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.
Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spending my money, I didn't care
I carried my friends out for a good time
Buying bootleg liquor, champagne and wine
Then I began to fall so low
I didn't have a friend, and no place to go
So if I ever get my hand on a dollar again
I'm gonna hold on to it till them eagle's green
Nobody knows you when you down and out
In my pocket not one penny
And my friends I haven't any
But If I ever get on my feet again
Then I'll meet my long lost friend
It's mighty strange, without a doubt
Nobody knows you when you down and out
I mean when you down and out
Mmmmmmmm.... when you're down and out
Mmmmmmmm... not one penny
And my friends I haven't any
Mmmmmmmm... Well I felt so low
Nobody wants me round their door
Mmmmmmmm... Without a doubt,
No man can use you wen you down and out
I mean when you down and out
The song "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" by LaVern Baker is about the singer's experience going from being wealthy to losing everything and not having anyone to turn to in their time of need. The first verse describes the singer's past life as a millionaire, spending money without a care and entertaining their friends with expensive liquor. However, the second verse reveals that the singer has fallen on hard times and has no friends or place to go. The chorus emphasizes the idea that nobody wants anything to do with you when you're down and out, but if the singer ever gets back on their feet again, they will be reunited with their long lost friend.
The lyrics are a commentary on the fickleness of human relationships and how material wealth can often determine who we surround ourselves with. When the singer had money, they had plenty of friends, but when they lost it all, they found themselves completely alone. This sentiment is something that many people can relate to, as it speaks to the importance of genuine connections and the dangers of becoming too attached to money and material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I lived the life of a millionaire
I used to have a lot of money and live a lavish lifestyle.
Spending my money, I didn't care
I was careless with my money and didn't think about saving or investing it.
I carried my friends out for a good time
I would often treat my friends to expensive nights out.
Buying bootleg liquor, champagne and wine
I would purchase alcohol, even if it wasn't legally produced or sold, and expensive wines and champagnes.
Then I began to fall so low
I experienced a significant decline in my financial situation and social status.
I didn't have a friend, and no place to go
I lost all my friends and didn't have a place to stay or call home.
So if I ever get my hand on a dollar again
If I ever come into money again, even just a dollar,
I'm gonna hold on to it till them eagle's green
I'm going to save it and hold onto it for as long as possible.
Nobody knows you when you down and out
People won't be there for you or offer help when you're down on your luck.
In my pocket not one penny
I don't have any money at all.
And my friends I haven't any
I don't have any friends left to turn to for help or support.
But If I ever get on my feet again
If I'm ever able to get back on the right track again,
Then I'll meet my long lost friend
I hope to reconnect with old friends who may have abandoned or forgotten about me during my hard times.
It's mighty strange, without a doubt
It's surprising and unsettling how quickly people can turn their backs on you when you fall on hard times.
No man can use you wen you down and out
When you're down and out, nobody wants to associate with you or take advantage of you, because you have nothing to offer.
I mean when you down and out
I'm talking about those times when you're really struggling and have hit rock bottom.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jimmy Cox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
AzucaNegra16
I just heard this yesterday on the radio. What a gem. Thanks for uploading and sharing this.
sugar love
looooooove that version also❤️❤️
Hallands
❤️