Baker was born in Chicago, Illinois. She is occasionally referred to as Delores Williams because of an early marriage to Eugene Williams; in the late 1940s she was identified in RCA Victor record company files as "D. L. McMurley." She was the niece of blues singer Merline Johnson and was also related to Memphis Minnie.
She began singing in Chicago clubs such as the Club DeLisa around 1946, often billed as Little Miss Sharecropper, and first recorded under that name in 1949. She changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for Okeh Records in 1951, and then became LaVern Baker when singing with Todd Rhodes and his band in 1952.
In 1953 she signed for Atlantic Records as a solo artist, her first release being "Soul on Fire". Her first hit came in early 1955, with the Latin-tempo "Tweedlee Dee" reaching #4 on the R&B chart and #14 on the national US pop charts. Georgia Gibbs' note-for-note cover of Baker's "Tweedle Dee" reached #1; subsequently Baker made an unsuccessful attempt to sue her and petitioned Congress to consider such covers copyright violations.
Baker had a succession of hits on the R&B charts over the next couple of years with her backing group The Gliders, including "Bop-Ting-A-Ling" (#3 R&B), "Play It Fair" (#2 R&B), and "Still" (#4 R&B). At the end of 1956 she had another smash hit with "Jim Dandy" (#1 R&B, #17 pop). It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Further hits followed for Atlantic, including the follow-up "Jim Dandy Got Married" (#7 R&B), "I Cried a Tear" (#2 R&B, #6 pop in 1959), "I Waited Too Long" (#5 R&B, #3 pop, written by Neil Sedaka), "Saved" (#17 R&B, written by Leiber and Stoller), and "See See Rider" (#9 R&B in 1963).
In addition to singing, Baker also did some work with Ed Sullivan and Alan Freed on TV and in films, including Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. In 1964, she recorded a Bessie Smith tribute album, before leaving Atlantic and joining Brunswick Records, where she recorded the album "Let Me Belong to You".
In 1966, Baker recorded a duet single with Jackie Wilson. The controversial song, "Think Twice", featured raunchy lyrics that were not considered appropriate for airplay at that time or even today. Three versions were recorded, one of which is the X-rated version with the raunchy lyrics.
In the late 1960s, Baker became seriously ill after a trip to Vietnam to entertain American soldiers. While recovering at the US Subic Bay Naval Base in the Philippines, her husband, Slappy White filed for a divorce. A friend recommended that she stay on as the entertainment director at the Marine Corps Staff NCO club there, and she remained there for 22 years.
In 1988 she returned to perform at Madison Square Garden for Atlantic Records' 40th anniversary. She then worked on the soundtracks to films such as Shag, (1989), Dick Tracy, (1990) and A Rage in Harlem (1991), which were all issued on CD.
In 1990, she made her Broadway debut replacing Ruth Brown as star of the hit musical Black and Blue. In 1991, Rhino Records released a new album Live in Hollywood recorded at the Hollywood Roosevelt Cinegrill, as well as a compilation of her greatest Atlantic hits entitled Soul on Fire. In 1992, she recorded a well-received studio album, Woke Up This Morning, for DRG Records. She continued performing after having both legs amputated from diabetes complications in 1994 and made her last recording, "Jump Into the Fire," for the 1995 Harry Nilsson tribute CD, For the Love of Harry on the Music Masters label.
She received the 1990 Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. In 1991, Baker became the second female solo artist inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, following Aretha Franklin in 1987. Her song "Jim Dandy" was named one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and was ranked #343 on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
LaVern Baker died from cardiovascular disease on March 10, 1997, at the age of 67. Originally buried in an unmarked plot in Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York, her grave received a headstone on May 4, 2008, after a fundraiser was held by local historians.
If You Love Me
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you love me
If the sun should tumble from the sky
If the sea should suddenly run dry
If you love me, really love me
Let it happen, I won't care
I will smile and never count the cost
If you love me, really love me
Let it happen, darling, I won't care
Shall I catch a shooting star
Shall I bring it where you are
If you want me to, I will
(If you want me to, I will)
You can set me any task
I'll do anything you ask
If you'll only say you
Love me still (love me still)
When at last our life
On Earth is through
I will share eternity with you
If you love me, really love me
Let it happen, darling, I won't care
Let it happen, darling, I won't care
I won't care, I won't care
LaVern Baker's song If You Love Me is about unconditional love that remains strong and unwavering even in the face of chaos, uncertainty, and fear. The song's first verse alludes to catastrophic events that could occur, such as the sun falling from the sky and the sea drying up, and the singer reassuring the listener that if they truly love her, these events won't matter. The song also describes a willingness to do anything for the object of the singer's affection, including catching a shooting star or completing any task, as long as they express their love in return.
The second verse emphasizes the idea that no matter what challenges or ultimate fate the couple may face, they will be together for eternity because of their love. The song ends with the singer repeating "I won't care," emphasizing the unconditional nature of her love.
Some possible interpretations of this song include a message about the power of love to conquer all, no matter the obstacles or challenges, or a message about the importance of being willing to make sacrifices for someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you love me, if you love me
The singer requests to know if her love is real and true.
If the sun should tumble from the sky
Even if a great calamity comes to pass, such as the sun falling from the sky, the singer's love won't waver.
If the sea should suddenly run dry
The singer's love is all-encompassing and would not diminish even if fundamental parts of nature were to change permanently.
Let it happen, I won't care
Regardless of what may occur, the singer's love will remain steadfast.
If it seems that everything is lost
Even in the face of hopelessness, the singer will remain optimistic and will not focus on the negative.
I will smile and never count the cost
The singer shows a willingness to sacrifice and bear any burden with a good attitude if her beloved truly loves her in return.
Shall I catch a shooting star
The singer is willing to go to great lengths to express her love and impress her beloved, such as catching a shooting star.
If you want me to, I will (If you want me to, I will)
The singer states she is willing to perform any task as long as it makes her beloved happy.
You can set me any task
The singer's love is so strong that she will not hesitate to do whatever it takes to please her beloved.
If you'll only say you Love me still (love me still)
The singer needs reassurance that her beloved's love for her has not waned.
When at last our life On Earth is through
The singer envisions a life beyond this world and is willing to spend eternity with her beloved if their love for each other remains true.
I won't care, I won't care
The singer drives the point home that nothing can shake her love, no matter what may come.
Lyrics © RAOUL BRETON EDITIONS, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Marguerite Monnot, Geoffrey Parsons, Edith Piaf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind