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.
Seven Days
O.C. Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl don't be crazy, we´ve got closer to hell
It doesn't matter from where we are coming from
But it's matter which way you wanna fighting for
Believing in dreams, be able live without shields
Just to be free and do what it seems to be clear
Well, everybody try to be a new messiah, but tell me if you were never be a lier
And this is how it is, people do sins and they tell you how much holy it is
Girl I'm so sorry, that we've chosen this way
Seven days and another reason to pray
Girl don't be crazy, we've got closer to hell
Yea, every story seems to be so different from each others
But basicly we are the same as all the others
Tell me who doesn't live to be free, to be all days in love and do just what he feels
Let people say they are right, let them swear on bible and another day lie
And this is how it is, don't think about mess, you know life is just a dream for a dead
Seven days and another story to tell
Girl I'm so sorry, that we've chosen this way
Seven days and another reason to pray
Girl don't be crazy, we've got closer to hell
The song "Seven Days" by O.C. Smith talks about the struggles of life and the constant need to pray for guidance and strength. The lyrics suggest that we are all sinners in one way or another and that we all have our own stories and struggles, but at the core, we are all the same.
The song seems to encourage listeners to believe in their dreams and live without fear, to be free and do what they feel is right. It implies that people who claim to be messiahs or holy are often liars, and we shouldn't be swayed by their words.
The main message of the song is that despite facing difficult times and making mistakes, we should continue to pray and not lose hope. The repetition of "Seven days and another reason to pray" emphasizes the importance of faith in the face of adversity and challenges.
Overall, "Seven Days" is a reflective and hopeful song that encourages listeners to stay true to themselves and their beliefs even in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Seven days and another reason to pray
Another week has passed and we have yet another reason to pray, to hope for a better tomorrow
Girl don't be crazy, we've got closer to hell
Don't lose your mind, things have gotten worse and we are slowly approaching a state of misery and despair
It doesn't matter from where we are coming from
Our past doesn't define us or affect our present situation
But it's matter which way you wanna fighting for
What matters is the direction in which we choose to fight or struggle
Believing in dreams, be able live without shields
It's important to hold on to our dreams and live freely without being afraid or putting up walls
Just to be free and do what it seems to be clear
Freedom means being able to do what we feel is right without any doubts or second-guessing
Well, everybody try to be a new messiah, but tell me if you were never be a lier
Everyone tries to act like a savior, but can you honestly say that you've never lied or made mistakes?
And this is how it is, people do sins and they tell you how much holy it is
People commit sins and still try to justify their actions by calling it holy or justified
Seven days and another story to tell
Another week has passed and we have yet another story to tell, to share with others
Girl I'm so sorry, that we've chosen this way
I'm apologetic for choosing this path, knowing that it has brought us nothing but trouble
Yea, every story seems to be so different from each others
Every individual's story is unique and different from each other's
But basicly we are the same as all the others
But fundamentally we are all the same, faced with similar struggles and challenges in life
Tell me who doesn't live to be free, to be all days in love and do just what he feels
Who doesn't want to live freely, to be in love every day and do what they feel is right?
Let people say they are right, let them swear on bible and another day lie
Let people claim they are right, even if they swear on the bible, but in reality, they might lie or deceive
And this is how it is, don't think about mess, you know life is just a dream for a dead
This is the reality of life, don't try to make sense of the chaos, because, in the end, life is just a dream for the dead
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Awful just to see
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind