Born Ocie Lee Smith in Mansfield, Louisiana, Smith moved with his parents to Little Rock, Arkansas, before their divorce saw Smith and his mother move to Los Angeles.
After completing a psychology degree at Southern University, Smith joined the Air Force, and served throughout the US, Europe and Asia. While in the Air Force, Smith began entering talent contests and toured with Horace Heidt. On his discharge in July, 1955, Smith went into jazz music to pay the bills.
Smith gained his first break as a singer with Sy Oliver and made an appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. His success on that show led to a recording contract with Cadence Records.
Smith's debut release was a cover of the Little Richard hit "Tutti Frutti" in December, 1955. The song was not a hit, but convinced MGM Records to sign Smith to a solo contract, resulting in three more releases, but still no hits.
In 1961, Smith was recruited by Count Basie to be his vocalist, a position he held until 1965. He also continued to record with different labels, but a hit remained elusive. (His highest chart position was number 127, for his 1967 release, "That's Life"). By 1968, Smith's then label, Columbia Records, was ready to release him from his contract, when he entered the charts for the first time with "Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp".
"Son of Hickory Holler's Tramp" is a sentimental recollection of a Mom who turns to prostitution to support her family after they are abandoned by the alcoholic father. It was originally recorded by country artist Johnny Darrell, but Smith's cover had much greater success.
Smith changed the first part of his name to O.C. and recorded a cover of the Bobby Russell song "Little Green Apples", which shot to number 2 on the pop charts and won Smith a 1969 Grammy Award for "Best Song".
While Smith was unable to scale these heights again, he continued to record, reaching number 34 with "Daddy's Little Man", before retiring from music to study divinity. In 1985, Smith became Dr. O.C. Smith, pastor of the City of Angels Science of Mind Centre in Los Angeles, and he continued to preach until his death in 2001.
Honey
O.C. Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Honey honey, nearly kill me, a-ha, honey honey
I'd heard about you before
I wanted to know some more
And now I know what they mean, you're a love machine
Oh, you make me dizzy
Honey honey, let me feel it, a-ha, honey honey
The way that you kiss good night
The way that you hold me tight
I feel like I wanna sing when you do your thing
I don't wanna hurt you baby, I don't wanna see you cry
So stay on the ground girl, you better not get too high
But I'm gonna stick to you boy, you'll never get rid of me
There's no other place in this world where I rather would be
Honey honey, touch me baby, a-ha, honey honey
Honey honey, hold me baby, a-ha, honey honey
You look like a movie star (look like a movie star)
But I know just who you are (I wonder just who you are)
And honey, to say the least, you're a doggone beast
So stay on the ground girl, you better not get too high
There's no other place in this world where I rather would be
Honey honey, how you thrill me, a-ha, honey honey
Honey honey, nearly kill me, a-ha, honey honey
I'd heard about you before (I'd heard about you before)
I wanted to know some more (I wanted to know you some more)
And now I know what they mean, you're a love machine Oh, you make me dizzy
The lyrics in "Honey" by O.C. Smith express the excitement and thrill of falling in love. The repeating lines of "Honey honey, how you thrill me" and "Honey honey, nearly kill me" give the impression that the singer is taken aback by this new love interest, as if they were surprised by the depths of their own feelings. The singer admits to having heard about their lover before, but now that they have experienced their love firsthand, they feel like they have discovered a "love machine" and are left feeling dizzy and enamored.
Despite the intensity of their emotions, the singer does express some caution as well. They want to avoid hurting their lover, and they advise them to "stay on the ground girl, you better not get too high." However, despite this caution, the singer also admits that there is no other place in the world they would rather be than with their lover. They are willing to stick by their lover through thick and thin, and they cannot resist the allure of this passionate new love.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey honey, how you thrill me, a-ha, honey honey
The singer is thrilled and excited by their love interest, referring to them as 'honey honey.'
Honey honey, nearly kill me, a-ha, honey honey
The intensity of the singer's feelings for their love interest is overwhelming, almost to the point of being dangerous.
I'd heard about you before
The singer was aware of their love interest's reputation or existence prior to meeting them.
I wanted to know some more
The artist was intrigued by their love interest and wanted to learn more about them.
And now I know what they mean, you're a love machine
The artist has discovered that their love interest is very good at giving love and affection.
Oh, you make me dizzy
The intensity of the singer's feelings for their love interest is disorienting.
Honey honey, let me feel it, a-ha, honey honey
The singer wants their love interest to give them physical affection or attention.
Honey honey, don't conceal it, a-ha, honey honey
The artist wants their love interest to be open and honest about their feelings and desires.
The way that you kiss good night
The artist enjoys the way their love interest kisses them goodnight.
The way that you hold me tight
The artist enjoys being held tightly by their love interest.
I feel like I wanna sing when you do your thing
The singer is so happy and excited by their love interest that they feel like expressing themselves through singing.
I don't wanna hurt you baby, I don't wanna see you cry
The artist cares about their love interest and wants to avoid causing them harm or sadness.
So stay on the ground girl, you better not get too high
The singer is warning their love interest not to get too carried away or take unnecessary risks.
But I'm gonna stick to you boy, you'll never get rid of me
The singer is committed to their love interest and plans to stay with them for a long time.
There's no other place in this world where I rather would be
The singer is saying that being with their love interest is the best place in the world for them and they don't want to be anywhere else.
Honey honey, touch me baby, a-ha, honey honey
The artist wants physical contact or affection from their love interest.
Honey honey, hold me baby, a-ha, honey honey
The artist wants to be held by their love interest.
You look like a movie star (look like a movie star)
The singer thinks their love interest is very attractive, like a movie star.
But I know just who you are (I wonder just who you are)
The singer is questioning whether their love interest is really who they seem to be.
And honey, to say the least, you're a doggone beast
The artist is saying that their love interest is amazing, perhaps even wild or passionate.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Stig Erik Leopold Anderson, Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Domonique Ayers
I RECALL HEARING THE OLD GIRL USE TO PLAY THIS SONG ON HIS ALBUM
WHEN I WAS ALWAYS LISTENING TO
A VARIETY AT & WITH OTHER FAMILY
MEMBERS FROM THE GOSPEL, R&B
POP, AND MY FAVORITE JAZZ, SO I
LEARN TO APPRECIATE MUSIC OF
ALL CULTRALS
R Brilling
Its been 20 years since we lost O.C.....his voice lives on.....
Cynthia Childress
Everyone can relate to O.C. Smith's wonderful songs. Mom, I miss you so much and I'm being good.
Kim Aglioti
Heaven sent music xxxxxxxx
Kindness Connection
Cynthia, I understand. OC Smith was my father, and I appreciate having this song to listen to his voice. Robert F. Smtih
James and Joan Thomas
It was a better world when O.S. Smith sang ! You could hear it in his voice !
Kim Aglioti
Amen. They don't make music like this anymore.
ANTÔNIO PÁDUA DOS SANTOS
A voz que transmite o que se tem no coração.... na alma....
Kim Aglioti
What a voice xxxxxx My Mama and Daddy had such great taste in music and we grew up listening to the best artists ever. So grateful xxxxx I can never get enough of this genre of music. Beautiful lyrics and they touch a place deep in your soul.
Kindness Connection
Love hearing this song. OC was my father. I'm so proud to be able to be called his son. robert f. smith
Fatima Ahmed
OMG! I was a big fan and still adore his singing! Nobody can sing like O.C! His voice was unique ! You should be so proud of having had a wonderful father with an amazing gift. I don’t know if you were the son that sang with him once on television but I was crying watching that.