American blues singer from New Orle… Read Full Bio ↴January 5, 1932 - September 14, 1998
American blues singer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was known as "The Tan Canary" for the amazing range of his singing voice and his gospel influenced style. He began his career singing gospel, but crossed over to secular music in 1959 and scored a national hit with the single "I Won't Cry." That was followed by a string of regional hits in the 1960s which included "Release Me" and "Reconsider Me."
In the 1980s and 1990s Adams recorded several award-winning albums for Rounder Records. He died in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1998 after a long battle with cancer
(2) Renowned around his Crescent City home base as "the Tan Canary" for his extraordinary set of soulfully soaring pipes, veteran R&B vocalist Johnny Adams tackled an exceptionally wide variety of material for Rounder in his later years; elegantly rendered tribute albums to legendary songwriters Doc Pomus and Percy Mayfield preceded forays into mellow, jazzier pastures. But then, Adams was never particularly into the parade-beat grooves that traditionally define the New Orleans R&B sound, preferring to deliver sophisticated soul ballads draped in strings.
Adams sang gospel professionally before crossing over to the secular world in 1959. Songwriter Dorothy LaBostrie -- the woman responsible for cleaning up the bawdy lyrics of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti" enough for worldwide consumption -- convinced her neighbor, Adams, to sing her tasty ballad "I Won't Cry." The track, produced by a teenaged Mac Rebennack, was released on Joe Ruffino's Ric logo, and Adams was on his way. He waxed some outstanding follow-ups for Ric, notably "A Losing Battle" (the Rebennack-penned gem proved Adams' first national R&B hit in 1962) and "Life Is a Struggle."
After a prolonged dry spell, Adams resurfaced in 1968 with an impassioned R&B revival of Jimmy Heap's country standard "Release Me" for Shelby Singleton's SSS imprint that blossomed into a national hit. Even more arresting was Adams' magnificent 1969 country-soul classic "Reconsider Me," his lone leap into the R&B Top Ten; in it, he swoops effortlessly up to a death-defying falsetto range to drive his anguished message home with fervor.
Despite several worthy SSS follow-ups ("I Can't Be All Bad" was another sizable seller), Adams never traversed those lofty commercial heights again (particularly disappointing was a short stay at Atlantic). But he found a new extended recording life at Rounder; his 1984 set, From the Heart, proved to the world that this Tan Canary could still chirp like a champ. With producer Scott Billington, he recorded some nine albums for the label prior to his cancer-related death on September 14, 1998. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi
Reconsider Me
Johnny Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After the wrong I've done
Guess you're surprised to see me here at your door
Like a sparrow with a broken wing
Who's come back to beg you to reconsider me
Oh, reconsider me
I can't make it without your love, you see
Just let me and I'll love you eternally
I learned the truth about the so-called good life
It was just a candle too short to burn the night
Now the darkness in my heart
I bring to you in plea
Oh light my way again reconsider me
Oh reconsider me
I can't make it without your love, you see
So just let me and I'll love you eternally
Oh baby reconsider me
In Johnny Adams's song "Reconsider Me," the singer addresses a person from whom he has wronged and abandoned in the past. The opening line of the song "Hello baby, yes it's really me, after the wrong I've done" indicates that the singer is aware of his actions and is seeking forgiveness. The line "Like a sparrow with a broken wing" suggests that the singer is vulnerable and helpless without the love of his former partner. He is begging her to reconsider him and give him another chance.
The second verse of the song suggests that the singer has come to a realization that the lifestyle he was pursuing was not as good as he thought it to be. He now understands that his heart was in the dark place and seeks his former partner's forgiveness. The line "It was just a candle too short to burn the night" portrays the hopelessness of the situation that ultimately led the singer to realize his mistake. Overall, the song portrays the vulnerability of human emotions and the desperation of a person seeking another chance to make it right.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello baby, yes it's really me
The singer is admitting their identity to their ex-partner.
After the wrong I've done
The singer acknowledges that they have made mistakes that have hurt their partner.
Guess you're surprised to see me here at your door
The singer is aware that their partner is likely taken aback by their sudden appearance.
Like a sparrow with a broken wing
The artist feels wounded and vulnerable like an injured bird.
Who's come back to beg you to reconsider me
The artist is asking their partner for another chance.
Oh, reconsider me
The singer implores their partner to think again about their relationship.
I can't make it without your love, you see
The singer expresses their dependence on their partner's affection.
Just let me and I'll love you eternally
The artist promises to love their partner unconditionally if given the opportunity.
I learned the truth about the so-called good life
The artist has come to realize that their previous lifestyle was not fulfilling or satisfying.
It was just a candle too short to burn the night
The artist compares their previous life to a flame that quickly extinguished.
Now the darkness in my heart
The singer is admitting to having negative feelings.
I bring to you in plea
The artist is seeking their partner's assistance in making things right.
Oh light my way again reconsider me
The singer is asking for their partner to show them the path forward by giving them another chance.
So just let me and I'll love you eternally
The singer is reassuring their partner that their love will be constant and unwavering.
Oh baby reconsider me
The singer is making one final plea for their partner to consider reconciling with them.
Lyrics © RAGGED ISLAND MUSIC WARWICK PRODUCTION, INC.
Written by: MARGARET LEWIS, MIRA SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Pamela Eneas
THIS IS MY GO TO SONG WHEN I NEED IT..THANK YOU AND REST IN PEACE MR ADAMS..
Jennie Hughes
Mine is " I'm going to hell in a handbasket ' .
pretorious700
OMG what a voice. He was even better than Wilson Pickett.
And that's no disrespect to Mr. Pickett.
latokatn506
This is one song that will never die RIP Johnny Adams
Remington Riders
OMG, what awesome singing.
anthony a
Just heard this on the radio! Took me to another time and place I had never been…
jacqueline manzano
There will never be another voice like J Adams. RIP Johnny Adams
Gloria Johnson
One of the best voices I've ever heard.
Countrynz
Wow! This is so great. Just love it.
latokatn506
Yep agree Countrynz This Type & style Was Born In the hey day of the best talents IMO ,& Writers That put Feeling in what they Wrote ,Thanks for your Comment !!!!