Phillips was born in Guthrie, Oklahoma and Perry in Sherman, Texas, but their impact in the music industry occurred in Los Angeles in 1954. The pair had become acquainted in 1949 when they were saxophonists for The Richard Lewis Band.
Prior to teaming up with Perry, Phillips worked with several other artists who performed under the name "Johnny." The first was Carl Green, and later Johnny Starks. Phillips also paired with the R&B singer Jesse Belvin. They charted with "Dream Girl" b/w "Daddy Loves Baby" in late 1952. "Dream Girl" received good airplay and sales in California, but Belvin had opportunities elsewhere and left Phillips to pursue a solo career. Later, Marvin "Rip" Spencer, Phillips' nephew, would perform under the Marvin and Johnny name.
Phillips then teamed up with Carl "Johnny" Green, who had been working as a duo recording as Johnny & Mack for Deluxe Records. This incarnation of the duo recorded "Baby Doll" b/w "I'm Not Your Fool" for Specialty Records in the summer of 1953. At the same time, Phillips recorded the single "Sweetheart Darling" for Swingtime Records. The next outing for the duo was "Jo Jo" b/w "How Long She Been Gone" in early 1954. "School of Love" b/w "Boy Loves Girl" was their next release. On July 13, 1954, the pair signed with the Bihari brothers and moved to the Modern Records label. At Modern, they recorded "Tick Tock" and "Cherry Pie." The record was a big seller, and both sides received airplay. As was commonplace among early doo-wop, part of its popularity rested with the double-entendre lyric.
After "Cherry Pie", the pair performed on shows and revues that traveled around the West Coast of the United States. They released "Day In-Day Out" b/w "Flip", then "Kiss Me" b/w "Sugar," and "Little Honey" b/w "Honey Girl". None of these recordings had the commercial impact of "Cherry Pie."
Aside from their doo-wop lineage, Marvin & Johnny were significant figures in the transition from West Coast jump blues to R&B. In 1955, Marvin & Johnny continued to do personal appearances and recorded singles. However, their appeal continued to be based on "Cherry Pie." They went their separate ways that year, but Marvin did not let the Marvin & Johnny name die. Jesse Belvin had received his discharge from the U.S. Army by this time and he rejoined Phillips. In July 1956, Phillips and Belvin broke up again as Phillips began a solo career billed as Long Tall Marvin. Aladdin Records released "My Dear My Darling" in September 1956 and credited it to Marvin & Johnny. In May 1958, an old Marvin & Johnny recording of "Yak Yak" b/w "Pretty Eyes" was released on Aladdin.
George Carlin performed "Cherry Pie" following a monologue on the Gladys Knight & The Pips variety show in 1975, backed by the Pips, and again on The Arsenio Hall Show on 30 November 1989.
That's All I Want From You
Marvin & Johnny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that was way before my soul adored you
Guess Aristotle never looked into your eyes, uh
It's definitely supernatural
'Cause I'm indefinitely falling for you
Now I'm a satellite and I'm touching the sky
'Cause I got high on the day that we metAnd I never came down, I'm addicted
Haven't left my mind
Since the day that we met
You've been stuck in my head
All I want is you, after all this time
Baby, everything you do sets my soul on fire
And I've been loving the way that you're making me feel
Baby, nothing has changed and it never will
'Cause all I want is you
(All I want, all I want)
You are the center of my universe
'Cause everything I do revolves around you
Guess Galileo never held you in his arms (ooh)
Can't get enough of you so beautiful it hurts
I'm King Solomon just writing songs about you
I wanna give you all the love inside my heart
All I want is you, after all this time
Baby, everything you do sets my soul on fire
And I've been loving the way that you're making me feel
Baby, nothing has changed and it never will
'Cause all I want is you
All I want is you, after all this time
Baby, everything you do is still driving me wild
And I've been loving the way that you're making me feel
Baby, nothing has changed and it never will
'Cause all I want is you
(All I want, all I want)
The lyrics of Marvin & Johnny's song "That's All I Want from You" reflect a profound sense of love and admiration towards a special person. The opening lines convey a sense of awe and wonder at the depth of feelings experienced, comparing love to something metaphysical and supernatural. The mention of Aristotle and Galileo, two prominent historical figures known for their intellectual pursuits, serves to emphasize the extraordinary nature of the connection being described. The imagery of becoming a satellite and touching the sky suggests a feeling of being elevated and transcendent in the presence of this beloved individual.
The lyrics further delve into the addictive nature of love, with the singer expressing that they have never come down from the high experienced since the day they met their love interest. The repetition of being stuck in their head symbolizes the persistent and consuming thoughts of this person that dominate their mind. This obsessive quality highlights the intensity of the feelings involved and the inability to shake off the impact of meeting someone who has deeply affected them.
The chorus of the song crystallizes the central theme, with the repeated declaration that all the singer wants is this person. They describe how everything this person does sets their soul on fire and how they have been loving the way they make them feel. The mention of King Solomon and writing songs about the beloved individual conveys a sense of reverence and devotion, drawing parallels to historical figures known for their wisdom and love poetry. The desire to give all the love in their heart encapsulates the depth of emotion and commitment present in the relationship.
As the song progresses, the lyrics continue to emphasize the enduring nature of the singer's feelings. The recurring refrain of "all I want is you" serves as a powerful declaration of love and devotion. The imagery of the person being the center of the singer's universe and everything revolving around them conveys a sense of total immersion and focus on this special individual. Overall, the lyrics of "That's All I Want from You" convey a heartfelt expression of love, desire, and unwavering commitment towards a significant other, capturing the essence of a deep and meaningful connection that transcends time and space.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought that love was metaphysical
I used to believe love was a concept beyond the physical world
But that was way before my soul adored you
Until I met you and my soul fell completely in love with you
Guess Aristotle never looked into your eyes, uh
Aristotle never had the privilege of seeing the beauty in your eyes
It's definitely supernatural
This love feels beyond natural, almost mystical
'Cause I'm indefinitely falling for you
I find myself falling for you endlessly
Now I'm a satellite and I'm touching the sky
My love for you has me soaring high, reaching new heights
'Cause I got high on the day that we met
I felt euphoric when we first met
And I never came down, I'm addicted
I never lost that feeling and now I'm addicted to you
Haven't left my mind
You've been occupying my thoughts constantly
Since the day that we met
Since the moment we first laid eyes on each other
You've been stuck in my head
I can't stop thinking about you
All I want is you, after all this time
Even after all this time, all I desire is you
Baby, everything you do sets my soul on fire
Your every action ignites my soul with passion
And I've been loving the way that you're making me feel
I adore how you make me feel when I'm with you
Baby, nothing has changed and it never will
My feelings for you remain constant and everlasting
'Cause all I want is you
You are all I desire and need
You are the center of my universe
You hold the most important place in my life
'Cause everything I do revolves around you
My actions and decisions are all centered on you
Guess Galileo never held you in his arms (ooh)
Galileo never experienced the joy of holding you close
Can't get enough of you so beautiful it hurts
I can't have enough of you, your beauty is almost painful
I'm King Solomon just writing songs about you
Like King Solomon, I am inspired to write about you
I wanna give you all the love inside my heart
I wish to offer you all the love that resides in my heart
Baby, everything you do is still driving me wild
Even now, your actions continue to excite me
All I want, all I want
You are all I desire
Lyrics © SECRET ROAD MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Jonathan Stimson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind