Single by Little Walter
Released 1955
Format 10"… Read Full Bio ↴“My Babe”
Single by Little Walter
Released 1955
Format 10" 78rpm / 7" 45rpm
Recorded January 25, 1955
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genre Blues
Label Checker (catalog no. 811)
Writer(s) Willie Dixon
"My Babe" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon for Little Walter. Released in 1955 on Checker Records, a subsidiary of Chess Records, the song was the only Dixon composition ever to become a no. 1 R&B single, and it was one of the biggest hits of either of their careers.
The song was based on the traditional gospel song "This Train (Is Bound For Glory)" , which Sister Rosetta Tharpe recorded in the 1939 hit, This Train. Willie Dixon reworked the arrangement and lyrics from the sacred, the procession of saints into Heaven, into the secular, a story about a woman that won't stand for her man to cheat: "My baby, she don't stand no cheating, my babe, she don't stand none of that midnight creeping". Ray Charles had famously, and controversially, pioneered the gospel-song-to-secular-song approach with his reworking of the gospel hymn "Jesus Is All the World to Me" into "I Got a Woman", which hit the Billboard R&B charts on January 22, 1955, later climbing to the #1 position for one week. Within days of the appearance of Charles's song on the national charts, Little Walter entered the studio to record "My Babe", on January 25, 1955. "My Babe" was released while "I've Got A Woman" was still on the charts, and eclipsed Charles's record by spending 19 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts beginning on March 12, 1955, including 5 weeks at the #1 position, making it one of the biggest R&B hits of 1955. The "B" side of "My Babe" was the harmonica instrumental "Thunderbird", following the pattern established by the release of Little Walter's number #1 hit single from 1952, "Juke", of featuring with a vocal performance one side and a harmonica instrumental on the flip side.
Although no documentaion exists, the song was probably recorded at Universal Recorders in Chicago, the site of most Chess and Checker sessions until Chess opened their own studio c. 1956/'57.[citation needed] Backing Little Walter's vocals and harmonica were Robert Lockwood, Jr. and Leonard Caston on guitars, Willie Dixon on double-bass, and Fred Below on drums.[2] Guitarist Luther Tucker, then a member of Walter's band, was absent from the recording session that day. "My Babe" was re-issued in 1961 with an overdubbed female vocal backing chorus and briefly crossed over to the pop charts.[1]
The success of song lead to dozens of cover versions by artists as diverse as Elvis Presley, Dale Hawkins, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Narvel Felts, Sonny Burgess, Cliff Richard, Mickey Gilley, Ricky Nelson, Peter & Gordon, Ronnie Milsap, Conway Twitty, Ramsey Lewis, Grant Green, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Coleman Hawkins, Gene Ammons, The Animals,, the Steve Miller Band, Lou Rawls, Ike & Tina Turner, and many others. The song "My Babe" by the Spencer Davis Group (Stevie Winwood) on their first album is a different song
"My Babe" was performed by Ben Harper, with James Cotton sitting in on blues harp, during the induction ceremony for Little Walter into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008.
My Babe
Little Walter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh yeah she don't stand no cheatin', my babe
Oh yeah she don't stand no cheatin',
She don't stand none of that midnight creepin'
My babe, true little baby, my babe
My babe, I know she love me, my babe
Oh yes, I know she love me, my baby
She don't do nothin' but kiss and hug me
My babe, true little baby, my babe
My baby don't stand no cheatin', my babe
Oh no, she don't stand no cheatin', my baby
Oh no, she don't stand no cheatin',
Everything she do she do so pleasin'
My babe, true little baby, my babe
My baby don't stand no foolin', my babe
Oh yeah, she don't stand no foolin', my babe
Oh yeah, she don't stand no foolin',
When she's hot there ain't no coolin'
My babe, true little baby, my babe
She's my baby (true little baby)
She's my baby (true little baby)
She's my baby (true little baby)
The song "My Babe" by Little Walter is a classic blues anthem that speaks to the loyalty and love of the singer's partner. The lyrics convey a clear message that the singer's baby will not tolerate any form of cheating, deception, or foolishness. This is evident in the lines, "My baby don't stand no cheatin', my babe/Oh yeah she don't stand no cheatin', my babe/Oh yeah she don't stand no cheatin'/She don't stand none of that midnight creepin'/My babe, true little baby, my babe." The repeated phrase "true little baby" is an endearing term of affection used by the singer to describe his loyal partner.
Further, the lyrics highlight the singer's confidence in his partner's love for him. He knows that she loves him unconditionally and that she shows it through her actions, stating, "Oh yes, I know she love me, my baby/Oh yes, I know she love me/She don't do nothin' but kiss and hug me/My babe, true little baby, my babe." The singer's baby is also described as someone who is pleasing in everything she does, and when she is hot, there is no cooling her off. The lyrics convey a sense of appreciation and gratitude towards the singer's partner for being a faithful and loving companion.
Overall, "My Babe" is a song that celebrates the loyalty and love of the singer's partner. The lyrics showcase the ideal relationship built on trust, respect, and devotion, making it a classic blues song that resonates with audiences to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby don't stand no cheatin', my babe
My significant other doesn't tolerate infidelity
Oh yeah she don't stand no cheatin', my babe
Yes, indeed, my partner is adamant about not being cheated on
Oh yeah she don't stand no cheatin',
Once more, my beloved doesn't abide by unfaithfulness in a relationship
She don't stand none of that midnight creepin'
She isn't OK with me sneaking around secretly in the middle of the night
My babe, true little baby, my babe
She's my real and only love, my sweetheart
My babe, I know she love me, my babe
I'm aware that my cherished partner loves me
Oh yes, I know she love me, my baby
Absolutely, I'm convinced that my special someone cares for me
Oh yes, I know she love me,
Once more, I'm positive that my amour has genuine feelings of affection for me
She don't do nothin' but kiss and hug me
All she does is show me physical affection with embraces and kisses
My baby don't stand no cheatin', my babe
My darling is resolute about not putting up with unfaithfulness
Oh no, she don't stand no cheatin', my baby
Absolutely not, my significant other absolutely won't tolerate infidelity
Oh no, she don't stand no cheatin',
Once more, my love will not accept cheating in a relationship
Everything she do she do so pleasin'
Everything she does is so satisfying, pleasing, and wonderful
My babe, true little baby, my babe
My sweetheart, my true love
My baby don't stand no foolin', my babe
My beloved doesn't appreciate being deceived, tricked, or played for a fool
Oh yeah, she don't stand no foolin', my babe
Yes, indeed, she won't tolerate being tricked or fooled around with
Oh yeah, she don't stand no foolin',
Once more, she won't be deceived or taken advantage of
When she's hot there ain't no coolin'
When she's feeling passionate, excited or aroused, nothing can cool her off
My babe, true little baby, my babe
The one I love, my sweetheart
She's my baby (true little baby)
She's the one I love (true little baby)
She's my baby (true little baby)
She's my sweetheart (true little baby)
She's my baby (true little baby)
She's the one I care about the most (true little baby)
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tyrannosaurusburke
This song is almost 70 years old, and it's timeless!
@kayshawnsimmons5585
Indeed,
@AllaAgabekyan-ll9hf
Բառդ ճշտիր,բոլոր ժամանակների վրա թեւող Է։Միշտ Է Լսվելու,լինես չլինես',Այս Երգերը մնալու են։- մտավ?
@daviddavidson8050
Little Walter, Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf were orig OGs of music. Full grown gangsters. Rest in peace Gentlemen. The hat will always remained tipped special for you.
@samy5102
and willie dixon who wrote it, had a great influence
@nigotemplar3557
True ❤
@blessedmslady7016
Respect❣
@jaquettalee4909
Yes sir
@mihriyam4078
@@jaquettalee4909 is this country or city blues?
@realityisfake1282
A masterpiece. This still thumps today! His harmonica game was elite!
Its mind blowing how talented and soulful all those brothers and sisters were back in the days! #goosebumps
Real music like this will never die!