Many sources erroneously give his middle name as Edgar. He is best known for his popular music chart successes with songs such as, "All Around the World" (1955), "Need Your Love So Bad" (1956) and "Fever" the same year, the latter covered in 1958 by Peggy Lee. An important figure in early R&B music, Little Willie John was a 1996 Inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He was born in Cullendale, Arkansas, one of ten children, his family moving to Detroit, Michigan when he was four so that his father could pursue factory work. In the late 1940s, the eldest children, including Willie, formed a gospel singing group, and Willie also performed in talent shows, which brought him to the notice of Johnny Otis and, later, musician and producer Henry Glover. After seeing him sing with the Paul "Hucklebuck" Williams orchestra, Glover signed him to a recording contract with King Records in 1955. He was nicknamed "Little Willie" John for his short stature.
His first recording, a version of Titus Turner's "All Around the World", was a hit, reaching # 5 on the Billboard R&B chart. He followed up with a string of R&B hits, including the original version of "Need Your Love So Bad", written by his elder brother Mertis John Jr. One of his biggest hits, "Fever" (1956) (Pop #24), was more famously covered by Peggy Lee in 1958. However, John's version alone sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Another song, "Talk to Me, Talk to Me" recorded in 1958, reached #5 in the R&B chart and #20 in the Pop chart, and also sold over one million. A few years later it was a hit once again by Sunny & the Sunglows. He also recorded "I'm Shakin'" by Rudy Toombs, "Suffering With The Blues", and "Sleep" (1960) (Pop #13). In all, John made the Billboard Hot 100 a total of fourteen times. A cover version of "Need Your Love So Bad" by Fleetwood Mac was also a hit in Europe. Another of his songs to be covered was "Leave My Kitten Alone", (1959). The Beatles recorded a version in 1964, intended for their Beatles for Sale album, but it went unreleased until 1995.
Willie John was known for his short temper and propensity to abuse alcohol, and was dropped by his record company in 1963. In 1966, he was convicted of manslaughter and sent to Washington State Penitentiary for a fatal knifing incident following a show in Seattle. He appealed against his conviction and was released while the case was reconsidered, during which time he recorded what was intended to be his comeback album, but owing to contractual wrangling and the decline of his appeal, it was not released until 2008 (as Nineteen Sixty Six). Little Willie John died in 1968 at Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla, Washington. Despite counter claims, the official cause of death was listed in his death certificate as a heart attack.
His interment was in Warren, Michigan's Detroit Memorial Park East.
Little Willie John was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
He was the brother of singer Mable John, who recorded for Motown and Stax, and the father of Keith John, a long time backing vocalist for Stevie Wonder.
James Brown, who early in his career had opened shows for John, recorded a tribute album, Thinking about Little Willie John... and a Few Nice Things.
Robbie Robertson, former lead guitarist for The Band, referenced John in a song on his 1987 self-titled album titled "Somewhere Down the Crazy River." He was also referenced in Tom Russell's "Blue Wing."
A biography, Fever: Little Willie John; A Fast Life, Mysterious Death and the Birth of Soul, written by Susan Whitall with Kevin John (another son of Little Willie John) was released in 2011 by Titan Books.
Heartbreak
Little Willie John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Weak in the knees, loose in the head
My baby has left me
And I wish that I was dead
Heartbreak, it's hurtin' me
I'm dyin' in the eye
Lost my sense of touch
I love her so much
Heartbreak, it's hurtin' me
She lead me to believe
That I was all she had
This morning I was happy
Tonight I got 'em bad
Heartbreak, it's killing me
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah
I know been a fool
How taken I have been
If I see my baby
I'd run to her again
Heartbreak, it's a-hurting me
It's hurting me
If I was a judge
I'd send her to the chair
I'd sit right down beside her
And she wouldn't leave me here
Yea-ah
Heartbreak
It's hurtin' me
Heartbrea-yoo-hoo-hoo, yea-ah
It's what I'll do
The lyrics to Little Willie John's song "Heartbreak" describe the deep emotional pain caused by a breakup. The song conveys a sense of complete devastation as the singer describes feeling weak, disoriented, and heartbroken. He is in such intense pain that he wishes he were dead, and he has lost all sense of touch and direction.
He is completely overwhelmed by the pain of losing his lover, who he loved deeply and trusted completely. He is confused and betrayed, as he had believed that he was all she had. He feels foolish for being so taken in by her, but he is still so in love that he would run back to her if he had the chance.
The final verse of the song expresses an intense desire for revenge, with the singer imagining himself as a judge sentencing his ex-lover to death. Despite this, he still can't help but feel the crushing pain of heartbreak.
Overall, the lyrics to "Heartbreak" paint a powerful picture of the pain and confusion experienced by those going through a breakup, and the deep emotional scars it can leave.
Line by Line Meaning
Heartbreak, it's hurtin' me
The singer is experiencing overwhelming emotional pain due to a heartbreak
Weak in the knees, loose in the head
The pain is affecting the singer physically and mentally, causing him to feel weak and disoriented
My baby has left me
The cause of the heartbreak is the departure of the singer's loved one
And I wish that I was dead
The emotional pain is so intense that the singer wishes for death as a way to escape it
I'm dyin' in the eye
The pain is causing the singer to feel like he is on the brink of death
Lost my sense of touch
The singer is numb and unable to feel anything due to the heartbreak
I love her so much
The singer's love for his departed loved one is strong and deep
She lead me to believe that I was all she had
The singer was under the impression that his loved one relied on him completely for support and love
This morning I was happy, tonight I got 'em bad
The switch from happiness in the morning to despair at night illustrates the intensity and unpredictability of the singer's emotions
Heartbreak, it's killing me
The ongoing pain of the heartbreak is causing the singer to feel like he is dying
I know been a fool
The singer acknowledges that he made mistakes that may have contributed to the heartbreak
How taken I have been
The singer recognizes how deeply he was invested in the relationship prior to the heartbreak
If I see my baby, I'd run to her again
Despite the pain, the singer would still give anything to be reunited with his loved one
If I was a judge, I'd send her to the chair
The singer's pain and anger at his loved one's departure is so intense that he wishes he had the power to sentence her to death
I'd sit right down beside her, and she wouldn't leave me here
The singer longs for the comfort of his loved one's presence and believes that if he had the opportunity to be near her, she would not leave him again
Heartbreak
The chorus repeats the central theme of the song: the intense pain of a heartbreak
It's hurtin' me
The chorus repeats the idea that the heartbreak is causing the singer tremendous pain
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: C HOYLES, JON THOMAS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HeadphoneWalls
Best sound quality. Thank you.
The45Prof
Glad you like it!
louis hubbard
cool 2 cool