Born in Houston, he listened to the blues as a child and started playing piano at the age of three. In his teens, he performed with a local group and worked as an accompanist to blues musician, Guitar Slim. In the early 1960s, he moved to Los Angeles, California, where he worked with saxophonist Big Jay McNeely. McNeely arranged for him to record his first single, "Without a Love", an instrumental on the small Swingin' record label. After that, he joined Sam Cooke's band as keyboardist until the singer's death. Haywood next recorded two singles for Fantasy Records, and subsequently moved to Imperial Records, where he recorded the single "She's with Her Other Love", which made the R&B charts in 1965. He was also part of two session bands organized by Los Angeles disc jockey Magnificent Montague which issued the instrumental hits "Hole in the Wall" (R&B #5/Pop #50, 1965) under the name of The Packers, and "Precious Memories" (R&B number 31, 1967) as the Romeos. In 1967, Haywood secured his first solo hit with "It's Got to Be Mellow" (R&B #21 and Pop #63) on Decca Records. He played on further recording sessions with the Packers and Dyke & the Blazers, then returned to recording under his own name. He also established in 1967 a production company, Evejim, named after his parents.
He found only sporadic success as a singer, most notably with "It's Got to Be Mellow" and "Keep It in the Family". In the Carolinas and Virginia, Haywood's song, "It's Got to Be Mellow," has become a timeless beach music classic. After recording for Columbia Records, he moved over to MCA Records. He emerged as a star in the 1970s by modifying his style to incorporate the emerging funk and disco idioms. Haywood joined 20th Century Records in 1974 and was immediately successful, notably with "I Want'a Do Something Freaky to You" (R&B #7/Pop #15, 1975), "Strokin' (Pt. II)" (R&B #13, 1976) and "Party" (R&B #24, 1978). In 1980, Haywood revived the shuffle beat of 1950s rock and roll with "Don't Push It Don't Force It" (R&B #2 and Pop #49). This single also reached #12 in the UK, where he is considered a one-hit wonder.
Haywood is credited with writing the 1981 hit "She's a Bad Mama Jama" by Carl Carlton, which he produced in his own studio. In 1983, he released the album It's Me Again, which featured a couple minor R&B hits. His last R&B chart record was "Tenderoni" (#22) in 1984, but the accompanying album, Now and Then went unreleased. After a few more chart singles, for Casablanca Records and Modern Records, Haywood disappeared from the charts. In the late 1980s he became associated in an executive/production capacity with the Los Angeles based Edge Records. From the 1980s, he produced blues albums by Jimmy McCracklin, Clay Hammond, Ronnie Lovejoy, Buddy Ace and others on his own Evejim Records label.
He died on April 5, 2016, aged 74.
Daydream
Leon Haywood Lyrics
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All I do is daydream
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
And I'm staring into space, yeah
My supervisor's watching
I know I'll soon be replaced, yeah
I can't keep my concentration
No matter how hard I try
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
The day is long and it's so boring
'Cause I'd rather be with you
But I've got to put this time in
Because I've got some bills that's due
I can't help reminiscing
About the warmth of your kisses
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby, ooh babe
On the crowded bus with stand room only
Trying to make it home to you
My feet are sore, my back is aching
I'm so glad the day is through
I'm in deep medication
Some folks say I'm in a trance
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream about you, baby
I can do nothing but daydream
I daydream
The lyrics to Leon Haywood's song "Daydream" express the constant thoughts and daydreams of the singer about the person he loves. He describes how he can't focus on his daily routine and constantly finds himself daydreaming about his lover. The singer talks about how his day seems to drag on and he longs to be with his loved one. He even goes as far as saying that he is deep in meditation or a trance because of his thoughts.
Throughout the lyrics, the singer expresses how difficult it is for him to concentrate and focus on anything else because his mind is always consumed by thoughts of his loved one. He even acknowledges the possible consequences of his daydreaming at work, with his supervisor watching and knowing that he may be replaced soon. However, his thoughts continue to stay fixated on the person he loves, even when he is on his way home from work and physically exhausted.
Line by Line Meaning
I can do nothing but daydream, baby
All I can think about is you, baby. My mind is constantly consumed by thoughts of you.
I'm sitting on my job
I'm at work, but my mind is elsewhere.
And I'm staring into space, yeah
I'm not focused on my work, but rather daydreaming and lost in thought.
My supervisor's watching
My boss is keeping an eye on me and I could potentially lose my job if I don't focus.
I can't keep my concentration
It's difficult for me to concentrate on anything when you're constantly on my mind.
The day is long and it's so boring
My day is dull and uninteresting without you in it.
I can't help reminiscing
I find myself constantly thinking back to moments we shared together.
About the warmth of your kisses
Specifically, I think about how delightful and intimate our moments together were.
On the crowded bus with stand room only
I'm struggling through my daily commute, missing you.
Trying to make it home to you
My one goal throughout the day is to make it back to you.
I'm in deep medication
I'm lost in thought, lost in the memories of our time together.
Some folks say I'm in a trance
Others may perceive me as disengaged or distant, but in reality, I'm just consumed by thoughts of you.
I can do nothing but daydream, baby
My mind is constantly fixated on thoughts of you, I can't concentrate on anything else.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: LEON HAYWOOD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind