King Floyd III was born in New Orleans in 1945. His musical career started as a singer at the Sho-Bar on Bourbon Street. Following a stint in the army, Floyd went to California, where he joined up with record producer Harold Battiste. His debut album, A Man In Love, featuring songs co-written with Dr. John, failed to make an impact on the charts. Floyd returned to New Orleans in 1969 and worked for the Post Office.
He first recorded a single (Walkin' and Talkin') for LA based Art Laboe's Original Sound label in 1965. Floyd had written with fellow New Orleans refugee Dr. John while in L.A, and in 1967 recorded a pop oriented album on the Mercury subsidiary Pulsar called "King Floyd: A Man in Love". He was recording with Wardell Quezergue in Jackson MS for Malaco Record's in-house label Chimneyville, when his song "Groove Me" became a huge hit in late 1970.
In 1970, Wardell Quezergue, an arranger of R&B scores, persuaded Floyd to record "Groove Me" with Malaco Records in Jackson, Mississippi. Jean Knight recorded her hit, "Mr. Big Stuff," in the same sessions. At first, "Groove Me" was a B-side to another Floyd song, "What Our Love Needs." New Orleans radio DJ's started playing "Groove Me" and the song became a local hit. Atlantic Records picked up national distribution of "Groove Me," which topped the United States R&B chart and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.[3] & went to #41 in Britain. This disc sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. in December 1970. Floyd quit his job at the post office to perform a U.S. tour. His follow-up single, "Baby Let Me Kiss You" climbed up to number 29 on the Billboard Top 40 charts in 1971.
Ironically both Stax and Atlantic Records had been offered the song to release but turned it down, (they also refused Jean Knight's smash hit "Mr. Big Stuff", cut at the same sessions). Floyd's follow up song was "Baby Let Me Kiss You", early in 1971. Atlantic inevitably realized it's mistake and gave Chimneyville a distribution deal and issued an LP, "King Floyd", on their Cotillion label. Side One's second track was "Let Us Be", written by Larry Hamilton. That summer, the song (shortened by about a minute from the album version) was released on Floyd's third Chimneyville 45 with the funky "Got To Have Your Lovin'" (by Joe Broussard and Michael Adams), which garnered brief airplay and top ten R&B chart action. Another single off his self titled album went gold in 1973 called "Woman Don't Go Away", rediscovered three years after it's release. The Mighty Majors ("You Can Never Go Back") was his backup band on the road for a spell. He released another album in 1973 called "Think About It", and his last Malaco affiliated album of this period was 1975's "Well Done". His next effort surfaced on the Dial label "Can You Dig It?" but the disco era was not kind to the southern soulman. King Floyd faced hard times, and other than a co-songwriter credit on Shaggy's "Boombastic," in 1995, he did not get another release out until 2000's "Ol Skool Funk" back on Malaco, his final recording. However, his song "Don't Leave Me Lonely" was prominently sampled by the Wu-Tang Clan for the song "For Heaven's Sake" off their album Wu-Tang Forever. He died on March 6, 2006.
Groove Me
King Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, ow, uh, come on, baby
Hey there, sugar darling
Let me tell you something
Girl, I've been trying to say, now
You look so sweet
And you're so doggone fine
I just can't get you out of my mind
And I want you to be my spouse
So that we can live happily, nah-nah
In a great big ol' roomy house
And I know you're gonna groove me, baby
Ah, yeah, now
You make me feel good inside
Come on, and groove me, baby
I need you to groove me
Ah, yeah, now, now, darling
Uh! Come on, come on!
Hey! Uh!
Hey there, sugar darlin'
Come on, give me something
Girl, I've been needing for days
Yes, I'm good, good loving
With plenty, plenty hugging
Ooh, you cute little thang, you
Girl, between you and me, nah-nah
We don't need no company
No other man, no other girl
Can enter into our world
Not as long as you groove me, baby
Oh, come on
Make me feel good inside
Come on and groove me, baby
Move me, baby
Ah, sock it to me, mama
Uh! Ah, I like it like that, baby
Uh! Groove me, baby! Hey! Uh!
Groove me, darling!
Come on, come on
I need you to sock it to me, mama
Come on and groove me, baby
Hey! Uh! Good, God!
It makes me feel so good inside, mama
Now, come on, come on, and uh
Groove me, baby, groove me, baby
Oh, sock it to me
Sock it to me
Rock it to me
Come on, come on!
Come on!
And uh
Groove me, mama, I want you to
Groove me baby
In King Floyd's song "Groove Me," the singer is addressing their love interest and expressing their infatuation with them. The singer complements the love interest's appearance and express their desire to be in a relationship with them- one where they can live together in a "great big ol' roomy house." The singer wants their love interest to "groove me," or help them feel good inside, showing that they see the love interest as someone who can bring joy and happiness to their life. The line "not as long as you groove me" also suggests that the singer sees their love interest as irreplaceable or unable to be substituted by others.
