1) Jerry Butler, Jr… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists called Jerry Butler:
1) Jerry Butler, Jr. (born December 8, 1939 in Sunflower, Mississippi) is an American soul singer also known as "The Ice Man" because of his cool demeanour while singing often intensely emotional lyrics.
Butler was dubbed the "Iceman" by a Philadelphia disc jockey while performing in a Philadelphia theater. However, Butler achieved what eluded many earlier Doo Wop groups during the 1950s and 1960s β longevity. Butlerβs solo career had a string of hits, including "He Will Break Your Heart," "Moon River," "Make It Easy On Yourself," "Let It Be Me" (the Everly Brothers classic re-done as a duet with Betty Everett), "Brand New Me," "Ainβt Understanding Mellow," (duet with Brenda Lee Eager), and "Never Gonna Give You Up," followed by two hugely successful albums The Iceman Cometh in 1968 and Ice On Ice in 1970. The Iceman Cometh garnered Butler three Grammy nominations. Jerry Butler further made recordings for Philadelphia International Records in the 80's. His most noted song for the label was "Cooling Out"
Western Union Man
Jerry Butler Lyrics
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Send a telegram, send a telegram, oh
Send a telegram to my baby
This is what I want you to say
I want you to tell her that I'm all alone
I tried to call her on the phone
Tell her I'm in misery and think she's avoiding me
Send a box of candy too and maybe some flowers
Tell her that I miss her for hours and hours
Send a telegram, send a telegram
Hurry up, send a telegram, man, to my baby
Do you hear what I say
Oh, western union man, send a telegram
Oh, send a telegram to my baby
Western union man, hey, send a telegram, oh
Send a telegram, send a telegram, oh
Send a telegram, man, to my baby
This is what I want you to do
Listen, tell me, have you got a boy you can send
This is what I want him to do
Put him on his bike right away
See if he can get my message through
Maybe tomorrow but mail it right away
I want the girl to know that I missed her
Something like yesterday
Send a telegram, send a telegram, oh
Send a telegram, man, to my baby
Do you hear what I say
Oh western union man why don't you send a telegram
Well send a telegram to my baby
Western union man, send a telegram
Oh send a, send a telegram, send it
Send it, send it, send it, right on to my baby
Do you hear what I say
Hey western union man, send a telegram, oh
Send a telegram to my baby, hey
In "Hey Western Union Man," Jerry Butler pleads with the titular telegraph operator to send a message to his love interest. The lyrics describe his desperation as he tries to reach her by phone and fails. He believes that she is avoiding him and begs the Western Union Man to send the message, along with candy and flowers, in order to let her know how much he misses her. He imagines the Wester Union Man sending a boy on a bike to deliver the message as soon as possible, hoping that she will get it and know how much he cares.
The song is a classic example of mid-60s soul music and was released in 1968. The lyrics capture a specific time and place in American history, when sending telegrams was still a common form of communication. The Western Union company was one of the major providers of telegraph services in the US, and the "Western Union Man" was a well-known figure who would deliver messages to homes and businesses. In the context of the song, the Western Union Man represents a lifeline for the singer, a way to reach his love interest when all other avenues have failed.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, western union man send a telegram to my baby
Requesting a telegram to be sent to his lover through Western Union
Send a telegram, send a telegram, oh
Repeating the request for a telegram to be sent
Send a telegram to my baby
Reiterating the intended recipient of the telegram
This is what I want you to say
Preparing to dictate the contents of the telegram to the Western Union man
I want you to tell her that I'm all alone
Asking the Western Union man to inform his lover that he is lonely
I tried to call her on the phone
Explaining that he has attempted to contact his lover without success
Tell her I'm in misery and think she's avoiding me
Asking Western Union to convey his feelings of despair and suspicion to his lover
And if the telegram don't do
Considering alternative measures to get in touch with his lover
Send a box of candy too and maybe some flowers
Asking Western Union to include gifts along with the telegram as a gesture of affection
Tell her that I miss her for hours and hours
Expressing the depth of his longing for his lover
Send a telegram, send a telegram
Repeating the request for a telegram to be sent
Hurry up, send a telegram, man, to my baby
Urging the Western Union man to complete the task quickly
Do you hear what I say
Ensuring that the Western Union man understands the urgency of the request
Listen, tell me, have you got a boy you can send
Inquiring if the Western Union man has an employee who can deliver the message personally
This is what I want him to do
Preparing to dictate instructions to the messenger
Put him on his bike right away
Requesting that the messenger begin the journey immediately
See if he can get my message through
Instructing the messenger to attempt to deliver the message personally
Maybe tomorrow but mail it right away
Indicating that a personal delivery is preferred, but asking the messenger to send the telegram immediately if it is not possible
I want the girl to know that I missed her
Reiterating the key message that he wants conveyed to his lover
Something like yesterday
Asking for the message to convey a sense of timeliness to his lover
Send a telegram, send a telegram, oh
Repeating the request for a telegram to be sent
Send a telegram, man, to my baby
Restating the intended recipient of the telegram
Do you hear what I say
Asking the Western Union man to confirm that he understands the request
Oh western union man why don't you send a telegram
Asking the Western Union man to explain any potential barriers to delivering the message
Well send a telegram to my baby
Restating the request for a telegram to be sent
Western union man, send a telegram
Urging the Western Union man to take action
Oh send a, send a telegram, send it
Repeating the request and urging swift action
Send it, send it, send it, right on to my baby
Emphasizing the importance of completing the task and ensuring that the message reaches his lover
Do you hear what I say
Asking the Western Union man to confirm that he understands the urgency of the request
Hey western union man, send a telegram, oh
Final request for a telegram to be sent to his lover through Western Union
Send a telegram to my baby, hey
Restating the intended recipient of the telegram and urging the Western Union man to take action
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Curtis Ousley, Luther Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@teresaj5970
My absolutely favorite! The vibes, the soul, the heartfelt message in the song is so unforgettable.
@praise777always9
When music was music.π
@adriennerobinson1180
Truth INDEED AMEN
@sandrawilliams9181
Send a box of candy to
Maybe some flowers
Tell her that I miss her for hours and hours....
Mr. Butler gives me goosebumpsπ
@bookmarker7471
Yes he do
@sufundasamuels7585
The songs are not that long, but they are meaningful and makes sense....old school is always better.
@nancymotley8626
Jerry Butler was one of the best singers back in the day.
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay was my favorite. Blessings in Heaven Jerry.
@scottburton9701
Otis Redding recorded "Sittin'On The Dock Of The Bay".
@GregoryJohnson-dq1lu
Jerry Butler is still alive
@jsuchaldy9690
My childhood, is relived through these beautiful songs I had no clue, but now, I bow down..to true Soul Music and Funk..