He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Arkansas. Wells moved to Chicago in 1948 and first made his mark at age 18 playing in Muddy Waters' band. He later worked with Buddy Guy in the 1960s and recorded for Delmark Records. His most memorable songs are "Messin' With the Kid" and "Little by Little," and his best-known album, 1965's Hoodoo Man Blues, which evokes the smoky atmosphere of the era's Westside Chicago blues bars.
Wells made an appearance in the 1998 movie Blues Brothers 2000, the sequel to The Blues Brothers. The movie was released less than a month after his death.
On his passing in 1998, Junior Wells was interred in the Oak Woods Cemetery, Chicago.
I Just Want to Make Love to You
Junior Wells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want you work all day
I don't want 'cause I'm sad and blue
I just want to make love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you
I don't want you make my bed
I don't want your money too
I just want to make love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you
Well I can tell by the way that you twitch and walk
See by the way that you baby talk
Know by the way that you treat your man
I can love you, baby, till the night train
I don't want you wash my clothes
I don't want you leave the home
I don't want 'cause I'm sad and blue
I just want to make love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you
Yeah
I don't want you wash my clothes
I don't want you leave the home
I don't want 'cause I'm sad and blue
I just want to make love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Sweet love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
I just wanna make love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you, baby
Love to you
I just, I just want ot make love to you, baby
I just want to make love
The song "I Just Want to Make Love to You" by Junior Wells is a blues classic that speaks to the singer's desire to forego traditional gender roles and expectations within a relationship. The singer goes through various tasks that they do not want their partner to do for them, such as cooking, cleaning, and making money, instead expressing that all they want is to make love to their partner. The repetition of "love to you, baby" emphasizes the singer's deep desire for physical intimacy and connection.
The singer's stance is notable for its time, which was at the height of the second wave feminist movement. At the same time, the song also reinforces some gender stereotypes by having the singer play a traditionally masculine role - that of the lover who takes pleasure from the body of their partner. However, the song can be read as a rejection of the patriarchal expectation that men must dominate and control their female partners. Overall, the song aligns with the idea that love and intimacy should be based on mutual desire and respect, rather than patriarchal power dynamics.
In terms of musical style, the song features a classic blues riff and strong harmonica playing from Junior Wells, whose raw and emotive voice conveys both the song's sensuality and its underlying message. The song has since been covered by numerous artists, including Etta James, Muddy Waters, and The Rolling Stones.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want you be no slave
I don't want you to feel like you're obligated or forced to do anything for me.
I don't want you work all day
I don't want you to tire yourself out with hard work just to please me.
I don't want 'cause I'm sad and blue
I'm not asking for anything from you because I'm feeling down or unhappy.
I just want to make love to you, baby
All I truly desire is to express my love physically with you.
Well I can tell by the way that you twitch and walk
I can sense your attractiveness from the way you move and carry yourself.
See by the way that you baby talk
Your way of speaking and vocalizing is also a sign of your appeal.
Know by the way that you treat your man
Your behavior and treatment towards your significant other is an indication of how you treat others in relationships.
I can love you, baby, till the night train
My love for you is so strong, I can love you through the entire duration of the night.
I don't want you cook my bread
I don't need you to do any specific domestic duties for me.
I don't want you make my bed
Making my bed is not something that is necessary for you to do for me.
I don't want your money too
I am not interested in acquiring any financial assistance or monetary support from you.
I just want to make love to you, baby
My ultimate objective is to express my love in a physical way with you.
I don't want you wash my clothes
There is no need for you to perform any particular domestic chores or tasks for me.
I don't want you leave the home
You do not have to go out of your way or change your daily routine for me.
Sweet love to you, baby
I want to express nothing but pure and genuine love towards you.
I just wanna make love to you, baby
My sole objective is to physically show my love towards you in the most intimate way possible.
Love to you, baby
All my love and affection is solely directed towards you.
Love to you
My love and devotion belongs to you and you alone.
I just, I just want ot make love to you, baby
My deepest wish is to express my affection and passion for you in a physical manner.
Writer(s): Willie Lee Dixon, Gordon James Gano
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.