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
Embraceable You
Joe Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you
Just one look at you
My heart grew tipsy in me
You and you alone
Bring out the Gypsy in me
Above all, I want my arms about you
Don't be a naughty baby
Come to mama, come to mama do
My sweet embraceable you
I love all the many charms about you
Above all, I want my arms about you
Don't be a naughty baby
Come to mama, come to mama do
My sweet embraceable you
The lyrics to Joe Williams's song Embraceable You speak to the intense desire to be intimately close to someone who is beloved. The repetition of the phrase "embrace me" and the adjective "sweet" used to describe the person being addressed express a deep longing for physical connection. The use of the word "irreplaceable" emphasizes the unique quality of this particular person and the value that they hold.
The next stanza of the song emphasizes the effect that this person has on the singer. The mention of feeling "tipsy" and the association with the word "Gypsy" suggest a loss of control and a sense of being swept away. The phrase "you and you alone" underscores the idea that the person being addressed has a singular power over the singer.
The final stanza of the song calls out to the person being addressed to come closer, calling them a "naughty baby" in a playful manner. The repetition of the phrase "my sweet embraceable you" at the conclusion of the song emphasizes the unrelenting desire for physical intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you
Hold me close, my darling and beloved one
Embrace me, you irreplaceable you
Embrace me, you who can never be replaced
Just one look at you
At the mere sight of you
My heart grew tipsy in me
My heart became giddy with joy
You and you alone
Only you, and no one else
Bring out the Gypsy in me
Evoke a sense of wanderlust and adventure within me
I love all the many charms about you
I cherish every aspect of your delightful personality
Above all, I want my arms about you
Most of all, I desire to hold you in my arms
Don't be a naughty baby
Don't misbehave, my dear
Come to mama, come to mama do
Come to me, my child
My sweet embraceable you
You whom I can embrace lovingly
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Unison Rights S.L., Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@larrywagner7483
Joe Williams was such a beautiful ballad singer. So smooth and expressive. Then to add Super Sax on top of that is just wonderful.
@roythomas5837
There'll never be anything like the post-swing era when the greats toured and played having fun, just at the time hi-fi stereo got going...
@E-LIB
Pour les fans, écoutez la version des Doubles Six. Une pure merveille. 👍🎶🥂
@gonzalosaavedra7
damn beautiful saxes!
@michaelchapman4955
I recall catching Joe Williams at LA Jazz supper clubs & Supersax also used to gig at Jazz clubs like Donte's on Lankershim Blvd in North Hollywood & Alfonse's on Riverside Drive in Toluca Lake & I can vividly recall my gooseflesh catching these Supertalented cats & Joe Williams & Supersax climb inside this George & Ira Gershwin Great American songbook gold nugget
@George.Kiratsos
Norman Simmons (p) - Henry Johnson (g) - Bob Badgley (b) - Gerryck King (d) -
Med Flory, Lanny Morgan (as) - Ray Reed, Jay Migliori (ts) - Jack Nimitz (bs) -
(Supersax saxophone section)
@rokayu7960
Hmmm, those saxes !! So delicious
@ArtanisYT
Yeah!