He gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.
Born in Rogers, Texas, in 1935 and raised in Baytown, TX, Tex's career started after he was signed to King Records in 1955 following four wins at the Apollo Theater. Between that year and 1964, however, Tex struggled to find hits and by the time he finally recorded his first hit, "Hold What You've Got", in 1964, he had recorded thirty prior singles that were deemed failures on the charts. Tex went on to have three million-selling hits, "Hold What You've Got" (1965), "Skinny Legs and All" (1967) and "I Gotcha" (1972).
Joe Tex with the raspy voice & charm of a southern preacher and the linguistic skills of a true street hustler made a string of funky chart topping hits and occasional raps with moral themes. His peak as a hitmaker occured in the mid & late 60's, but extended into the 70's disco era.
His breakthrough 1965 song "Hold What You've Got" topped both the Pop and R&B charts. In 1966 he released "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It", which was the first major pop record associated with the Vietnam War. His style was usually more light hearted fare, like "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" and his biggest hit "Skinny Legs And All".
His last major record was 1972's funky jam "I Gotcha", a #1 song. It was after this release that he converted to Islam. After the death of Elijah Mohamed in 1975, Joe Tex received the blessing and approval of the Nation of Islam to begin recording and performing again. His career resurgence came as the disco years were in full swing. His late career comeback song was "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)".
You Beter Believe It Baby
Joe Tex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better believe it, baby
Too much of anything ain't good for nobody
You better believe it, baby
Just like too much cake and ice cream
Will give you a stomach ache
Too many cups of coffee
Too many nights out ballin'
Will keep you feelin' bad
Too many nights at home, yeah
Will make you feel just as sad, yeah
You may be too much for me, but, uh
Baby, I want you baby, I want you
Wow!
Too much of anything ain't good for nobody
You better believe it, baby
Too much of anything ain't good for nobody
You better believe it, baby
Like a train way ahead of schedule
Somebody's gonna get left
Too much gettin' in troublΠ΅, uh huh
You got to blame it on yourself, uh huh, now
Too much play and no work, uh huh
Your money has got to gΠ΅t low
Miss too many payments on your house, and, uh
You won't have no place to go, yeah, now
You may be too much for me, but
Baby, I want you baby, I want you
Baby, I want you baby, I want you
The lyrics to Joe Tex's song "You Better Believe It Baby" convey the message that excess of anything can be detrimental to individuals. The singer emphasizes the phrase "too much of anything ain't good for nobody" throughout the song, encouraging the listener to take heed of this advice. The lyrics provide various examples to support this idea.
The opening lines establish the theme, stating that excessive indulgence is harmful. Comparisons are made to everyday situations: consuming too much cake and ice cream will lead to a stomach ache, drinking too much coffee will keep you awake, and spending too many nights partying will result in feeling bad. Conversely, staying at home too often can also create a sense of sadness. These examples demonstrate the negative consequences of overdoing things in different aspects of life.
The second verse expands on the concept of excess. It presents scenarios such as going against societal norms or neglecting responsibilities. The lyrics suggest that being way ahead of schedule, whether metaphorically like a train or in life, can lead to someone being left out. Similarly, playing too much without focusing on work will result in financial trouble. Missed payments on a house will ultimately leave someone without a place to go. These lines emphasize the importance of balance and maintaining a responsible approach to life.
Despite acknowledging that someone may be too much for the singer, the repeated refrain "Baby, I want you" underscores the desire to pursue the relationship despite the potential repercussions of excess. This adds a layer of complexity to the song, as the overarching message of moderation is juxtaposed with the singer's personal longing for the subject of the song.
Overall, "You Better Believe It Baby" conveys the cautionary message that excess can have negative consequences, while also exploring the tension between rationality and desire in personal relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Too much of anything ain't good for nobody
Having an excessive amount of something is detrimental to one's well-being
You better believe it, baby
It is essential to understand and accept this fact
Just like too much cake and ice cream
Similar to consuming excessive amounts of dessert
Will give you a stomach ache
It will result in physical discomfort
Too many cups of coffee
Having an excessive number of coffee servings
Will keep you wide awake, uh huh, now
It will prevent you from falling asleep, emphasizing the consequence
Too many nights out ballin'
Engaging in frequent nights of partying
Will keep you feelin' bad
It will negatively impact your emotional state
Too many nights at home, yeah
Spending an excessive amount of time indoors
Will make you feel just as sad, yeah
It will result in feelings of sadness or loneliness
You may be too much for me, but, uh
Despite being overwhelming at times
Baby, I want you baby, I want you
I still desire you
Wow!
Expressing enthusiasm or amazement
Like a train way ahead of schedule
Similar to a train running significantly ahead of its planned time
Somebody's gonna get left
Someone will inevitably be left behind or excluded
Too much gettin' in trouble, uh huh
Engaging in excessive problematic behavior
You got to blame it on yourself, uh huh, now
You are responsible for the consequences of your actions
Too much play and no work, uh huh
Focusing on recreation without balancing responsibilities
Your money has got to get low
Your financial situation will worsen
Miss too many payments on your house, and, uh
If you fail to make numerous home payments
You won't have no place to go, yeah, now
You will not have a place of residence
Baby, I want you baby, I want you
I still desire you
Baby, I want you baby, I want you
I still desire you
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bret Miller
Joe is so underrated he has so many great songs I just love this one
M D
Not underrated when I was young in the sixties!
Michael Parker
This is a great song! I discovered this via Phish, who played it as a cover tune back in 1998. They did a great job with it, but the original version totally owns!
Anthony Robinson
Remember this from the Colwyn Bay Pier (Dixieland) all-nighter in1977. Went to the Friendship Club first for the warm-up session!, still gives me the chills.
Suzy Qualcast
Anthony Robinson : Coalville etc 78 !
drdavecolly
Blood hell CB pier, blast from the past. Cracking side this one.
The Inclusive Tutor
The Pier was my first niter at 13. Went to the Friendship Club as well, but not often enough. This track still sets me on fire.
D.A. Elliott Jr.
I love the guitar on this. The riff is reminiscent of Oh Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison.
Muziekgenot
Could be. OPW was first released in 1964 and You better believe it baby in '66. Artists inspire and influence each other.
shorelineboy
Love thisπ