James Purify was born May 12, 1944 in Pensacola, Florida. "Bobby Purify" was actually two different singers; the first was James's cousin Robert Lee Dickey (Sep 2nd 1939 - Dec 29th 2011), who adopted the Purify name for performing, and sang on their early records. The I'm Your Puppet Songfacts states that after retiring, Dickey returned to his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, in 1972 where he became a custodial crew supervisor at the Tallahassee Police Department. He continued singing with his church and as a member of the Bethlehem Male Singers. Dickey died on December 29, 2011.
The second Bobby was vocalist Ben Moore, who replaced Dickey when he suffered health problems. ("I'm Your Puppet" was written and produced by Dan Penn, who introduced Purify and Moore.) The duo continued into the 1980s, with no other big hits, but remained popular on the tour circuit. When Purify faced legal problems (not career-related), Moore went solo, though still using the name "Bobby Purify" occasionally. In 1983, he was nominated for a Grammy award, for a gospel recording.
My Adorable One
James & Bobby Purify Lyrics
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I hope my life is no sign of the times
I've been looking for the golden trees
I don't wanna see the killing on those leaves
Haven't we all
Maybe I'll just press my hands on it
Haven't we all
Where do we
I hope I'm right when I'm speaking my mind
Where do we
I hope I'm right when I'm speaking my mind
Where do we
I hope my life is no sign of the times
Where do we
I hope my life is no sign of the times
Where do we
I've been looking for the golden trees
I don't wanna see the killing on those leaves
Haven't we all
Maybe I'll just press my hands on it, where do we
The lyrics to James & Bobby Purify's song My Adorable One touch on themes of hope and seeking a better world. The singer expresses a desire to speak his mind and hopes that his life isn't indicative of the times. He references the golden trees, symbolizing the beauty and prosperity that can exist in the world, but he doesn't want to see killing or destruction on those leaves. The repetition of "Where do we" suggests a feeling of confusion or uncertainty about how to achieve a better world, but there's a sense of determination in the questioning.
The overall message of the song seems to be one of optimism and a belief that change is possible, but it also acknowledges the challenges and difficulties that come with striving for a better world. The lyrics reflect the optimism and idealism of the 1960s, a time of social and political upheaval and a desire for a more just and peaceful world.
Line by Line Meaning
I hope I'm right when I'm speaking my mind
I have an opinion and I hope it's correct when I express it.
I hope my life is no sign of the times
I hope my life doesn't reflect the current state of the world.
I've been looking for the golden trees
I've been searching for something special and rare.
I don't wanna see the killing on those leaves
I don't want to witness destruction or harm to something beautiful.
Haven't we all
Haven't we all searched for something special while hoping to avoid witnessing harm?
Maybe I'll just press my hands on it
Perhaps I'll be able to protect what I'm searching for by holding it close.
It's a lot for me to take
All of these emotions and desires are overwhelming me.
Where do we
Where do we go from here? What is our next step?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES BLAKE LITHERLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind