He was versatile enough to do folk songs, blues, covers of old-time Rock n' roll songs, and some original material, all of them in his own unique style. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a string of hit songs (including "Seventh Son," "Poor Side of Town" and "Secret Agent Man") but he has continued to record and perform to the present.
In 1960, Rivers met fellow Louisianan, James Burton, the guitar player for Ricky Nelson. Burton later recommended one of Rivers's songs to Nelson, who went on to record it. In 1961, Rivers went to Los Angeles to meet Nelson, and ended up relocating there, working as a song writer and studio musician. In 1963, Rivers's big break came when he temporarily filled in for a jazz combo at Bill Gazzari's night club; the temporary gig became long-term due to positive customer response.
In 1964, Elmer Valentine then gave Rivers a one-year contract to open his new club, Whisky a Go Go, on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The Whisky opened three days before The Beatles released "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and the British Invasion knocked almost every American artist off the top of the charts. But Rivers was so popular, producer Lou Adler decided to issue Johnny Rivers Live At The Whiskey A Go Go. The live album reached #12 on the charts and the single "Memphis" (a Chuck Berry cover) reached #2. Rivers made the successful transition from nightclub entertainer to chart-busting pop singer and had created the Go Go sound, part of a scene which included Go-Go dancers.
Into 1965, Rivers continued to record mostly live, Go Go style records including "Maybellene" (another Berry cover), which he followed "Mountain of Love", "Midnight Special", "Seventh Son" (written by Willie Dixon) e "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" (with Pete Seeger's), all of which were hits.
Rivers wanted to try something different and adopted a more idiosyncratic approach as from 1966. Characterized by his smooth, soulful voice, he produced hit portrayals as "Poor Side Of Town", which would be his biggest hit ever and his only number one record. Into another hit was "Secret Agent Man", the theme from Secret Agent television series (written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri). He also started own record company, Soul City Records, where he won a Grammy Award as the producer of the 5th Dimension, which eventually recorded "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues", two number one hits on Rivers' label. Johnny is also credited with giving songwriter Jimmy Webb a major break when they recorded Webb's song "Up, Up, and Away". James Hendricks, one of the artists of that signed with Soul City, wrote "Summer Rain", a song that Rivers recorded and turned a hit.
Johnny Rivers continued to record more hits, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" and "The Tracks of My Tears" (cover of The Miracles), both top 10 in 1967. In 1968, Rivers released what many fans consider his best album, Realization, a number five album on the LP charts. The album was evocative of the psychedelic influences of the time and marked a subtle change in his musical direction, with more thoughtful types of songs, included such ballads as "Going Back to Big Sur".
In the 1970s, Rivers continued to record more songs and albums which were a success with music critics, but did not sell as well as some of his earlier hits. One of these albums, "L.A. Reggae" in 1972, reached the LP charts as a result of the top 10 "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (a cover of Huey Smith & the Clowns). Anothers hits that time were "Blue Suede Shoes" (a cover of Carl Perkins), in 1973, which would reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Help Me Rhonda", in 1975 - a cover of The Beach Boys on which Brian Wilson helped with backup vocals. His last entry on the charts was "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)", a top ten hit in 1977.
1980's until nowadays
Rivers continued recording into the '80's, although his recording career wound down somewhat. In spite of his music hasn't reached the best seller charts for quite a while, Rivers is still touring, doing 50 to 60 shows a year, increasingly returning to the blues that inspired him initially.
In 1998], Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis, his first new studio album in 15 years.
In early 2000, Johnny recorded with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, and Paul McCartney on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly's backup band, "The Crickets".
In all, Rivers had 9 top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 17 in the top 40 from 1964 to 1977. In total, he has sold well over 25 million records.
Can't Help Myself
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't help myself I love you and nobody else
Wanna tell in and out my life you come and go
Leaving just your picture behind
and I kissed it a thousand times
When you snap your finger or wink your eye I come a running to you
I'm tied to your apron strings and there's nothing I can do
Sugar pie honey bunch I'm weaker than a man should be
I can't help myself I'm a fool in love you see
Wanna tell you I don't love you tell you that we're through and I've tried
But every time I see your face I get all choked up inside
When I call your name girl it starts the flame burning in my heart
tearin it all apart no matter how I try my love
I cannot hide 'cause
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch you know that I'm weak for you
Can't help myself I love you and nobody else
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch do anything you ask me to
Can't help myself I want you and nobody else
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch you know that I love you
You know that I love you
Can't help myself, no I can't help myself
Johnny Rivers's song "Can’t Help Myself" is an ode to the irresistible power of love. It's a love song that relays a man's devotion and vulnerability to his lover. The song's title, "Can't Help Myself," is a direct reference to the singer's inability to control his infatuation with his beloved. He calls her "sugar pie honey bunch" and confesses his love, despite recognizing the foolishness of it all. The lyrics are forthright and candid, with no effort to mask the singer's adoration for his sweetheart.
The song's lyrics touch on the power dynamic between the two lovers. The singer declares, "I'm tied to your apron strings, and there's nothing I can do." He's acknowledging his subservience to his lover, indicating that he's unable to resist her charms. He further emphasizes his capitulation, "When you snap your finger or wink your eye, I come running to you." The song conveys the idea that his love for her is an all-consuming force that overtakes him, and he's unable to resist its pull.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase "sugar pie honey bunch," which is a term of endearment. The lyrics suggest that the singer is devoted to his beloved, and he wants to do whatever she asks of him. Despite the hardships he endures, such as losing his lover or trying to move on from her, he always finds himself returning to her. He knows that he's "weaker than a man should be," but he cannot help himself.
Line by Line Meaning
Sugar pie honey bunch you know that I love you
My dearest, you are aware of my adoration for you
I can't help myself I love you and nobody else
It's beyond my control; I am in love with you and no one else
Wanna tell in and out my life you come and go
I want to express that you appear and disappear in my life frequently
Leaving just your picture behind
All you leave behind is an image of yourself
and I kissed it a thousand times
I have kissed that picture countless times
When you snap your finger or wink your eye I come a running to you
At the slightest hint from you, I come running to your side
I'm tied to your apron strings and there's nothing I can do
I am completely devoted and cannot help but obey your every command
Sugar pie honey bunch I'm weaker than a man should be
My love for you has left me vulnerable and weaker than I should be
I can't help myself I'm a fool in love you see
My love for you has made me foolish, as I cannot resist your charms
Wanna tell you I don't love you tell you that we're through and I've tried
I want to confess that I no longer love you and express that our relationship is over, I've made attempts
But every time I see your face I get all choked up inside
However, whenever I catch a glimpse of you, my emotions get the best of me
When I call your name girl it starts the flame burning in my heart
Whenever I say your name, a fiery passion is ignited in my heart
tearin it all apart no matter how I try my love
It tears me apart, even though I try to control it with all my might, my love still expands
I cannot hide 'cause
I cannot suppress it any longer since
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch you know that I'm weak for you
You are well aware that I am powerless before you
Can't help myself I love you and nobody else
I cannot contain my love for you, and you alone hold my heart
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch do anything you ask me to
My love for you is so strong that I am willing to do anything you request
Can't help myself I want you and nobody else
My heart's longing is solely for you and no one else
Sugar Pie Honey Bunch you know that I love you
I am deeply in love with you, my dearest
You know that I love you
It is not a secret that I am in love with you
Can't help myself, no I can't help myself
I am unable to resist my feelings for you, no matter how hard I try
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind