Born in Galveston, Texas, she entered an amateur contest in 1949 at Johnny Otis's Barrelhouse Club in Los Angeles. Otis was so impressed that he recorded her for Modern Records and added her, billed as Little Esther, to his travelling revue, the California Rhythm and Blues Caravan. Her first hit record was "Double Crossin' Blues," recorded in 1950 for Savoy Records. After several hit records with Savoy, including "Mistrustin' Blues," "Misery," "Cupid Boogie," "Wedding Boogie," "Far Away Christmas Blues," and "Deceivin' Blues", she left the company in 1951 after a dispute over royalties. She later left Otis's revue. She had no further hits until 1962, after being re-discovered by Kenny Rogers.
After signing with Rogers' brother's record label, Lenox Records, she took the stage name Esther Phillips, and had a pop, country, and R & B hit with "Release Me" (successfully covered in 1967 by Engelbert Humperdinck). Moving to Atlantic Records after Lenox failed, she recorded jazzier material and came to the attention of The Beatles, who brought her to the United Kingdom to perform in her own television special. Despite critical success, she had no more hits until she signed with Kudu Records in 1971.
Months later, in 1972, Phillips released her first, most daring and possibly finest recording effort for Kudu, "From a Whisper to a Scream." It was a risky release for Kudu, but it paid off. Phillips' own personal struggle with heroin dependency lent special poignance and depth to her heart-wrenching, street-wise rendition of Gil Scott-Heron's "Home Is Where the Hatred Is," in which a defeated junkie muses, "Home is where the hatred is. Home is filled with pain, and it might not be such a bad idea if I never, never went home again." Scott-Heron's tragic, searing lyrics hit home. Phillips later admitted the song was personally the hardest composition she had ever sung in her career. Carole King's "Brother, Brother" and the title cut were also classic album performances. "From a Whisper to a Scream" garnered a Grammy nomination in 1972, and, when Phillips lost to the "Queen of Soul" Aretha Franklin, the soul diva presented the trophy to Phillips, saying she should have won it instead.
The distinctively nasal, whisky-and-cigarettes quality of Phillips' voice was unique among recording artists of her time. Her biggest hit for Kudu was a 1975 cover version of Dinah Washington's "What a Difference a Day Made." It reached a high of a Top Twenty chart appearance in the U.S., and Top Ten in the UK Singles Chart. Throughout the 70s she also became a close friend of Andy Warhol. Phillips' performing career also reached its zenith during this period. After leaving Kudu for Mercury Records and Winning Records, she failed to maintain her success.
Phillips' long-term heroin dependency, combined with heavy drinking, led to her death from liver and kidney failure in Carson, California in 1984, at the age of 48.
I'll be there
Little Esther Lyrics
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We must bring salvation back,
Where there is love, I'll be there (I'll be there)
I'll reach out my hand to you
I'll have faith in all you do.
Just call my name and I'll be there (I'll be there)
Build my world of dreams around you,
I'm so glad that I found you.
I'll be there with a love that's strong,
I'll be your strength,
I'll keep holdin' on (Holdin' on)
Yes I will, yes I will
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter,
Togetherness, girl, is all I'm after,
Whenever you need me, I'll be there (I'll be there)
I'll be there to protect you, (yeah baby)
With unselfish love that respects you.
Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)
I'll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you,
I'm so glad that I found you.
I'll be there with a love that's strong,
I'll be your strength,
I'll keep holdin' on.
Ooh ooh ooh
Yes I will (Holdin' on, holdin' on)
Yes I will
If you should ever find someone new
I know he better be good to you
'Cause if he doesn't
I'll be there (I'll be there)
Don't you know baby I'll be there
I'll be there I'll be there
Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)
Just look over your shoulders honey, ooh!
I'll be there, I'll be there,
Whenever you need me, I'll be there (I'll be there)
Don't you know baby,
I'll be there, I'll be there
Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)
Oh oh oh oh I'll be there, I'll be there
"I'll Be There" by Little Esther is a love song that speaks to the need for trust, faith, and unwavering support between two people in a relationship. The lyrics outline the promise that the singer is making to their significant other, vowing to always be there for them in moments of distress and happiness alike. The chorus repeats the phrase "I'll be there" as a reassurance, emphasizing the singer's commitment to their partner.
The beginning of the first verse contains the line "You and I must make a pact/We must bring salvation back," which suggests that the singer sees their relationship as a way of bringing healing to their own lives and to the world around them. This pact is further developed through the promise to "bring salvation back," implying that the relationship has a larger purpose beyond providing personal fulfillment. The song continues with the phrase "Where there is love, I'll be there," which suggests that the singer believes love is a transformative force that can change the world.
The remaining verses reinforce the singer's commitment to their partner, promising to offer comfort, protection, and support whenever they are needed. The line "Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter/Togetherness, girl, is all I'm after" shows that the singer desires not only to provide emotional support but also to create a sense of joy and happiness in the relationship. The repeated refrain of "I'll be there" throughout the song becomes a mantra of sorts, conveying the singer's unwavering devotion to their partner.
Overall, "I'll Be There" is a romantic and heartfelt song about the power of love and the importance of steadfast support in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
You and I must make a pact
We need to come to an agreement
We must bring salvation back
We have the responsibility to restore goodness in the world
Where there is love, I'll be there (I'll be there)
I'll be present wherever there is love
I'll reach out my hand to you
I'll extend my help to you
I'll have faith in all you do.
I'm confident in your abilities
Just call my name and I'll be there (I'll be there)
You can always rely on me
I'll be there to comfort you,
I'll provide you with emotional support
Build my world of dreams around you,
I'll create a beautiful life with you
I'm so glad that I found you.
I'm so happy to have you in my life
I'll be there with a love that's strong,
I'll have a powerful love for you
I'll be your strength,
I'll be a source of strength for you
I'll keep holdin' on (Holdin' on)
I'll stay committed to you
Yes I will, yes I will
I definitely will
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter,
I want to make you happy
Togetherness, girl, is all I'm after,
All I want is to be together with you
Whenever you need me, I'll be there (I'll be there)
I'll be there for you whenever you need me
I'll be there to protect you, (yeah baby)
I'll keep you safe from harm
With unselfish love that respects you.
My love for you will be genuine and respectful
Just call my name, I'll be there (I'll be there)
You don't have to worry, just call me and I'll be there for you
If you should ever find someone new
If you move on with someone else
I know he better be good to you
I hope that the person treats you well
'Cause if he doesn't
If he treats you badly
I'll be there (I'll be there)
I'll still be there for you
Don't you know baby I'll be there
I want you to know that I'll be there
Just look over your shoulders honey, ooh!
Even if you don't see me, I'm always watching out for you
Ooh ooh ooh
Vocalization expressing love and care
Whenever you need me, I'll be there (I'll be there)
I'll come to you whenever you need me
Don't you know baby,
I want you to understand
I'll be there, I'll be there
I'll always be there for you
Oh oh oh oh I'll be there, I'll be there
I repeat, I'll always be there for you
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Berry Gordy Jr, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind