Carne was born Sarah Jean Perkins in Columbus, Georgia and was raised in Atlanta. Her talent as a singer became evident from an early age and was encouraged by her parents. Carne's singing ability was so striking that at the age of four she became a member of her church choir. Carne went on to learn to play the piano, the clarinet and the bassoon, mastering all three.
Carne attended Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta, and learned to speak Russian fluently. She received a scholarship after graduating in 1965, to attend Morris Brown College where she was trained in musical theater to opera. Carne planned on furthering her studies at Juilliard School of Music in New York when she met and married Jazz pianist Doug Carn and became a featured vocalist in his jazz fusion band. The couple based themselves in Los Angeles, California, where Carne did three early albums with her husband, "Infant Eyes", "Spirit Of The New Land" and "Revelations". Her work with the band garnered enthusiastic new jazz fans and brought her to the attention of the soon-to-be mega-group Earth Wind and Fire. Her voice helped brighten the group's first two albums, "Earth Wind And Fire," and "The Need Of Love" where she expanded her musical learning with the group and went beyond her jazz work.
In 1976, Carne was signed to Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records; her debut album Jean Carn was a classy affair that merged the best of '70s soul and jazz with solid song-writing and tight instrumental support (MFSB, Instant Funk). The debut single "Free Love" went to number 23 R&B. Though the follow-up single did not chart, several of the album's tracks received considerable radio airplay. In June 1978, Happy to Be With You, her second album for the label was released. It included the hit single "Don't Let It Go to Your Head."
Carne's third Philadelphia International album When I Find You Love was more of a return conceptually (musically and sonically) to that of Jean Carn. Produced by Dexter Wansel, the album rates as one of Carne's best efforts. The smooth and halting "My Love Don't Come Easy" peaked at number 43 R&B in the summer of 1979. At this time Ms. Carne was switched from the Philadelphia International label to the subsidiary TSOP imprint for her final outing. Released in August 1981, Sweet and Wonderful featured a stunning and classy remake of the Spinners' "Love Don't Love Nobody," which went to number 35 R&B.
Frustrated with her lack of substantial sales and promotion of her previous albums which were artistic and critical successes, if not commercially as acclaimed, Carne moved to Motown Records in 1982, making her label debut with the album Trust Me. The single "If You Don't Know Me By Now," a cover of the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes hit with backing vocals by The Temptations, went to number 49 R&B. A scheduled follow-up lp was canned and is reportedly in the vaults, following Ms. Carne's leaving the Motown roster. By 1986, Carne signed to Omni Records. Closer Than Close was released in July of that year and the title track went to number one R&B. Her 1988 album You're a Part of Me included a hit cover of Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way." Carne later signed with Place One Entertainment, which reunited her with former Omni Records president Steve Bernstein, with her Love Lessons album.
In 2002, Carne toured the United Kingdom with her musical director, Nathan Heathman, with appearances at the London Jazz Cafe in March of that year. 2003 saw the release of Collaborations, an album for the Expansion label, that featured Carne's various musical collaborations over the years. Carne has worked with some of the most prolific soul artists, producers and songwriters over the years, including The Temptations, Glenn Jones, the late Phyllis Hyman, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff among other stellar musicians. Carne has also acted as producer and arranger on her own projects and for others in the music fraternity.
Love Don't Love Nobody
Jean Carne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You reach for love
But life won't let you know
That in the end
You still be loving him
But then he's gone
And your all alone
To give myself
I been a fool
But right now I need someone else
Well well well well
Just like girl blue I
I build my home here for you
Just leave me home
Babe I should have known
It takes a fool to learn
That love don't love nobody
It takes a fool to learn
That love don't love no one
No one
The sign of pain
Is on my fence well
Don't you know that my heart beat stops
But I won't take the blame no no no no
I gave him all
The love I had within
My love was strong slumded with love
[Chorus]
It takes a fool (yes sir) to learn
That love (love love love love love well well well)
Don't love nobody
It takes a fool (yes it does boy)
To learn that love (love don't love no one)
Don't love no one (it's hard to think about it well)
It takes a fool to learn...
The song Love Don’t Love Nobody by Jean Carn speaks of the challenge that some people face in love, specifically when they fall in love with someone who does not love them back. The opening lines of the song “Sometimes a man will come and go, You reach for love, But life won't let you know, That in the end, You still be loving him” portrays the turmoil of unrequited love. The singer tells about the difficulty of falling for someone who doesn’t love them back and how heartbreaking it can be. The line “But then he's gone, And your all alone” further expresses the pain that is felt when the love of someone's life leaves them.
The chorus of the song stresses the message that it takes a fool to love someone who doesn't love you back. The lines “It takes a fool to learn that love don't love nobody, It takes a fool to learn that love don't love no one” highlight how difficult it can be to accept the fact that the person you love does not reciprocate the feelings you have for them. The pain of heartbreak becomes evident in the lines “The sign of pain is on my fence well, Don't you know that my heart beat stops, But I won't take the blame no no no no” as the singer struggles to accept responsibility for the failed relationship.
In conclusion, the song Love Don’t Love Nobody is a touching ballad about the bitter reality of unrequited love. The lyrics capture the feeling of heartbreak and disappointment that comes with loving someone who doesn't love you back. The song stresses the importance of learning to accept reality and move on from painful relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes a man will come and go
Men come and go in life
You reach for love
You look for love
But life won't let you know
Life does not make it clear
That in the end
Eventually
You still be loving him
You will still love him
But then he's gone
But he leaves eventually
And your all alone
And you are alone
I never learned
I did not learn
To give myself
To let myself be vulnerable and give love
I been a fool
I have been foolish
But right now I need someone else
But I need someone else right now
Well well well well
A phrase used for emphasis
Just like girl blue I
Like the song 'Girl Blue,' I
I build my home here for you
I have made a home here for you
Just leave me home
Just let me stay at home
Babe I should have known
I should have realized
It takes a fool to learn
Only a fool learns
That love don't love nobody
Love does not love anyone
It takes a fool to learn
Only a fool learns
That love don't love no one
Love does not love anyone
No one
Nobody
The sign of pain
The evidence of pain
Is on my fence well
Is obvious to others
Don't you know that my heart beat stops
My heart is broken
But I won't take the blame no no no no
But I won't accept responsibility
I gave him all
I gave him everything
The love I had within
The love I had inside
My love was strong slumded with love
My love was strong but overwhelmed
[Chorus]
Repeats refrain
It takes a fool (yes sir) to learn
Only a fool learns (with emphasis)
That love (love love love love love well well well)
That love (emphasizing the word)
Don't love nobody
Does not love anyone
It takes a fool (yes it does boy)
Only a fool learns (with emphasis)
To learn that love (love don't love no one)
To realize that love (does not love anyone)
Don't love no one (it's hard to think about it well)
Does not love anyone (difficult to accept)
It takes a fool to learn...
Only a fool learns...
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES B. SIMMONS, JOSEPH BANKS JEFFERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrRbivens1
one of the best singers of all time
@AbsolutFent
WOW! I've been missing out. She can't sing......she can SANG! It was great just anticipating her singing, hearing her for the first time, and she actually came through. Loved it.
@mslikeable
sunday afternoon i was in the kitchen cooking, my 12 year old son came to me and said " mom that jean carne song dont let it go to your head is on the radio as he sang a few lines i thought to myself im doing my dam job thank you youngin 4 appreciate grown folks music and your right thanx 2 you tube i can enjoy good soul music...
@margueritebridges9029
Yes. My girl Jean Carn was always the real deal. She is considered one of the sirens of female vocalists! Lord Have Mercy!!!
@EVIEHEARS
Back in the "old days" of the 1980's, it was a wonderful thing to go to a club and hear fantastic vocalists and musicians such as Jean Carne. She'd get right down in your face and sing to you...Keep it up Jean!
@mumty1
thanks for posting this...one of my old cassette tape favourites that never got bought and i know its been probably 20 years at least since i had the pleasure of listening to it again. Jean Carne is one of the best female singers...dont let it go to your head....was that all it was...luv em all!!!
@SeptiaWoman
Jean has one of the most phenomonal voices to EVER grace the airwaves. Two of my older sisters played her songs as teen and young adult. But then I began to listen too when I got older. Wow! Does not even come close! Check out Jean's gosbel side as well....All I need is you...a real treat! Ms. Carne, "thank you."
@authortonyadsimmons114
I use to sing this song in the mirror when I was a young girl. Now it's 2022 and I'm 55 years and I find myself singing this song again and the man I truly love I can't get out of mind and he has done me so wrong
The saying it's take a fool to learn that love don't love nobody
TS
@JohnBrown-in6bz
Love may not "Love Nobody", however I love Jean when she sings this song!
@kimblackshear4369
Oh this is my girl tremendously talented