Gramm sang lead vocals on all of Foreigner's arena rock classics such as "Feels Like The First Time", "Cold As Ice", "Hot Blooded", "Urgent", "Double Vision", "Juke Box Hero", "Head Games", "Dirty White Boy" and "Say You Will", as well as the popular power ballad tunes "Waiting For A Girl Like You" and "I Want to Know What Love Is".
In 1987, during Foreigner's hiatus, Gramm released the album Ready Or Not which brought him positive critical reviews and a top five hit single with "Midnight Blue". This was followed by a second solo effort Long Hard Look, which brought a Top Ten hit "Just Between You and Me", and "True Blue Love", which reached the Top 40. Gramm also performed the title song from the 1987 movie soundtrack The Lost Boys, titled "Lost in the Shadows (The Lost Boys)".
Shadow King was formed in 1990, by Lou Gramm, Def Leppard guitarist Vivian Campbell, Foreigner bass player Bruce Turgon, and drummer Kevin Valentine. Shadow King only had one official studio release, their 1991 eponymous debut album, Shadow King. Although Gramm, Turgon, Campbell and Valentine contributed the song "One Dream" to the Highlander II: The Quickening soundtrack in 1991, the track was officially credited to The Lou Gramm Band.
He also appeared on the Don Mancuso solo cd "D Drive" doing lead vocals in 4 songs and co writing on 2 in 2004. He has now released The Lou Gramm Band's The Lou Gramm Band cd in 2009 with his brothers Ben & Richard. Also writing and appearing on the Christian Rock release are former Black Sheep guitarist Don Mancuso and Andy Knoll on keyboards.
Black Dog
Lou Gramm Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gon' make you sweat, gon' make you groove.
Ah-ah child way you shake that thing,
Gon' make you burn, gon' make you sting.
Hey hey baby when you walk that way,
Watch your heartache drip, can't keep away.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, ah, ah, ahh.
I gotta roll, can't stand still,
Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill.
Eyes that shine burning red,
Dreams of you all through my head.
Ah-ah
Ah-ahh ah-ah
Ah-ah ah-ah
Ah-ah ahhh
Hey baby, whoa baby, pretty baby
Darling give it to me now.
Hey baby, oh baby, pretty baby
Move the way you're doing now.
Didn't take too long 'fore I found out,
What people mean by down and out.
Spent my money, took my car
Started telling her friends she gon' be a star.
I don't know, but I been told
A big-legged woman ain't got no soul.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, ah, ah, ahh.
Oh yeah, oh yeah, ah, ah, ahh.
All I ask for, all I pray
Steady rolling woman gonna come my way.
Need a woman gonna hold my hand
Won't tell me no lies
Make me a happy man.
Ah-ah
Ah-ahh ah-ah
Ah-ah ah-ah
Ah-ah ahhhhh
The song "Black Dog" by Lou Gramm seems to be about a woman who has an irresistible and captivating effect on the singer. The song opens with the singer saying, "hey hey mama said the way you move, Gon' make you sweat, gon' make you groove." This statement implies that the woman's movements are seductive, and she could cause someone to sweat with excitement. The chorus, "oh yeah, oh yeah, ah, ah, ahh," signifies the woman's power and allures over the singer. The lyrics continue with "Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill. Eyes that shine, burning red, Dreams of you all through my head." This line exemplifies the extent of the singer's passion and obsession with the woman as she is always on his mind.
The second verse represents the woman's cunning nature as she takes the singer's money and car while telling her friends that she is going to become a star. The singer concludes by saying, "I don't know, but I been told, A big-legged woman ain't got no soul." This line implies that the woman may have taken advantage of the singer or that he regretted falling for her. Nonetheless, it concludes with him saying he needs a steady rolling woman who will make him a happy man.
Overall, "Black Dog" presents a beautiful start and an end in contrasts, showcasing the exhilarating power of attraction and the gloomy aftermath of a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey hey mama said the way you move,
Gon' make you sweat, gon' make you groove.
My mother told me that the way you dance will make you work up a sweat and want to keep on dancing.
Ah-ah child way you shake that thing,
Gon' make you burn, gon' make you sting.
The way you move your body will make me feel like I'm burning and getting stung with desire.
Hey hey baby when you walk that way,
Watch your heartache drip, can't keep away.
When you walk in that seductive way it's hard to resist your beauty even though I know you'll break my heart.
I gotta roll, can't stand still,
Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill.
I have to keep moving because I have an intense passion that can't be quenched.
Eyes that shine burning red,
Dreams of you all through my head.
My eyes are burning with desire for you, and I can't stop dreaming about you.
Hey baby, whoa baby, pretty baby
Darling give it to me now.
Hey baby, oh baby, pretty baby
Move the way you're doing now.
I want you to continue moving the way you are and giving me what I crave.
Didn't take too long 'fore I found out,
What people mean by down and out.
I learned quickly what it feels like to be broke and alone.
Spent my money, took my car
Started telling her friends she gon' be a star.
She took everything I had and used me to further her own career.
I don't know, but I been told
A big-legged woman ain't got no soul.
I've heard people say that women with large thighs lack grace or sensitivity.
All I ask for, all I pray
Steady rolling woman gonna come my way.
Need a woman gonna hold my hand
Won't tell me no lies
Make me a happy man.
I hope to find a woman who will always be there for me, won't deceive me, and will bring happiness to my life.
Contributed by Lucy S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Scott Mulligan
Underrated and one of the greatest vocalist/ musicians ever
TomBVoxman
One of the best rock singers of his era. I believe this was released in 1997, the same year Lou had a brain tumor removed.
Corinne Duhig
He was absolutely on the top of his game, and then knocked down so cruelly. What a struggle it has been for him to get back to any semblance of health.
Paul Sullivan
Louis Andrew Grammatico, from Rochester, NY, is the greatest
singer/songwriter of all-time!
Pilar Menendez
Great voice. Made me buy foreigner albums back in the old days.
Walter Simmons
Lou Gramm didn't need Foreigner. But Foreigner definitely needed Lou Gramm. He would've been a great soloist and great in any other band if it wasn't Foreigner. Period !!
Daniëlla Jansen
Stairway to heaven sung by THE GREATEST SINGER E-V-E-R
Amazing ❤ thank you
Hilary Lewis
You are always full of surprises! Thank you!
Trucker Ron
Phenomenal singer of all-time!!
Nataly Ivannikova
Dear Mr. Voice, what a spectacular performance! God, thank you, that you returned my great blue-eyed rock hero in music back to his life after a brain tumor. Lou, my heart is filled with something warm. You are alive! (some of my friends even call you "A vocals machine"). Please touch our ears and souls again. You can. You did it since my childhood and do it now - I shiver inside. Best wishes from Russia!