He was born Joseph Goreed in Cordele, Georgia and moved to Chicago as a child. He was raised by his mother and grandmother. He grew on the south side of Chicago, surrounded by jazz, blues, and gospel music. In the 1930s, as a teenager, he was a member of "The Jubilee Boys" and performed in Chicago churches.
He worked as a singer and bouncer in Chicago in the late 1930s and early 1940s. In 1943, he was hired by the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. He toured with Hampton for several years but never achieved breakthrough success.
He rose to national prominence as the singer for Count Basie's Orchestra in 1954. He remained with Basie for several years. "Everyday I have the Blues" is his biggest hit.
After leaving the Basie band, Williams continued to have a successful career working with his own jazz combo. He and Basie remained on good terms and he would regularly appear with the band.
Bill Cosby cast Williams as his father-in-law "Grandpa Al" Hanks in a recurring role on the 1980s sit-com The Cosby Show.
Williams enjoyed a successful career and worked regularly until his death. He died at age 80, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joe Williams shares a birthday with Frank Sinatra who was also born Dec. 12, three years before Williams
Don't You Know I Care
Joe Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or don't you care to know?
If you know I care
How can you hurt me so?
Darling, you are part of ev'ry breath I take
Will you break my heart
Or give my heart a break?
I can't figure out what love's all about
Am I wasting time? Please, tell me
'Cause I'm down to my last dream
Won't you please be fair?
Love me or let me go
Don't you know I care
Or don't you care to know?
In Joe Williams's song "Don't You Know I Care," the lyrics express the emotional turmoil of a person who is deeply in love but feels unsure about the reciprocation of their feelings. The singer questions whether the person they love knows or cares about how much they care for them. Despite feeling hurt and vulnerable, the singer cannot help but express their affection and dependency on their beloved. The lyrics evoke a sense of desperation for the other person's love, but also a fear of being taken for granted or deceived.
In the second stanza, the singer admits their confusion about what love truly means and whether they fit into their lover's plans. They ask for transparency and honesty, fearing that they might be wasting their time and energy on a hopeless love. The final plea of the song is for the beloved to either love the singer back or let them go, as the uncertainty and pain are too much to bear.
Overall, the lyrics of "Don't You Know I Care" convey the depth and complexity of being truly in love. Despite the fear, insecurity, and vulnerability that come with it, the singer still holds onto hope and longing for their beloved.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't you know I care
I want you to understand the depth of my emotions and feelings towards you.
Or don't you care to know?
Are you even interested in knowing how deeply I feel for you?
If you know I care
Assuming you are aware of how much I care
How can you hurt me so?
How could you hurt me, knowing how much I care for you?
Darling, you are part of ev'ry breath I take
You are a significant part of my life, something I cannot live without.
Will you break my heart
Are you going to destroy everything we've shared between us?
Or give my heart a break?
Or can you give me a chance to make things work between us?
I can't figure out what love's all about
I am struggling to understand the true nature of love.
And where I fit into your scheme
I am unsure of where I stand in your life and how important I am to you.
Am I wasting time? Please, tell me
Is our relationship even worth it? Can you give me clarity about our future together?
'Cause I'm down to my last dream
I have exhausted all my efforts and hopes towards our relationship.
Won't you please be fair?
Can you please treat me justly and make a fair decision?
Love me or let me go
I cannot continue to hang on if you cannot reciprocate my love and commitment.
Don't you know I care
I want you to understand the truth of my love and my intentions for our relationship.
Or don't you care to know?
Or are you indifferent to the way I feel?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTOINE DOMINO, DAVE BARTHOLOMEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
darklord220
beautiful. thank you for uploading this.
Kathryn Evenson
A perfectly crafted jewel.
Dude on a computer
What a great way to describe it! Thanks for viewing.
Dude on a computer
Am I wasting time?
Please tell me 'cause I'm,
down to my last dream....
Garcia Guitarist
cuzim!