O.B. McClinton (born Obie Burnett McClinton April 25, 1940 in Senatobia, Mi… Read Full Bio ↴O.B. McClinton (born Obie Burnett McClinton April 25, 1940 in Senatobia, Mississippi, died September 23, 1987) was a Black country music singer and songwriter. The second-youngest child born to Rev. G.A. McClinton, a clergyman and farmer who owned his own 700 acre ranch in Mississippi, not far from Memphis, Tennessee. Listening to Hank Williams as a child around the age of 9 or 10 sparked his interest in performing Country music.

Before beginning his Country Music career, he tried to break into R&B. Although he was unable to secure a recording contract as a soul singer himself, he did pen several songs recorded by James Carr, including the title songs to Carr's albums "You've Got My Mind Messed Up" and "A Man Needs a Woman."

Known to refer to himself as the "Chocolate Cowboy", McClinton sucessfully marketed his album called 'The Only One' on television long before the practice was commonplace. Featuring his first country chart single 'Don't Let The Green Grass Fool You', a top 40 song in 1972, he considered it to be his finest work.

He died on September 23, 1987 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Reflections
O.B. McClinton Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You look so different recently
Can't even recognize your face
I see your smile when you look at me
And I can tell something has changed
Cause we've been going round and round in circles for so long
That I can't figure out anymore where this went wrong
Is it the way you smile
Is it the way you speak

Is it the reason the care in your eyes looks nothing more than weak
My heart is drowning my lungs again
Words cannot demonstrate the pain
You see my eyes start to shift and then
We both know something must have changed
Cause hate keeps drifting round and round in my head and it's wrong
And love's consumed by power, lust and a promise I thought was strong
Is it the way you smile
Is it the way you speak
Is it the reason the care in your eyes looks nothing more than weak
Is it the things I've done
Could this just all be me
Am I the reason love is a joke and I'm no longer free
Is it the way you smile
Is it the way you speak
Is it the reason the care in your eyes looks nothing more than weak
Is it the things I've done

Could this just all be me
Am I the reason love is a joke and I'm no longer free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in O.B. McClinton's song "Reflections" delve into themes of change, self-reflection, and the complexities of love. The singer notices a significant change in someone they once knew well, expressing how they can't recognize their face anymore. The smile the person gives when looking at the singer reveals that something has indeed changed.

The lyrics highlight a sense of confusion and frustration as the singer reflects on the patterns of their relationship, stating that they have been going round and round in circles for a long time. This repetition symbolizes a stagnant and repetitive cycle in their connection. The singer's inability to understand where things went wrong suggests a loss of clarity and direction.

The questions posed in the lyrics, such as "Is it the way you smile? Is it the way you speak?", illustrate the singer's attempts to uncover the cause of the change. They wonder if the person's smile or way of speaking has altered, potentially contributing to their disconnect. The mention of "the care in your eyes looking nothing more than weak" further suggests a loss of emotional depth in the other person's gaze.

As the lyrics progress, the singer's heart feels overwhelmed, causing their emotions to affect their physical well-being. The mention of drowning and the inability of words to convey their pain emphasizes the depth of the singer's emotional turmoil. This heightened emotional state prompts both the singer and the other person to realize that something significant has indeed changed.

The lyrics touch on the struggle between love and hate within the singer's mind. The repetition of hate "drifting round and round in my head" suggests conflicting emotions. Love, which was once strong and promising, now seems consumed by power and lust. This juxtaposition highlights the complexities and challenges that arise in relationships.

The concluding lines of the lyrics introduce self-reflection and self-blame. The singer questions if the reasons behind this change lie within themselves, wondering if their actions are to blame. The line "Am I the reason love is a joke and I'm no longer free" expresses a feeling of confinement and suggests that the singer's perception of love has been negatively impacted by their own actions or mistakes.

In summary, O.B. McClinton's song "Reflections" explores the experience of recognizing a significant change in someone's demeanor and its impact on a stagnant relationship. The lyrics delve into the confusion, frustration, and self-blame that arise when attempting to understand the cause of these changes. The song captures the complexities of love and the emotional turmoil that can result from miscommunication and growing apart.

Line by Line Meaning

You look so different recently
I have noticed a significant change in your appearance

Can't even recognize your face
I am unable to identify you based on your physical features

I see your smile when you look at me
I observe a smile on your face whenever you gaze upon me

And I can tell something has changed
I can sense that a transformation has occurred

Cause we've been going round and round in circles for so long
Because we have been continuously repeating the same patterns and actions for an extended period

That I can't figure out anymore where this went wrong
I am no longer able to determine the exact point where things took a turn for the worse

Is it the way you smile
Could it be the manner in which you express joy on your face

Is it the way you speak
Perhaps it is the manner in which you communicate verbally

Is it the reason the care in your eyes looks nothing more than weak
Is it the cause behind the lack of strength and depth in the compassion reflected in your eyes

My heart is drowning my lungs again
I am experiencing overwhelming emotions, suffocating my ability to breathe freely

Words cannot demonstrate the pain
Verbal expression is insufficient to convey the depth of agony I feel

You see my eyes start to shift and then
You perceive a noticeable change in the movement of my eyes

We both know something must have changed
Both of us are aware that a shift has taken place

Cause hate keeps drifting round and round in my head and it's wrong
Because feelings of hatred persistently circulate within my mind, which is morally incorrect

And love's consumed by power, lust and a promise I thought was strong
Love has been overshadowed and consumed by desires for control, sensual longing, and a commitment I believed to be unwavering

Is it the things I've done
Could it be the actions I have taken

Could this just all be me
Is it possible that I am solely responsible for all of this

Am I the reason love is a joke and I'm no longer free
Could I be the cause for love becoming a mockery and for my loss of freedom

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Arthur O'Donovan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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