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.
Shake a Hand
LaVern Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just give me a chance and I'll take care of everything.
Your troubles I share, I'll let you know when I'll be there.
I'll take care, take care of you, any place and everywhere.
Shake a hand, shake a hand, a-shake a hand if you can.
Shake a hand, shake a hand, shake a hand if you can.
Be truthful to me and I'll be truthful to you.
So let's call it a day, I've said all I've gotta say
Except, oh yeah, baby, you gotta learn how to pray and shake a hand every day.
Be truthful to me and I'll be truthful to you.
But I'm in love, I'm in love with your soul, and I don't now just what to do.
So shake a hand, shake a hand, shake a hand if you can.
Shake a hand, shake a hand, shake a hand if you can.
In LaVern Baker's song Shake a Hand, the lyrics are about an offer of support and commitment to a loved one. The first verse talks about the singer's willingness to take on any problem that her loved one may have, and that she will be there to support them through it all. The chorus then urges the listener to shake a hand if they can, which can be interpreted as an invitation to connect with others and offer support.
The second verse continues with the theme of truthfulness and love, but the singer admits to being unsure of what to do in some situations. The song ends with the repeated call to shake a hand as a way to show respect and form connections with others.
Overall, the song has a positive message about the power of compassion and connection, and the importance of being there for each other through life's adversities.
Line by Line Meaning
Just leave it to me, now don't you ever be changed,
Have confidence in me and don't alter yourself, I will handle everything.
Just give me a chance and I'll take care of everything.
Permit me an opportunity and I will handle and resolve every situation.
Your troubles I share, I'll let you know when I'll be there.
I will be available to share your worries and notify you of my forthcoming.
I'll take care, take care of you, any place and everywhere.
I'll support and care for you wherever you may be, without exception.
Shake a hand, shake a hand, a-shake a hand if you can.
Engage in goodwill by shaking hands with others, if possible.
Shake a hand, shake a hand, shake a hand if you can.
Encourage others to also join in extending a friendly gesture by shaking hands, if they can.
Be truthful to me and I'll be truthful to you.
If you are honest with me, I will be honest with you in return.
But I'm in love, I'm in love with your soul, and I don't now just what to do.
I am enamored with your essence, but uncertain of how to proceed.
So let's call it a day, I've said all I've gotta say
Let us end this conversation or discussion, as I have expressed everything I needed to convey.
Except, oh yeah, baby, you gotta learn how to pray and shake a hand every day.
Although, baby, it is essential to learn to pray and consistently extend a friendly gesture by shaking hands.
Lyrics © REGENT MUSIC CORPORATION, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOE MORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind