Davis graduated at 16 from Lubbock High School in Lubbock, Texas. He spent his childhood years with his sister Linda, living and working at the former College Courts, an efficiency apartment complex owned by his father, T. J. Davis, located at the intersection of College Avenue and 5th Street. Davis describes his father, who was divorced from Davis's mother, as "very religious, very strict, and very stubborn." Though Davis was physically small, he had a penchant for getting into fistfights. "In those days, it was all about football, rodeo, and fistfights. Oh, man, I got beat up so much while I was growing up in Lubbock," Davis said in a March 2, 2008, interview with the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal newspaper. "I was 5 feet, 9 inches, and weighed 125 pounds. I joined Golden Gloves, but didn't do good even in my (own) division." After he finished high school, Davis moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where his mother lived, to get out of Lubbock.
Once he was settled in Atlanta, he organized a rock and roll group called the Zots, and made two singles for OEK Records, managed and promoted by OEK owner Oscar Kilgo. Davis also worked for the Vee Jay record company (home to such R&B stars as Gene Chandler, Jerry Butler, and Dee Clark) as a regional manager, and later also served as a regional manager for Liberty Records.
Davis became famous as a songwriter and got his start as an employee of Nancy Sinatra's company, Boots Enterprises, Inc. Davis was with Boots for several years in the late 1960s. During his time there, he played on many of Sinatra's recordings, and she worked him into her stage shows. Boots Enterprises also acted as Davis's publishing company, publishing songs such as "In the Ghetto", "Friend, Lover, Woman, Wife", "Home", "It's Such a Lonely Time of Year", and "Memories", which were recorded by Elvis Presley, Nancy Sinatra, B. J. Thomas, and many others. Davis left Boots Enterprises in 1970 to sign with Columbia Records, taking all of his songs with him.
One of the songs he wrote in 1968, called "A Little Less Conversation", was recorded by Elvis Presley (and would become a posthumous success for Presley years later). Presley recorded "In the Ghetto" in sessions in Memphis. According to maverick record producer Jimmy Bowen, "Ghetto" was originally pitched to Sammy Davis, Jr. Mac, guitar in hand, played the song in a studio, with onlookers such as Rev. Jesse Jackson and other members of the black activist community. Mac Davis, the only white man in the room at the time, eventually told Bowen, "I don't know whether to thank ya, or to kill ya." Mac Davis eventually recorded the tune after Presley's version became a success, and was released in a Ronco In Concert compilation in 1975. It was later released on a campy Rhino Records Golden Throats compilation in 1991. The song became a success for Presley and he continued to record more of Davis's material, such as "Memories", "Don't Cry Daddy", and "Clean Up Your Own Backyard". Bobby Goldsboro also recorded some of Davis's songs, including "Watching Scotty Grow", which became a #1 Adult Contemporary success for Goldsboro in 1971. Other artists who recorded his material included Vikki Carr, O.C. Smith, and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition. "I Believe in Music", often considered to be Davis's signature song, was recorded by several artists (including Marian Love, B.J. Thomas, Louis Jordan, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, and Davis himself) before it finally became a success in 1972 for the group Gallery.
Later, he also became known as a country singer. During the 1970s, many of his songs "crossed over", successfully scoring on both the country and popular music charts, including "Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" (a number one Grammy-nominated success), "One Hell of a Woman" (pop no. 11), and "Stop and Smell the Roses" (a no. 9 pop hit). Also, during the 1970s, he was very active as an actor, appearing in several movies, as well as hosting a successful variety show.
Davis soon decided to pursue a career of his own in country music; he was signed to Columbia Records in 1970. After several years of enriching the repertoires of other artists, his big success came two years after signing with Columbia. He topped the Country and Pop charts with the song "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me". It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the Recording Industry Association of America in September 1972.
Some of Davis's lyrics invoked overtly sexual relationships. In the song "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me", he pleads with a woman not to become too enamored with him, because he does not want to commit to a full-time relationship. Other successful songs, such as "Naughty Girl" and "Baby Spread Your Love on Me", contained similar lyrics.
