Born Peter Nitollano, of African-American/Filipino parents, Joe Bataan grew up in Spanish Harlem, where he ran with Puerto Rican gangs and absorbed R&B, Afro-Cuban and Afro-Rican musical influences. His music career followed a pair of stints in Coxsackie State Prison. Self taught on the piano, he organized his first band in 1965 and scored his first recording success in 1967 with "Gypsy Woman" on Fania Records, . The tune was a hit with the New York Latin market despite the English lyrics sung by Joe, and exemplified the nascent Latin Soul sound. In early anticipation of the disco formula, "Gypsy Woman" created dance energy by alternating what was fundamentally a pop-soul tune with a break featuring double timed hand claps, . Joe would take this tendency even further on his influential Salsoul, which fused funk and latin influences in slick yet soulful orchestrations. Salsoul remains influential as a rare groove cult item, but pointed to the future at the time of its release. The LP embodied the artist's highly deliberate and culturally aware musical concept. Bataan theorized the '70s next big thing as a hybrid: an Afro Cuban rhythm section playing Brazilian influenced patterns over orchestral funk. In many ways, his vision was on the money, though most of the money would go to others, and mainstream stardom would elude him. He did, however, get in on the ground floor of the new trend as an early hit maker. His biggest commercial move was a Salsoul production released under the Epic umbrella, and promoted to the new disco market as Afrofilipino, which included 1975's "The Bottle", a much anthologized classic that drives an R&B horn arrangment with a relentless piano montuno.
Always in touch with the street, Joe Bataan picked up on rap very early in the game. His minor rap hit, "Rap-O, Clap-O" was a bit more successful in Europe than in the States, and is remembered as rap's debut in the European market. Nevertheless, his legacy remains his gritty and realistic Latin soul lyrics, his self identification as an "Ordinary Guy", and his highly personal and prophetic merger of Latin and soul influences.
More Love
Joe Bataan Lyrics
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Let it be soon, don't hesitate, make love, don't wait.
Open your heart and let my love come in.
I want the moment to start when I can fill your heart
with more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
Oh honey now, my love will be so sound,
gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down,
wear it down, tear it down.
This is no fiction, this no act,
This is real, it's a fact.
I'll always belong only to you.
And each day I'll be living to
Make sure I'm giving you more love and more joy
than age or time could ever destroy.
Oh honey now, my love will be so sound,
gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down,
wear it down, tear it down.
As we grow older, no need to fear,
'Cause when you need me I'll be here.
I'll be beside you every step of the way.
A heart that's truthful, and is keeping it youthful
With more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
Oh honey now, my love will be so sound,
gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down,
wear it down, tear it down.
Oh I'm gonna give you
more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
Oh honey now, my love will be so sound,
gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down,
wear it down, tear it down.
Oh I'm gonna give you
more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
Oh honey now, my love will be so sound,
gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down,
"More Love" by Joe Bataan is a passionate and uplifting song about dedicating one's love to someone else. The opening lines, "Let it be soon, don't hesitate, make love, don't wait" immediately set the tone for the song - it's urgent, and the singer wants to make sure they don't miss their chance to express their love. The next line, "Open your heart and let my love come in" shows that the singer is ready to give their all in the relationship, but they need the other person to reciprocate by opening up to them.
The chorus is repeated multiple times throughout the song, with the lines "I want the moment to start when I can fill your heart with more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy. Oh honey now, my love will be so sound, gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down, wear it down, tear it down." This emphasizes that the singer's love is everlasting and can withstand anything - even the passing of time.
The bridge is particularly poignant, with lines such as "As we grow older, no need to fear, 'Cause when you need me I'll be here" showing that the singer is committed to being there for their partner through thick and thin. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer promising to continue giving their partner more love and joy than age or time could ever destroy.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
Expressing excitement and anticipation about the love that is to come.
Let it be soon, don't hesitate, make love, don't wait.
Don't delay in starting our relationship, let's take action and begin to love each other.
Open your heart and let my love come in.
Allow me to love you and to be a part of your life.
I want the moment to start when I can fill your heart with more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
I want to bring happiness into your life that will last for a lifetime, and even beyond.
Oh honey now, my love will be so sound, gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down, wear it down, tear it down.
My love is so strong and true that it will last forever, and even after we've gone, it will still be leaving a mark on the world.
This is no fiction, this no act, This is real, it's a fact.
My love for you isn't just for show, it's real and genuine.
I'll always belong only to you. And each day I'll be living to Make sure I'm giving you more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
My heart and soul are dedicated to you, and I promise to bring you happiness every day for the rest of our lives.
As we grow older, no need to fear, 'Cause when you need me I'll be here. I'll be beside you every step of the way.
No matter how old we get or what happens in life, I will always be with you and support you.
A heart that's truthful, and is keeping it youthful With more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
My love for you is honest and genuine, and will remain strong and young throughout our entire lives.
Oh I'm gonna give you more love and more joy than age or time could ever destroy.
I promise to bring you happiness and love that will never fade, even with the passing of time.
Oh honey now, my love will be so sound, gonna take about a hundred lifetimes to live it down, wear it down, tear it down.
My love is so genuine and pure that it will take many lifetimes for it to be forgotten or lost, it will always be a part of us.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind