Career
Belvin was born in San Antonio, Texas, and moved with his family to Los Angeles at the age of five. In 1950 he joined saxophonist Big Jay McNeely's backing vocal quartet, Three Dots and a Dash, and featured prominently on their record releases. In 1952 he joined Specialty Records. Although his early solo records were unsuccessful, his fourth record, "Dream Girl", credited to Jesse & Marvin and featuring Marvin Phillips on saxophone, reached #2 on the R&B charts in 1953.
He was then drafted for a spell in the army, but continued to write songs. His composition "Earth Angel", eventually co-credited to Belvin and Hollywood Flames singers Curtis Williams and Gaynel Hodge after a legal dispute, was recorded by The Penguins, and became one of the first R&B singles to cross over onto the pop charts, selling a million copies in 1954/55.
In 1956, he signed a contract with Modern Records, but also continued to sing for other labels under different names. His biggest hit was "Goodnight My Love", which he co-wrote and which reached #7 on the R&B chart. The piano on the session was reportedly played by the 11 year old Barry White. The song became the closing theme to Alan Freed's rock and roll radio shows.
Belvin’s other recordings for Modern were less successful, and in 1958 he recorded on Dot Records with a group, The Shields, who included lead singer Frankie Ervin and guitarist Johnny "Guitar" Watson. Their record, "You Cheated", reached #15 on the US pop charts.
Inspired by his wife and manager Jo Anne to develop his style, he signed to RCA Records in 1959, and immediately had a Top 40 hit with "Guess Who". He also recorded an album, Just Jesse Belvin, developing a more mature and sophisticated sound on ballads. His style was influenced by Nat "King" Cole and Billy Eckstine, and became a model for Sam Cooke and others. He acquired the nickname "Mr. Easy", and the record company began moulding him as a potential crossover star for white audiences.
He recorded a further series of tracks later in the year, with arranger Marty Paich and an orchestra including saxophonist Art Pepper. The songs included soulful covers of standards like "Blues in the Night", "In the Still of the Night", and "Makin' Whoopee", and were issued on the album Mr. Easy.
However, before the album was issued, and shortly after finishing a performance in Little Rock on a bill with Sam Cooke, Jackie Wilson, and Marv Johnson, Belvin and his wife were killed in a head-on collision at Fairhope, Arkansas. The concert was the first integrated concert in the history of Little Rock, and had been stopped twice by interruptions from whites in the audience, shouting racial epithets and urging the white teenagers in attendance to leave at once. There had been several death threats on Belvin prior to the concert, and there was speculation that Belvin's car had been tampered with prior to the accident, though nothing was ever proved.
Pledging My Love
Jesse Belvin Lyrics
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Pleasant dreams and sleep tight, my love
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
And bring you closer to me
Before you go
There´s just one thing I´d like to know
If you love is still warm for me
If you should awake in the still of the night
Please have no fear
For I´ll be there, darling you know I care
Please give your love to me, dear, only
Goodnight, my love
Pleasant dreams and sleep,
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
And bring you closer to me
Goodnight, my love
Pleasant dreams and sleep tight, my love
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
And bring you closer to me
Goodnight, my love
Sleep tight, my love
The lyrics to Jesse Belvin's "Goodnight My Love" depict a bittersweet farewell as the singer bids his love goodnight and hopes for her return. The song begins with a tender "Goodnight, my love" and an affectionate request for his love to sleep well and have pleasant dreams. He expresses his desire for her to have a sunny and bright tomorrow, and hopes that it will bring her closer to him. However, despite his goodbyes and hopeful wishes, the singer can't help but wonder if his love still burns bright or if it has gone cold.
The second verse of the song reveals the singer's anxieties as he pleads with his love to reveal her true feelings towards him before she leaves. The singer is trying to gauge whether his love is still warm for him, or if it has cooled off with time. The uncertainty and fear of not knowing where he stands with his lover is palpable, but he is still hopeful for her return as he promises to be there for her if she wakes up in the night.
The chorus is a final farewell, as the singer expresses his love and hopes for a sunny and bright future with his love. "Goodnight, my love, sleep tight, my love" is a final reminder of his love for her and his desire for her to have a peaceful night.
Overall, "Goodnight My Love" is a timeless love song that captures the universal emotions of love, uncertainty, and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight, my love
I'm saying goodbye to you, my dear.
Pleasant dreams and sleep tight, my love
I wish for you to have peaceful and pleasant dreams while you sleep soundly, my darling.
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
I hope that the next day will be filled with happiness and joy for you.
And bring you closer to me
I want our relationship to grow stronger and for us to be physically closer.
Before you go
Before we part ways for the night,
There´s just one thing I´d like to know
I have a question that I need to ask you before you leave.
If your love is still warm for me
I'm wondering if your feelings towards me are still as strong and affectionate as they used to be.
Or has it gone cold?
Or have they started to fade away?
If you should awake in the still of the night
If you happen to wake up in the middle of the night,
Please have no fear
I want you to know that you have nothing to worry about.
For I´ll be there, darling you know I care
I'll be there for you, my dear, because I care for you deeply.
Please give your love to me, dear, only
I want you to give all your love and affection to me and no one else.
Goodnight, my love
I'm saying goodbye to you, my dear.
Pleasant dreams and sleep,
I hope you have happy dreams and a restful sleep,
Goodnight, my love
I'm saying goodbye to you, my dear.
May tomorrow be sunny and bright
I hope that the next day will be filled with happiness and joy for you.
And bring you closer to me
I want our relationship to grow stronger and for us to be physically closer.
Goodnight, my love
I'm saying goodbye to you, my dear.
Sleep tight, my love
I hope you can sleep well and have a good rest, my darling.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN MARASCALCO, GEORGE MOTOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dorajean Bear
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SONG SO MUCH SO ROMANTIC BEAT TO SING & DANCE, JESSE JR DID A GREAT JOB SINGING IT SO ROMANTIC WITH FEELINGS LOVE LOVE LOVE IT
Mahogany Woods
:)