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.
Take My Love
Little Willie John Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(My love, my love, take my love)
Take my love
I want to give it all to you
You can, you can, you can
Take my lips (take my lips, take my lips, take my lips)
Oh, take my arms, too (take my arms, too, take my arms)
Darling, no one else will do (so, oh)
Ooh-ooh-whoa
Take my hand
(Babe, I believe yeah, really I believe, yeah)
I need you when the day is through
(Babe, I believe yeah, really I believe yeah)
Take my dreams
(Babe, I believe yeah, really I believe yeah)
An' make them all come true
(Babe, I believe yeah, really I believe yeah)
Nothing matters, yeah (oh, oh-oh)
If I can't have you (babe I believe ya)
I really love a-you (love you)
An-a babe you love me, too (me too)
So darling, believe in me (in me)
For my love, you know is true
(Da-da, da-da, da-da)
So, take my heart (soul, soul, soul, soul)
Take my very soul (soul, soul, soul, soul)
Take-a my arm, yeah (arm, arm, arm, arm)
For which I've no control (control, control, control)
My-i life, my lovin' soul
Never let it run cold (a-oh, a-oh)
(Instrumental & guitar & chorus)
Aaah, Aaah, Aaah, Aaah
Unk. spoken: 'be '
Aaah, Aaah, Aaah, Aaah
I really love you (love you)
An' I believe you love me, too (me, too)
So darlin' believe in me (in me)
For you know my love is true
(Da-da, da-da, da-da, da-da)
Take my heart (take my heart, this heart, this heart)
Oh, take my very soul (this soul, this soul, this soul)
You can take my arms (these arms, these arms, these arms)
For which I've no control (no control, no control)
My life, my love is your love
Never let it run cold (cold, cold, cold)
My-i life, my love is your love
Darlin', never let it run cold (cold, cold, cold)
My-i life, is your life
Never let it run cold
FADES-
Ooh-oh my life, my life, my life
Is your love
Never let it run a-cold.
The song "Take My Love" by Little Willie John is a romantic ballad that conveys the artist's desire for his lover to take every part of his being. The repeated invitation to "take my love" emphasizes the depth of his feelings and his willingness to give everything to his partner. He offers his lips, arms, hand, dreams, and heart, demonstrating his commitment to love and cherish his lover. In the chorus, he declares that his love is true, and there is no one else for him. He implores his lover to believe in him and trust that his love will never grow cold. The repetition of the phrase "never let it run cold" underscores his fear of losing the spark and passion that they share.
Overall, the song's lyrics express a romantic and devoted love that is unconditional and all-encompassing. The artist is offering himself wholeheartedly to his lover, with no hesitation or reservation, and is asking for the same in return. The urgency and intensity of his desire are evident in the repetition of the lyrics and the emotional tone of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Take my love
I am offering my love to you
I want to give it all to you
I am willing to give my entire love to you
You can, you can, you can
You are free to accept my love
Take my lips (take my lips, take my lips, take my lips)
I am offering my kisses to you
Oh, take my arms, too (take my arms, too, take my arms)
I am also offering my arms to you
My love is your love
The love I have is entirely yours
Darling, no one else will do (so, oh)
You are the only one I want
Take my hand
I want you to hold my hand
(Babe, I believe yeah, really I believe, yeah)
I have faith in our relationship
I need you when the day is through
I want to be with you at the end of the day
Take my dreams
I want to share my dreams with you
An' make them all come true
I want you to help me achieve my dreams and goals
Nothing matters, yeah (oh, oh-oh)
Without you everything is meaningless
If I can't have you (babe I believe ya)
I need you in my life
I really love a-you (love you)
I am deeply in love with you
An-a babe you love me, too (me too)
I believe you love me as well
So darling, believe in me (in me)
Put your trust in me and our love
For my love, you know is true
You can be sure that my love for you is true
So, take my heart (soul, soul, soul, soul)
I am offering you my heart and my soul
Take my very soul (soul, soul, soul, soul)
I am willing to give everything I am to you
Take-a my arm, yeah (arm, arm, arm, arm)
I want you to hold my arm
For which I've no control (control, control, control)
I cannot control my desire to be close to you
My-i life, my lovin' soul
My life and my soul belong to you
Never let it run cold (a-oh, a-oh)
Don't let our love grow cold and distant
I really love you (love you)
I am deeply in love with you
An' I believe you love me, too (me, too)
I believe you feel the same way about me
Take my heart (take my heart, this heart, this heart)
I am offering my heart to you again
Oh, take my very soul (this soul, this soul, this soul)
I am emphasizing that I am offering you everything I am
You can take my arms (these arms, these arms, these arms)
I want you to hold me in your arms
For which I've no control (no control, no control)
I cannot resist the desire to be close to you
My life, my love is your love
Everything that matters to me is yours
Never let it run cold (cold, cold, cold)
Don't let our love grow distant and unfeeling
My-i life, my love is your love
Everything that is important to me belongs to you
Darlin', never let it run cold (cold, cold, cold)
I am emphasizing that our love must never grow cold and distant
My-i life, is your life
My life is now completely devoted to you
Ooh-oh my life, my life, my life
I am expressing the depth of my commitment to you
Is your love
I am completely devoted to your love
Never let it run a-cold.
I am emphasizing that our love must never grow cold and distant
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: BAKER SHULER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bertha Daniels
Love This version with the one and only Mr Willie John , himself.❤❤❤
Kajun John
Thank you, Bertha!
Jason Hunter
Was a great performer,could sing
Skrilla Steph The Warlock
Take my dreams and make them all come true
Sandra Wilson
willie john taught the rest how to sing...phrasing,mmmmm.
Adrian Andersson
Stevie ray vaughan thought about putting this song on his In Step album but it ended up not being on it
strandwolf
Check out Luther Allison's version.
Max Royle
WHY ??
Blues Chick
You took it all LWJ
TheRealAdamT
@magiclard Me too, it feels a bit more uptempo than this cut.