The tragic 1979 death of 31-year-old Riperton silenced one of soul music's most unique and unforgettable voices - blessed with an angelic five-octave vocal range, she scored her greatest commercial success with the chart-topping pop ballad, "Lovin' You". Riperton was born in Chicago on November 8, 1947. As a young girl, she studied music, drama, and dance at the city's Lincoln Center and later contemplated a career in opera. Her pop career began in 1963 when she joined the local girl group called The Gems (not to be confused with the 60s New York-based girl group Gems, led by Louise Bethune), who were also known at times as The Starlets (1963-1966), signing to the famed Chess label to release a handful of singles as well as lend backing vocals to acts including Fontella Bass, The Dells, and Etta James. After graduating from high school, Riperton went to work at Chess as a receptionist. A year before The Gems' dissolution in 1967, she also signed with the label as a solo act, releasing a single, Lonely Girl, under the alias Andrea Davis (a pseudonym she used in honor of Billy Davis, her mentor at Chess who wrote the song for her).
In 1967, Riperton was installed as the lead vocalist of the psychedelic soul band Rotary Connection, which debuted that year with a self-titled LP on Cadet Concepts. The singles "Amen" and "Lady Jane" found a home on underground FM radio, but the group failed to make much of an impression on mainstream outlets. While still a Connection member, Riperton mounted a solo career. Teaming up with producer/arranger Charles Stepney and her husband/composer Richard Rudolph, she issued her brilliant 1970 debut, Come to My Garden, but again commercial success eluded her. After Rotary Connection dissolved in the wake of 1971's Hey Love, she and Rudolph took a two-year sabbatical in Florida before relocating to Los Angeles, where she sang on Stevie Wonder's Fulfillingness' First Finale and toured as a member of his backing unit Wonderlove.
Wonder agreed to co-produce Riperton's 1974 album Perfect Angel, which included the international blockbuster "Lovin' You". The record made her a household name, although subsequent LPs like 1975's Adventures in Paradise and 1977's Stay in Love failed to repeat its success. By this time, however, commercial woes were the least of Riperton's concerns - diagnosed with breast cancer, she underwent a mastectomy in 1976, later becoming a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society and earning a Society Courage Award from then-President Jimmy Carter. Riperton continued performing despite her declining condition, with 1979's Minnie, the final record completed during her lifetime - but died in Los Angeles on July 12 of that year. Unreleased vocal tracks with new instrumental backing constituted 1980's posthumous collection, Love Lives Forever. - Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
genres: Soul, Pop-Soul, Chicago Soul, Smooth Soul, AM Pop, Uptown Soul.
Here We Go
Minnie Riperton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just a kind of a day made for lovin' you
Soon the evening breezes will start to blow
Baby, grab your hat now 'cause here we go
Ooh, I love the things you do
And the way that I feel when I'm close to you
I have dreamed so long, is it really so?
Off to wonderland... floating hand in hand
Like in the movies
everyone can tell that I'm in love with you
I never knew what love could do
My heart begins to pound whenever you're around
I'm never coming down
Oh No
It's a quarter after two
And there's no one around except me and you
Well it's times like this that I'm living for
Shall we turn the lights down and lock the door
Baby don't stop... don't you dare no
Just a little bit more we're almost there
Any second now I'll explode
Baby, grab your hat now 'cause here we go
The lyrics to Minnie Riperton's song Here We Go describe a lazy afternoon that is perfect for spending time with a loved one. The song embodies the essence of falling in love with someone and how exciting it is to be around them. The first verse describes the laid-back atmosphere, with evening breezes starting to blow and the suggestion to grab a hat and go out for a walk. The second verse expresses Riperton's love and admiration for her significant other and her dreamy feelings towards them. The chorus encapsulates the feeling of being in love and how it makes you feel like you're in wonderland, floating hand in hand, like in the movies.
The second half of the song takes the listener into the intimate details of Riperton's relationship. The lyrics illustrate a private moment between them, with no one else around except each other. Time seems to stand still as they enjoy each other's company, and the intensity of the moment grows. The bridge describes how Riperton's heart beats faster whenever her significant other is near and how she feels like she's never coming down. In the final lines of the song, the explosion signifies how overwhelming the experience of being in love is.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a lazy afternoon
The singer describes the peacefulness of the afternoon.
Just a kind of a day made for lovin' you
The singer feels that the present moment is perfect for expressing her love to her partner.
Soon the evening breezes will start to blow
The singer notes that the weather will soon change with the onset of the evening.
Baby, grab your hat now 'cause here we go
The singer encourages her partner to prepare to leave with her for a new adventure.
Ooh, I love the things you do
The singer expresses her admiration for all the things her partner does that make her happy.
And the way that I feel when I'm close to you
The singer describes how being close to her partner makes her feel affectionate and content.
I have dreamed so long, is it really so?
The singer wonders if her love for her partner is too good to be true or if it is a dream come true.
Off to wonderland... floating hand in hand
The singer imagines her new adventure with her partner as a journey to a magical place, with both of them holding hands floating above the ground.
Like in the movies everyone can tell that I'm in love with you
The singer compares her experience to that of a love story in a movie, and believes that everyone can see how much she loves her partner.
I never knew what love could do
The singer expresses how different love makes her feel, and how it has shaped her life.
My heart begins to pound whenever you're around
The singer describes the physical response to being close to the person she loves.
I'm never coming down, Oh No
The singer feels like she is floating on air when she is with her partner and never wants it to end.
It's a quarter after two
The singer notes the time of day when the song takes place.
And there's no one around except me and you
The singer mentions that no one else is around, emphasizing the intimacy between her and her partner.
Well it's times like this that I'm living for
The singer expresses that she values these moments above all else.
Shall we turn the lights down and lock the door
The singer suggests creating a more intimate atmosphere between the two of them by dimming the lights and locking the door.
Baby don't stop... don't you dare no
The singer encourages her partner not to stop being intimate with her.
Just a little bit more we're almost there
The singer is excited that they are so close to experiencing something special.
Any second now I'll explode
The singer feels like she is about to experience something extraordinary and cannot contain herself.
Baby, grab your hat now 'cause here we go
The singer reiterates that it's time for them to leave on their adventure.
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
Written by: TRAVON POTTS, RUFUS MOORE, RICHARD RUDOLPH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Quiet Revolution
Minnie Riperton -Lead Vocals, Composer
Peabo Bryson - Vocals (Duet)
Roberta Flack - Additional Vocals
Tom Scott - Tenor Saxophone (Solo)
Patrice Rushen - Electric Piano
Tennyson Stephens - Acoustic Piano
Greg Phillinganes - Synthesizers
Lee Ritenour - Guitar
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guitar
Abraham Laboriel - Bass
Harvey Mason - Drums
Paulinho da Costa - Percussion
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Gayle Levant - Harp
TheChiGirl2
Considering she was gravely ill and, in fact, too sick to even finish this recording before she died, causing friends like Peabo Bryson, Roberta Flack, Michael Jackson & Aretha Franklin to rally to finish it for her, I think it speaks to the depth of her talent, respect of her PEERS, & her determination to go out fighting 'til end. With her more than 5 octave coloratura soprano vocal range, she has been the inspiration to generations of singers who followed her - like Mariah Carey. R-I-P Minnie.
Sadie Grill
Minnie is my GREATEST female vocalist. I will love her forever.💜 R.I.P Beautiful Lady.
ZURI OGLETREE
❤😢
L T
I didn't know she wasn't able to finish recording this😢
LyricLove101
This is off the hook. Horns, piano and such soul to the flow !!! If I remember correctly this song was pieced together after she died or something like that. Sounds and feels as though she and Peabo Bryson were in the same room, in arms signing this incredible tale of never coming down from love. It works for me. Minnie Ripperton's voice was an incredible instrument. She died of breast cancer long before her time but BABY, her song, message and voice live on and strong!! Go Girl!!
Bambi Bam
You are so right!
Larry Williams
TOP OF MY LI$T!!!!!!!!
Maestro
That’s Roberta Flack singing “never coming down” Minnie had passed before they could finish.
The Quiet Revolution
Minnie Riperton -Lead Vocals, Composer
Peabo Bryson - Vocals (Duet)
Roberta Flack - Additional Vocals
Tom Scott - Tenor Saxophone (Solo)
Patrice Rushen - Electric Piano
Tennyson Stephens - Acoustic Piano
Greg Phillinganes - Synthesizers
Lee Ritenour - Guitar
Paul Jackson, Jr. - Guitar
Abraham Laboriel - Bass
Harvey Mason - Drums
Paulinho da Costa - Percussion
Lenny Castro - Percussion
Gayle Levant - Harp
J Releford
Wow 👏 Patrice Rushen, too!