Delores LaVern Baker (November 11, 1929 – March 10, 1997) was an American r… Read Full Bio ↴Delores LaVern Baker (November 11, 1929 – March 10, 1997) was an American rhythm and blues singer, who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedlee Dee" (1955), "Jim Dandy" (1956), and "I Cried a Tear" (1958).

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.

See See Rider
LaVern Baker Lyrics

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Well See, See See Rider
Just see what you have a-done
Yeah, yeah yeah yeah See See Rider
See what you have a-done

Well you made me love you
And now your girl has a-come
What'd I say

Well, I'm gonna buy (See See Rider)
Me a shotgun (See See Rider)
Just as long as I am tall (See See Rider)
La-la Lord

Get me a shotgun (See See Rider)
Just as long as I am tall (See See Rider)
What'd I say (See See Rider)

Now I'll shoot a-my a-baby
And then I'll catch that cannonball (See See Rider)
Yes, believe me (See See Rider)

Well I'm going (See See Rider)
Away baby (See See Rider)
And I won't be back (See See Rider)
Until fall (See See Rider)

I'm going away baby (See See Rider)
And I won't be back until fall (See See Rider)
What'd I say (See See Rider)

If I find me a good man (See See Rider)
Your baby a-won't be back at all (See See Rider)
No no no (See See Rider)
I said See (See See Rider)

See See Rider (See See Rider)
Well See (See See Rider)
See See Rider
Yeah yeah yeah yeah (See See Rider)

Just see what you have a-done (See See Rider)

Overall Meaning

"See See Rider" is a song about a man who has been let down by a woman who he loved. The singer urges her to see how her actions have hurt him. He also talks about buying a shotgun, which he plans to use to shoot his baby, who has left him for another man. This is a metaphor for his broken heart, and the pain that he feels. He intends to "catch that cannonball", meaning he intends to find love again, and move on from this heartbreak. The singer also announces that he is leaving, and won't be back until fall. He makes it clear that if he finds someone else, he won't come back to the woman who has hurt him.

In summary, the song is a heartfelt plea to a woman to see the pain that she has caused. The lyrics express the singer's frustration and pain, but also his determination to move on and find happiness again.

Line by Line Meaning

Well See, See See Rider
Hey See, Look who's coming by...

Just see what you have a-done
See how you've affected me...

Yeah, yeah yeah yeah See See Rider
Yes, it is you - the notorious See See Rider...

See what you have a-done
Notice how you made me love you...

Well you made me love you
You caused me to fall in love with you...

And now your girl has a-come
Now your woman is here with me...

What'd I say
What am I going to do now?...

Well, I'm gonna buy (See See Rider)
I'm about to make a purchase...

Me a shotgun (See See Rider)
A gun-type weapon for personal protection...

Just as long as I am tall (See See Rider)
One that is perfect size for someone of my height...

La-la Lord
Oh my God...