During the '80s, he cut four albums and nine singles that made the R&B charts. His up-tempo tracks could sound something like a more mainstream Prince, though he tread far closer to the urban contemporary mainstream on his ballads.
"The Gigolo" made number five in 1982, and over the next few years he had some up-tempo and ballad follow-ups. "I'm Freaky," which was reminiscent of "Gigolo," was the best of these; "Lovelite" was the most successful.
Urban wedding party-goers are also very familiar with the singer's beautiful remake of Stevie Wonder's classic "You and I'', a frequently requested song at many weddings.
In 2007, he returned with the ballad-heavy F1RST, issued digitally through the Headstorm label with plans for a CD version.
The Gigolo
O'Bryan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And looked at everybody in the room
She looked into those flaming eyes
She went and stood beside him
I thought she moved just a little too soon
I must admit to my surprise
He would not dance with her
He got no time to waste
He took her to, he took her to bed
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think she really knows, ooh, yeah
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think she really knows
I could not understand it
I don't know why she followed him home
She had not seen this man before
He touched her with his body
And then she could not leave him alone
They left me standing on the phone
He would not dance with her
He could not stay he said
He got no time to waste
He took her to, he took her to bed
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think she really knows, oh, no
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think she really knows
(He's just a freak)
(He's won't dance)
(He's just a gigolo)
(He's just a freak)
(He's won't dance)
(He's just a gigolo)
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know, ooh, yeah
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know, oh, no
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know, oh
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know, oh, no
(He's just a freak)
The lyrics to O'Bryan's song "The Gigolo" tell a story of a man who enters a party and catches the eye of a woman in the room. She is immediately drawn to him, but he declines to dance with her and instead invites her to leave the party with him. The chorus repeats the refrain that he is "just a freak" who doesn't love anyone and only wants her body.
The song can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about falling for superficial charm and falling prey to someone who only desires physical gratification. The singer warns the woman that the man she is following is not looking for love, but instead is just a gigolo.
Overall, the song highlights themes of deception, lust, and using people for one's own desires. It serves as a reminder to look beneath the surface and be cautious of those who may not have genuine intentions.
Line by Line Meaning
He walked into the party
The man arrived at the party
And looked at everybody in the room
He surveyed everyone present
She looked into those flaming eyes
The woman stared at the man's intense gaze
She went and stood beside him
She positioned herself near him
I thought she moved just a little too soon
The artist felt the woman was acting too hastily
I must admit to my surprise
The singer was surprised by the situation
He would not dance with her
The man refused to dance with the woman
He could not stay he said
The man claimed he had to leave
He got no time to waste
The man believed he did not have any time to waste
He took her to, he took her to bed
The man had sex with the woman
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
The man is only interested in physical pleasure and not love
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
The man only desires the woman's body and does not want to dance with her
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think she really knows, ooh, yeah
The woman is unaware that she is involved with a gigolo (a man who seeks money by having sex with various women)
I could not understand it
The singer was unable to comprehend the situation
I don't know why she followed him home
The singer was unsure why the woman went home with the man
She had not seen this man before
The woman was unfamiliar with the man
He touched her with his body
The man made physical contact with the woman
And then she could not leave him alone
The woman became infatuated with the man and could not stop seeing him
They left me standing on the phone
The singer was left behind, waiting on the phone for the woman
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
The man is not capable of love
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
The man only desires the woman's body and refuses to dance with her
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think she really knows, oh, no
The woman is ignorant that the man is a gigolo
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
The man is not capable of love
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
The man only desires the woman's body and refuses to dance with her
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know
The listener is unaware that the man is a gigolo
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
The man is not capable of love
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
The man only desires the woman's body and refuses to dance with her
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know, oh
The listener is ignorant that the man is a gigolo
(He's just a freak) He don't love nobody
The man is not capable of love
(He's won't dance) He just wants your body, baby
The man only desires the woman's body and refuses to dance with her
(He's just a gigolo) I don't think you really know, oh, no
The listener is unaware that the man is a gigolo
(He's just a freak)
The man is strange and deviant
Contributed by Brayden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.