry to keep you,
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
Just to keep you from walking away,
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand,
'cause I wanna keep you any way I can.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart,
And each day it grows more and more,
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby,
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
Please don't leave me girl,
Don't you go,
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
Please don't leave me, girl,
Don't you go.
In J.J. Jackson's song, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," the lyrics express the desperation and pleading of a man trying to keep his lover from leaving him. The song touches on themes of love, pride, and vulnerability. The singer refuses to let his lover go and is willing to beg and plead for their sympathy. The lyrics reveal that the singer's love for his lover is so strong that he is not too proud to beg and plead to keep them by his side. He is fully aware of the potential embarrassment that may come with begging and crying to keep his lover from walking out the door, but he is willing to do it if it means keeping them with him.
The lyrics also address the notion that society deems crying men as half-men with no sense of pride. The singer challenges this idea and admits that he doesn't mind crying if it will ultimately keep his lover with him. He even goes as far as saying that he is willing to sleep on her doorstep all night and day just to keep her from walking away. The message in the song is clear; sometimes, loving someone means being vulnerable, and there is nothing wrong with pleading for someone's love.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you wanna leave me,
I am aware that you desire to leave me;
But I refuse to let you go,
However, I am not willing to let you go;
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy,
If I have to beg and plead for your compassion;
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me.
I am willing to do so because you are very important to me.
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
I am not too proud to beg and you are aware of it;
Please don't leave me girl,
Please do not abandon me, my beloved;
Don't you go,
Do not depart from me.
Now I've heard a cryin' man, Is half a man with no sense of pride,
I have heard that a man who cries loses his dignity and self-respect;
But if I have to cry to keep you,
However, I am willing to weep if it means keeping you;
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side.
I am not averse to shedding tears if it ensures that you stay with me.
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day,
If I have to lay on your doorstep both day and night;
Just to keep you from walking away,
Simply to prevent you from leaving me;
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand,
Even if your friends mock me, I am willing to tolerate it;
'cause I wanna keep you any way I can.
As I am determined to keep you by any means necessary.
Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart,
I have a love that is so profound within my being;
And each day it grows more and more,
And it increases in magnitude each day;
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby,
I'm not embarrassed to call and beseech you, dear;
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door.
If begging prevents you from leaving me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NORMAN WHITFIELD, EDWARD JR. HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind