Moses was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and attended Booker T. Washington High School. In the late 1950s he formed his first band, the Showstoppers. They became a popular live act in the Atlanta area, and were at one time the house band at the Royal Peacock club.
Moses moved to New York in the mid 1960s, where he worked as a session musician as well as recording with Johnny Brantley, who co-wrote and produced his first single, "My Adorable One", in 1965. In 1967 he recorded three singles - all commercially unsuccessful - for the Musicor label, including "Bad Girl" and an instrumental version of The Four Tops' "Reach Out, I'll Be There". He also recorded a version of "Dark End of the Street", issued by Gates Records probably in 1969. Moses' guitar style has been described as "funky" and likened to that of Jimi Hendrix, a contemporary of his on the club scene of the mid-1960s. He has also been praised for his "rough and powerful deep soul singing style".
In 1970, he released a single, "Time and Place", on the Maple label, a subsidiary of All Platinum Records. This was followed by a nine-track LP of the same name, again produced by Brantley, which contained his versions of several classic songs of the period including "Hey Joe". The album featured several members of The Ohio Players, as well as Moses' own band, the Deciples (sic). Although the album has since been described as "a revered and highly sought-after lost treasure for deep soul fans and collectors", it was a commercial failure at the time.
Moses also worked with fellow Atlanta native The Mighty Hannibal on his 1973 album, Truth. He returned to Atlanta in the early 1970s, and continued to perform locally, but did not record again. He died there in 1997.
In 2007, Castle Music issued a CD anthology of all Moses' recordings, under the title Time and Place.
Reach Out
Lee Moses Lyrics
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Because all of your hope is gone,
And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion,
And your world around is crumblin' down;
Darling, reach out (come on girl, reach on out for me)
Reach out (reach out for me.)
I'll be there, with a love that will shelter you.
I'll be there to always see you through.
When you feel lost and about to give up
'Cause your best just ain't good enough
And you feel the world has grown cold,
And you're drifting out all on your own,
And you need a hand to hold:
Darling, reach out (come on girl, reach out for me)
Reach out (reach out for me.)
I'll be there, to love and comfort you,
And I'll be there, to cherish and care for you.
I'll be there to love and comfort you.
I can tell the way you hang your head,
You're without love and now you're afraid
And through your tears you look around,
But there's no peace of mind to be found.
I know what you're thinkin',
You're alone now, no love of your own,
But darling, reach out (come on girl, reach out for me)
Reach out (reach out for me.)
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there, to give you all the love you need,
And I'll be there, you can always depend on me.
Lee Moses's "Reach Out I'll Be There" is a soulful and emotionally resonant song that speaks to those who are feeling lost, hopeless, and alone. The song's lyrics encourage listeners to reach out for help and to know that there is love and support available to them.
The first verse of "Reach Out I'll Be There" speaks directly to those who are feeling overwhelmed by their circumstances. The lyrics speak of feeling hopeless and that happiness is an illusion. When the world is crumbling down around you, the song encourages reaching out for help. The repetition of the line "reach out" emphasizes the importance of seeking support when things feel dire. The chorus of the song emphasizes that the singer will always be there for the listener, to offer shelter, love, and support through difficult times.
The second verse of the song continues with the theme of feeling lost and alone. The lyrics speak to those who feel that they cannot live up to their own expectations or that the world has grown cold. The song emphasizes the need for a hand to hold, and the reassurance that the singer will always be there to love and comfort the listener. The final verse of the song notes that the singer can see that the listener is without love and afraid. However, the chorus repeats the message of the song, that when you reach out, someone will be there to give you the love and support that you need.
Line by Line Meaning
Now if you feel that you can't go on
If at any point you feel like you cannot continue on with life
Because all of your hope is gone,
And all your optimism and positivity has disappeared
And your life is filled with much confusion
And your life is currently in a state of puzzlement, disarray and disorder
Until happiness is just an illusion,
To the point where even the concept of being glad and content in life seems like a mere daydream
And your world around is crumblin' down;
And everything in your surrounding is crumbling to pieces, falling apart
Darling, reach out (come on girl, reach on out for me)
In such a situation, my dear, all you have to do is extend your hand and ask for my help
Reach out (reach out for me.)
Do not hesitate or be afraid to seek my support
I'll be there, with a love that will shelter you.
I will be there for you with a love that will provide a shelter, a safe haven for you to rest and recover
I'll be there, with a love that will see you through.
I will be by your side, with a love so strong that it will guide you through all the hardships
I'll be there to always see you through.
You can always count on me, as I will be there to support and guide you through any obstacles that come your way
When you feel lost and about to give up
In that moment when you feel as if you have lost your way and are on the verge of surrendering
'Cause your best just ain't good enough
When, despite giving your all, you feel as if your best still did not suffice
And you feel the world has grown cold,
And you feel as if the world around you is indifferent and has lost its warmth and compassion
And you're drifting out all on your own,
And you feel as if you are being pushed away from everyone and everything
And you need a hand to hold:
In such a situation, all you require is someone to hold your hand and comfort you
Darling, reach out (come on girl, reach out for me)
My dear, all you need to do is reach out and call for my help
Reach out (reach out for me.)
Do not hesitate to call out to me for assistance
I'll be there, to love and comfort you,
I will be there to love and offer you comfort during your times of need
And I'll be there, to cherish and care for you.
I will be there to look after and care for you with the utmost affection and adoration
I'll be there to love and comfort you.
I will always be there for you, providing you with love and comfort whenever you require it
I can tell the way you hang your head,
It is evident to me from your body language that your confidence and self-esteem are low
You're without love and now you're afraid
You are currently without the presence of love and hence, experiencing discomfort and fear
And through your tears you look around,
Amidst your tears, you are desperately searching for someone to turn to
But there's no peace of mind to be found.
Unfortunately, you are unable to discover any peace of mind or contentment in your current state
I know what you're thinkin',
I am aware of the thoughts that are running through your mind
You're alone now, no love of your own,
You find yourself in solitude now, without any love or companionship of your own
But darling, reach out (come on girl, reach out for me)
However, my dear, all you need to do is extend your hand and call out for my assistance
Reach out (reach out for me.)
Do not hesitate to seek my help and support
Just look over your shoulder
Simply turn your head a little bit to the side
I'll be there, to give you all the love you need,
And you will discover that I will be right there to provide you with all the affection and warmth you require in your life
And I'll be there, you can always depend on me.
You can always rely on me, as I will never disappoint you and will always be there to help you through life's struggles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL VINCENT COLLINS, LAMONT DOZIER, BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD JR. HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind