Ryder is noted for his gruff, wailing singing style, much influenced by Little Richard, and his dynamic stage performances, influenced by James Brown.
Ryder first appeared fronting a band called Billy Lee & The Rivieras, which had limited success until they met the songwriter / record producer, Bob Crewe. Crewe renamed the group Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, and they recorded several hit records on his DynoVoice Records label in the mid to late 1960s, most notably "Devil With A Blue Dress On".
Since the early 1970s, Ryder's musical endeavors have not met with the same success that they did before. Ryder himself has blamed his lack of subsequent hits on his unsuccessful aim at the Tom Jones-type cabaret/night club audience just as the counterculture was becoming dominant in 1967 and 1968. His last successful release was Mitch Ryder's Detroit in 1971, which featured the drummer from the original Detroit Wheels, now called Detroit, updating his soul music-influenced sound to the 1970s hard rock era.
He has continued to record and tour but comebacks have eluded him. Ryder's influence is felt in the music of Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen among others.
Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels
* 1965 "Come See About Me" / "A Face In the Crowd" (New Voice Records 828 Promotion Copy. Uncertain if ever released commercially in the U.S.)
* 1965 "Jenny Take A Ride!" (highest U.S. chart position #10)
* 1966 "You Get Your Kicks"
* 1966 "Little Latin Lupe Lu" (#17)
* 1966 "Devil With A Blue Dress On" / "Good Golly, Miss Molly" (#4)
* 1967 "Sock It To Me-Baby!"
Mitch Ryder
* 1969 "I'd Rather Go To Jail" / "Joy" (New Voice Records 824)
Detroit Featuring Mitch Ryder
* 1972 "Rock and Roll" (written by Lou Reed)
Come See About Me
Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I'm lonely (for you)
Smiles have all turned to tears
But tears won't wash away the fears
That you're never ever gonna return
To ease the fire that within me burns
It keeps me crying baby for you
So won't you hurry
Come on boy, see about me
(Come see about me)
See about your baby
I've given up my friends just for you
My friends are gone
And you have too
No peace shall I find
Until you come back
And be mine
No matter what you do or say
I'm gonna love you anyway
Keep on crying baby for you
I'm gonna keep sighin' baby for you
So come on hurry
Come on and see about me
(Come see about me)
See about you baby
Sometime's up
Sometime's down
My life's so uncertain
With you not around
From my arms you maybe out of reach
But my heart says you're here to keep
Keeps me crying baby for you
Keep on, keep on crying baby for you
So won't you hurry
Come on boy, see about me (Come see about me)
See about you baby (Come see about me)
You know I'm so lonely (Come see about me)
I love you only (Come see about me)
See about your baby (Come see about me)
Hurry, hurry
In Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels's song "Come See About Me," the singer is deeply in love with someone who has left them, and they are crying and feeling lonely without their lover. The singer has given up their friends for this person, and they are desperate for their return. They fear that their lover may never come back and their love for them is consuming them. The singer pleads with their lover throughout the song to come back to them, to see about them, and to ease the pain that their absence has caused.
The lyrics in this song are incredibly emotive and paint a picture of a person who is heartbroken and struggling to cope without their significant other. The repetition of the phrases "keeps me crying baby for you" and "keep on sighin' baby for you" reinforce the idea that the singer is consumed by their love for this person and they cannot move on until they are reunited. Despite everything, the singer is willing to love their partner regardless of what they do or say, which shows the depth and intensity of their devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been crying
I've been distressed and upset
'Cause I'm lonely (for you)
Because you're not here and I miss you
Smiles have all turned to tears
I used to be happy, but now I'm sad
But tears won't wash away the fears
Crying won't make me feel better or fix the problem
That you're never ever gonna return
I'm afraid you're never coming back to me
To ease the fire that within me burns
To help me feel better and soothe the pain of missing you
Keeps me crying baby for you
I can't stop crying because you're not here
Keeps me sighin' baby for you
I'm constantly yearning and longing for you
So won't you hurry
Please come back as soon as possible
Come on boy, see about me
Please check up on me and take care of me
See about your baby
Take care of me because I'm yours
I've given up my friends just for you
I've sacrificed my friendships for our relationship
My friends are gone
I don't have any friends left
And you have too
You're not here with me either
No peace shall I find
I can't find any peace or happiness without you here
Until you come back
My heart won't be at peace until you return
And be mine
And we can be together again
No matter what you do or say
I'll still love you despite any actions or words
From my arms you maybe out of reach
Physically, I may not be able to have you right now
But my heart says you're here to keep
But emotionally, I know you're still with me
Sometime's up
Sometimes things are going well
Sometime's down
Other times things are going poorly
My life's so uncertain
My life feels unstable and unpredictable
With you not around
Because you're not here with me
Keep on, keep on crying baby for you
I'll continue to cry and yearn for you
You know I'm so lonely (Come see about me)
You know how alone and sad I am, please come check on me
I love you only (Come see about me)
I only love you, please come take care of me
Hurry, hurry
Please come back quickly
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Herbert Dozier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
1950G1950
Thanks. I used to have it on 45, but haven't had it in years. Mitch's voice was incredible.
LousFool
Love it..thanks for posting. Mitch sounds great!
LC Writer
Thanks for posting this terrific and sadly obscure version of "Come See About me."
Andy Lockett
an excellent version
Bowser1948
One of the few white acts to be signed by Tamala Motown . One of the best pop drummers of the60's J B Badanjek!!!
Andy Lockett
chris clark & r dean taylor both white acts on motown - chris shouldve been a big star, she had the voice & the looks.
Eric Held
They was on new voice records.
DEKE RIVERS
It was Great Version, with a Full Orchestra, & Directed by Bob Crewe.
1950G1950
Mitch did another Supremes song, "What Now, My Love." I can't remember the year, but it was late 60's. It was awesome also.
roughtake
total SCHMALTZ The Wheels had left by the time What Now My Love came out produced by A HOLE Bob CREWE who turned Mitch into a Vegas act