Mable John (born in Bastrop, Louisiana, on 3 November 1930; died 25 August … Read Full Bio ↴Mable John (born in Bastrop, Louisiana, on 3 November 1930; died 25 August 2022) was an American blues vocalist and the first female signed by Berry Gordy to Motown's Tamla label. She received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994.

At a very young age, John moved with her parents to Arkansas, where her father got a job in a paper mill. There four brothers (including Rhythm & Blues singer Little Willie John) and two sisters were born. In 1941, after her father was able to secure a better job, the family moved to Detroit, where two additional brothers were born. The family lived in a new housing development at Six Mile and Dequindre Road. She attended Cleveland Intermediate School, and then Pershing High School, which is at Seven Mile and Ryan Road. After graduating from Pershing High School, she took a job as an insurance representative at Friendship Mutual Insurance Agency, a company run by Berry Gordy's mother, Bertha. Later, she left the company and spent two years at Lewis Business College. She subsequently ran into Mrs. Gordy again, who told Mable that her son Berry was writing songs and was looking for people to record them. Gordy began coaching her and would accompany John on piano at local engagements. This continued until 1959, when John performed at the Flame Show bar on John R Street at the last show that Billie Holiday did in Detroit, just weeks before Holiday's death.

The same year, John began recording for Gordy. First she was signed to United Artists, but nothing was released there. Eventually, she became one of the first artists signed to Tamla, Gordy's own label. In 1960, she released her first Tamla single, "Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?," a blues number, to no success. John followed with "No Love" in June of that year and then with "Actions Speak Louder Than Words" by year's end. While Motown was beginning to have success with acts like The Miracles and The Marvelettes (and later The Supremes, who had sang background vocals for John) that appealed to teenagers and young adults, it failed to make an impact in the established blues market. As a result, Gordy soon thinned out his roster of early blues artists. While John continued to be used as a background singer, Gordy dissolved her contract in 1962.

After leaving Motown, John spent several years as a Raelette, backing many Ray Charles hits. In 1966 she attempted a solo career again, signing with Stax Records. Her first single with the label was "Your Good Thing Is About To End." The song peaked at #6 on the R&B chart, and even managed to cross over onto pop radio, peaking at #95 there. She released six more singles for the label, none of which captured her first single's success. After leaving Stax Records in 1968, John rejoined The Raelettes for several years. She left secular music in 1973, and began managing Christian gospel acts, occasionally returning to the studio as a singer.

John received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994. She appeared in John Sayles' 2007 movie Honeydripper and in the 2014 Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom.

Discography

Albums

Stay Out of the Kitchen (1966, Stax)
[edit]Singles
"Who Wouldn't Love a Man Like That?" (1960, Tamla)
"(I Guess There's) No Love" (1960)
"Actions Speak Louder Than Words" (1961)
"Your Good Thing Is About to End" (1966, Stax) R&B: #6 US: #95
"You're Taking Up Another Man's Place" (1966)
"Same Time, Same Place" (1967)
"I'm a Big Girl Now" (1967)
"Don't Hit Me No More" (1967)
"Able Mable" (1968)
"Running Out" (1968)

Shouldn't I Love Him
Mable John Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Girls, I've found myself a man
He's so sweet
And he understands
He promise to give me
The world on a string
Just to keep us together
Said he'll do anything
Now tell me, girls

Shouldn't I love him?
Girls, shouldn't I love him?
When a man says he'll give
He usually wants to take
If I ever lose him
I know my heart would break
I know he'll say one thing
And then do something else
Oh, but a woman just can't live by herself
Now tell me, girls
Shouldn't I love him?
Girls, shouldn't I love him?
For the nights I stayed awake trying to decide
My heart is getting so lonely
I've got to know tonight
This man may be just leading me on
He may not be alright
But he sure can't be all wrong
If he keeps this promise
I know I've got to win
If he's going to do that
Why can't I just give in

Now girls, shouldn't I love him?
Girls, shouldn't I love him?

Overall Meaning

In Mable John's song "Shouldn't I Love Him," she sings about a man who promises to give her the world on a string and do anything to keep them together. However, she questions whether she should love him or not, as she is aware that when a man says he'll give, he usually wants to take. Mable is afraid that if she loses him, her heart will break, and she won't be able to live by herself. Despite these fears, she's willing to take a chance on love and hopes that he keeps his promises.

The song is about indecision and a desire to find true love. Mable is afraid to give her love to the wrong man, but she's also aware that she cannot live without love. She's struggling to decide whether she should love this man or not, and that indecision is causing her heart to ache. Mable's lyrics show how difficult it can be to trust someone and love them, but sometimes taking a chance is necessary to find happiness.

Line by Line Meaning

Girls, I've found myself a man
I have found a man for myself.

He's so sweet
He is very kind and friendly.

And he understands
He empathizes with me.

He promise to give me
He made a promise to me.

The world on a string
He promises to provide me with everything I want.

Just to keep us together
He does this to keep our relationship intact.

Said he'll do anything
He is willing to do anything for me.

Now tell me, girls
Now, can you all tell me.

Shouldn't I love him?
Should I not love him?

When a man says he'll give
Whenever a man promises to give.

He usually wants to take
He usually wants to take something in return.