There is a sense of playfulness in the lyrics as well, with the use of phrases like "uh, aw, sookie sookie now!" and "sock it to me, mama." These phrases are meant to evoke a feeling of lust and excitement in the singer and also adds a touch of sensuality to the song. The repeated chorus of "groove me, baby" is catchy and memorable, making this song a classic groove and soul hit that still holds up today.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, aw, sookie sookie now!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm for what's to come
Hey, ow, uh, come on, baby
Invitation to the subject of the song to come closer
Hey there, sugar darling
Affectionate address to the subject of the song
Let me tell you something
Indicating a desire to communicate important information
Girl, I've been trying to say, now
Acknowledging a difficulty in expressing oneself
You look so sweet
Complimenting the subject's appearance
And you're so doggone fine
Further complimenting the subject's appearance
I just can't get you out of my mind
Describing the intensity of one's infatuation
You've become a sweet taste in my mouth, now
Using a metaphor to describe the subject's appeal
And I want you to be my spouse
Expressing a desire for commitment
So that we can live happily, nah-nah
Describing the ideal outcome of a relationship
In a great big ol' roomy house
Painting a picture of domestic bliss
And I know you're gonna groove me, baby
Confident in the subject's interest and attraction
Ah, yeah, now
Affirming the preceding statement
You make me feel good inside
Describing the pleasure of the subject's company
Come on, and groove me, baby
Requesting physical and emotional interaction
I need you to groove me
Emphasizing the importance and urgency of the request
Uh! Come on, come on!
Encouraging the subject to comply
Come on, give me something
Requesting reciprocation and participation
Girl, I've been needing for days
Expressing a long-standing desire
Yes, I'm good, good loving
Affirming one's ability to provide affection
With plenty, plenty hugging
Describing a physical form of affection
Ooh, you cute little thang, you
Expressing adoration and attraction
Girl, between you and me, nah-nah
Suggesting exclusivity and intimacy
We don't need no company
Rejecting the need for external influence or opinion
No other man, no other girl
Asserting fidelity and monogamy
Can enter into our world
Protecting against intrusion and interference
Not as long as you groove me, baby
Emphasizing the importance of mutual attraction and compatibility
Oh, come on
Encouraging the subject to engage
Move me, baby
Requesting physical interaction
Ah, sock it to me, mama
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Uh! Ah, I like it like that, baby
Acknowledging pleasure and satisfaction
Come on and groove me, baby
Reiterating the request for physical and emotional interaction
Hey! Uh! Good, God!
Exclaiming excitement and joy
It makes me feel so good inside, mama
Describing the pleasure of the subject's company
Now, come on, come on, and uh
Persisting in the request for interaction
Groove me, baby, groove me, baby
Demanding engagement and interaction
Oh, sock it to me
Requesting intense and pleasurable interaction
Rock it to me
Requesting rhythmic and vigorous interaction
And uh
Signal for the end of the song
Groove me, mama, I want you to
Final request for interaction and engagement
Groove me baby
Final plea for the subject of the song to engage and interact
Lyrics ยฉ Peermusic Publishing
Written by: King Floyd
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Whatthechuckttv
As long as this song lives on, so will my Dad. This song was recorded at Malaco Studios in Jackson, MS. in 1970. My Dad was a studio musician there in the late 60s into the middle to late 70s and those trumpet lines you hear, that's his contribution to this timeless hit. He passed away this morning. RIP Dad..
@Something253
Wow, firstly I am so sorry for your loss. I am grateful for his contribution, this has always been a favorite of mine and your dad is one of those reasons. โฅ๏ธ Iโm sure your father knew mine, the founder of Malaco records, Mitchell Malouf. I just wanted to say, I love his trumpet lines! ๐ and wish you all the best. I am sure he and my mother (who has passed as well and Iโm sure crossed paths in the past) are sharing old times, perhaps dancing to this song heaven. ๐
@emmetnest7061
I'm sorry for your loss. I always loved the horn chart on this.
@WillTyler06
Sorry for your loss. I am more than sure you Dad knew and worked with my Great Uncle, who arranged this song and convinced King Floyd to record it ..Wardell Quezegue.
@thejourneytolovingme8336
I remember hearing this song when I was a little girl, my parents would play it on the high fi ( 45) , so your dad will live forever, because this song will forever live.
@valeriebarnes6615
Sending my prayers and condolences to you and your family
@datboyk4861
If you from the country. You know this will get the party started and/or keep it going... โ๐ฟโ๐ฟ
@loveonly259
ANCESTORS BROUGHT ME HERE ๐ฅน๐ฉ๐๐
@SuzanneCarter-qp6nv
Totally get it....
@ramongonzalez775
All my respect for Mr King Floyd. 'Groove me' is one of my favourites.