In 1974, Davis was awarded the Academy of Country Music's Entertainer of the Year award. Some of Davis's other successes include the songs "Stop and Smell the Roses" (a number one Adult Contemporary success in 1974) (pop no. 9), "One Hell of a Woman" (pop no. 11), "Rock'n'Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)" (pop no. 15), and "Burnin' Thing" (pop no. 53). At the end of the 1970s, he moved to Casablanca Records, which was best known at the time for its successes with disco star Donna Summer and rock'n'roll band Kiss. His first success for the company in 1980 was the novelty song "It's Hard To Be Humble", a light-hearted look at how popularity and good looks could go to one's head. The song became his first Country music top 10 and a rare top 30 hit in the UK. (It was translated into Dutch as "Het is moeilijk bescheiden te blijven" and became a hit for the Dutch singer Peter Blanker in 1981). Later that year, he also had another top 10 song with "Let's Keep It That Way". In November, "Rock'n'Roll (I Gave You The Best Years Of My Life)" was played by KHJ in Los Angeles as its last song before it switched from Top 40 to Country music. He achieved other successful songs, such as "Texas In My Rear View Mirror" and "Hooked on Music", which became his biggest Country music success in 1981, going to no. 2. In 1985, he recorded his last top 10 country music success with the song "I Never Made Love (Till I Made Love With You)".
On January 19, 1985, Davis performed "God Bless the USA" at the 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala, held the day before the second inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
Davis was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2000.
A Little Less Conversation
Mac Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna go
I'm gonna go for a while actually
But, before you say anything
Please, please, please hear me out
Well, I know I'm not the most romantic guy in the world
I cannot create even a simple line of a love note
I would like to stay for you
But circumstances won't allowed me
You know I must go, dear
far away and it takes longer than a day
Well boy, I know you're not the most romantic guy in the world
But you already mesmerize me with your simple words
All I want is you, and for you to stay with me
I don't want these things to change
I don't care what's going on
I just don't want to be alone
I cannot be apart from you
Please I'm begging you
I just want you to be near
You know how much it would mean
To see you laugh and hold your hand
When we're dating on a weekend
Girl, I know what you're trying to say
But I can't
It just too complicated for me
To choose between my two dreams
I want you
But I can't do what you ask me to do
Well boy, I just have one question left
Is this means we are over?
No baby, I'll be gone for a while
But I want you and me still together
How can I be sure
That you will keep your heart to me
And you won't see other girls?
You know I would not do that
How can I convince you?
Just stay here and be with me
No no I must go
Babe, I just want you to stay
You know I would if I can
I hope it doesn't just another lie you've made
(I never lie to you Girl), I need you to understand
we're meant to be
I don't get what you trying to say
Do you want to runaway?
No babe, I want you to wait.
I'll be back again,
Someday
Please babe, take my promise, just wait
(Ok. I'll take your promise, I'll wait)
I'll be back someday, till then
(You'll be back someday, till then)
Don't ever let me go
I'm so glad
Can you telling me this not
Baby I will not do it
I'll be back again
someday
Mac Davis's "A Little Less Conversation" is a passionate dialogue between two lovers facing a difficult and impending separation. The song depicts a conversation where the male protagonist struggles to explain the reasons for his departure to his lover. He acknowledges his lack of romanticism and tries to convey how much he wants to stay, but external circumstances won't allow it. On the other hand, the female protagonist pleads with him to stay, expressing her fear of being alone.
The lyrics refer to the frustrating nature of having to choose between two dreams and the inability to give a straightforward answer. The female protagonist's question regarding the possibility of him seeing other girls while away demonstrates her penchant for jealousy and uncertainty regarding their future. The male protagonist assures her of his fidelity and makes a promise to come back someday, urging her not to let him go.
The song's narrative is relatable to anyone who has experienced the pain and uncertainty of a long-distance relationship. It highlights the struggle of communicating one's emotions at a time of separation, especially when there is an underlying fear of the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I wanna tell you something
I have something important to tell you.
I'm gonna go
I have to leave.
I'm gonna go for a while actually
I'll be away for an extended period.
But, before you say anything
Please listen to what I have to say first.
Please, please, please hear me out
I need your undivided attention.
Well, I know I'm not the most romantic guy in the world
I may not be good with words or poetry.
I cannot create even a simple line of a love note
I'm not skilled at writing love letters.
All I want to do is to tell you how much
I just want to express my feelings for you.
I would like to stay for you
I wish I could be with you.
But circumstances won't allowed me
But unfortunately, the situation doesn't allow it.
You know I must go, dear
I have to leave, my love.
far away and it takes longer than a day
I'll be gone for a significant amount of time and it's not a short trip.
Well boy, I know you're not the most romantic guy in the world
Although you say you are not good at expressing romantic emotions, I think otherwise.
But you already mesmerize me with your simple words
But your simple words already captured my heart.
All I want is you, and for you to stay with me
All I want is to be with you and for you not to leave.
I don't want these things to change
I want things to remain the same.
I don't care what's going on
I don't care what's happening in the world.
I just don't want to be alone
I just don't want to be without you.
I cannot be apart from you
I can't bear to be away from you.
Please I'm begging you
I'm begging you.
I just want you to be near
I just want to be close to you.
You know how much it would mean
You know how much it would mean to me.
To see you laugh and hold your hand
To share moments of joy and intimacy with you.
When we're dating on a weekend
When we're spending time together on a weekend.
Girl, I know what you're trying to say
I understand what you're trying to communicate.
But I can't
But I can't do it.
It just too complicated for me
It's too complex for me to handle.
To choose between my two dreams
To choose between my two goals or aspirations.
I want you
I want to be with you.
But I can't do what you ask me to do
But I can't do what you're asking me to do.
Well boy, I just have one question left
I have one more question to ask you.
Is this means we are over?
Does this mean our relationship is over?
No baby, I'll be gone for a while
No, my love. I'll be away for some time.
But I want you and me still together
But I want us to stay together despite the distance.
How can I be sure
How can I trust?
That you will keep your heart to me
That you will remain faithful to me.
And you won't see other girls?
And you won't see other women while you're away?
You know I would not do that
I promise I wouldn't do that.
How can I convince you?
How can I persuade you?
Just stay here and be with me
Just stay here and be with me.
No no I must go
No, no. I can't stay.
Babe, I just want you to stay
My love, I just want you to remain here.
You know I would if I can
You know I would if I could.
I hope it doesn't just another lie you've made
I hope you're not just making another empty promise.
(I never lie to you Girl), I need you to understand
(I would never lie to you, my love). I need you to trust me.
we're meant to be
We're destined to be together.
I don't get what you trying to say
I don't understand what you're saying.
Do you want to runaway?
Are you suggesting that we should run away together?
No babe, I want you to wait.
No, my love. I want you to wait for me.
I'll be back again,
I'll come back again.
Someday
At some point in the future.
Please babe, take my promise, just wait
My love, please hold on to my promise and wait for me.
(Ok. I'll take your promise, I'll wait)
(Alright, I'll trust your promise and wait for you).
You'll be back someday, till then
You'll come back one day, until then.
Don't ever let me go
Don't ever leave me or let me go.
I'm so glad
I'm happy.
Can you telling me this not
Can you assure me this isn't a lie?
Baby I will not do it
My love, I promise that I won't lie to you.
I'll be back again someday
I'll come back again in the future.
Contributed by Evan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
sweetamyleigh
This album came out the year before I was born, and was the first album I ever owned--as a 4 year old who didn't always understand what the lyrics meant but always knew Mac was my man.
Spen For1
Another one gone from my teen years!! Thanks for the great music!!! RIP Mac Davis
navy51
My first album by Mac I bought in the early seventies. I still have it ! Fantastic song !
Warren Korgeski
Wow! Didn’t know he wrote it! Great sound!
Лидия Матвеева
Как всегда замечательно
Sticky James
Excellent! More than just a hint of Tony Joe White in this version!
Paulo Roberto Pereira
Descanse em paz!
Jesús Oliver
I'm shocked, never heard it before and I like it better than the Elvis version, which I like it very much anyway. Much in the Tony Joe White style.
Awsome
Diane Fiske-Foy
Mac probably wrote this, like he did several Elvis’ songs. I like both versions.
Jesús Oliver
@Frank Furfaro Well, maybe I'm as deaf as you are polite