Starting his entertainment career as a tap dancer, Jones joined a doo-wop group named The Berliners in 1954. They later changed their name to Sparks Of Rhythm.[1] In 1955 Jones co-wrote "Handy Man", which was recorded by the Sparks Of Rhythm in 1956 (after Jones left the group).
After recording with other groups, Jones went solo and, in 1959, teamed up with Otis Blackwell who reworked "Handy Man" which Jones recorded on the subsidiary MGM record label, Cub. When the flute player did not show up for the session, Blackwell famously whistled on the recording. "Handy Man," released in 1959, gave Jones his first U.S. and UK hit single. "Handy Man" went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. Later in that same year, Jones' recording of "Good Timin'" shot to #1 on the UK Singles Chart and #3 in the U.S. Both "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'" were million sellers, earning Jones two gold discs.
Jones' subsequent career was low key although it included three more UK chart entries in the following twelve months. "Handy Man", which introduced a rock falsetto singing style to the British audience, later scored hits for Del Shannon and James Taylor who both covered it.
Although Jones had but two Top 40 hits, both million sellers, he nevertheless kept active in the music industry as both a songwriter and recording artist and made personal appearances as he saw fit. He kept recording through most of the 1960s and remained with Cub until 1962, scraping the lower reaches of the charts with "That's When I Cried" and "I Told You So." He recorded for Ro-Jac and Vee-Jay over the next two years, and his work gradually took on a New York style uptown soul flavor.[1] From 1965-1967, he recorded for Roulette, Parkway, and Bell, none of which restored his commercial standing.
His considerable influence using falsetto extended to Del Shannon, who paid homage to Jones and also The Ink Spots for Shannon's falsetto style. Later singers who used falsetto included Lou Christie and Barry Gibb. Gibbs cited Shannon, in turn, as an influence for his disco vocalizations with the Bee Gees.
Jones released Grandma's Rock & Roll Party in the 1990s on CD, perhaps, in part due to his popularity in the UK Northern soul circles. It included new versions of "Handy Man" and "Good Timin'". In 2002, Castle/Sanctuary issued a double album anthology titled Good Timin': The Anthology.
Handy Man
Jimmy Jones Lyrics
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Because of what I'm puttin' down
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
If your broken heart needs repair
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
Here is the main thing I want to say
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
Hey girls, gather round
Because of what I'm puttin' down
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
If your broken heart needs repair
I'm the man to see. I whisper sweet things
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
Here is the main thing I want to say
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
The lyrics of Jimmy Jones's song, Handy Man, speak of a man who is confident in his ability to fix broken hearts. He declares himself as a "handy man" who doesn't need a pencil or a ruler, but rather he is skilled in the art of love. The song serves as a love proclamation to women, inviting them to gather around and listen to what he has to offer.
The chorus of the song repeats the message, emphasizing that if anyone's heart is broken, he is the person to see. He promises to whisper sweet things, which will not only heal the heart but also make the recipient want to tell all her friends about him. The repetition of the chorus presents his claim as a reflection of his immense confidence in his ability to fix broken hearts.
Overall, the song Handy Man revolves around the theme of love and heartbreak, but unlike most songs that lament or dwell on heartbreak, Jones presents himself as the solution to the problem. By describing himself as a "handy man," he positions himself as a hero who is capable of saving those in need of heart-repair.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey girls, gather round
Attention all ladies, come gather around and listen up
Because of what I'm puttin' down
Listen to my words carefully because they are meaningful and important
Oh, baby, I'm your handy man
I am the person you can rely on to fix all your emotional problems
I'm not the kind that uses pencil or rule
I don't rely on traditional methods to fix things, I use my intuition and love
I'm handy with the love and I'm no fool
I am skilled in using love to heal hearts and I am not foolish in doing so
I fix broken hearts, I know I really can
I have the ability and confidence to mend any broken heart
If your broken heart needs repair
If you are feeling heartbroken and need someone to help you heal
I'm the man to see. I whisper sweet things
I am the person you should come to, and I know how to say comforting words
You tell all your friends, and they'll come running to me
If I successfully help you, you'll tell your friends, and they too will come to me for help
Here is the main thing I want to say
The most important thing I want to communicate is
I'm busy twenty four hours a day
I am always available to help and heal, even if it means being busy 24/7
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: JIMMY JONES, OTIS BLACKWELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind