Born in Leno, Tennessee, Wright, as a youngster, began singing in the church. In 1956, while still in high school, he joined The Sunset Travelers as one of the lead singers for the gospel group. He later fronted a gospel music group, the Harmony Echoes. It was during this time that he was discovered (along with James Carr) by Roosevelt Jamison a songwriter and manager. Their first pop recording in 1964 was "That's How Strong My Love Is," a ballad later covered by Otis Redding and the Rolling Stones. It was issued on Goldwax, the label Wright signed to after leaving his gospel career. It was later determined that Don Robey still had him under a recording contract, due to his gospel group having recorded for Peacock. After his contract was shifted to Don Robey’s Back Beat label, further R&B hits followed. Working with record producer Willie Mitchell, success continued on songs including "Ace of Spades" and "A Nickel and a Nail".
Wright's hits were much more popular in the deep South. His biggest hits were "You're Gonna Make Me Cry" (R&B #6, 1965), "Eight Men, Four Women" (R&B #4, 1967) "Ace of Spades" (R&B #11, 1970), "A Nickel and a Nail" (R&B #19, 1971). The remainder of his 17 hits charted higher than #20 on the R&B charts.
However, Wright was imprisoned for narcotics offenses during the mid-1970s, and, despite signing for Hi Records and releasing a series of recordings, his commercial success failed to recover after his release. A continuing drug problem weakened his health and he died from a heart attack, in Mobile, Alabama at age 41.
Wright is among the most remembered voices of soul music, perhaps mostly for being sampled frequently in hip hop music. In 1996, his song, "Motherless Child" was sampled on the Ghostface Killah album Ironman on a song also called "Motherless Child." It and another Wright recording, "Let's Straighten It Out" have been published on Shaolin Soul, a compilation of tracks that have been sampled by the Wu Tang Clan and its members. "Let's Straighten It Out" was sampled in a Wu-Tang Clan song called "America" from the charity compilation album America Is Dying Slowly. "Ace of Spades" was sampled by Slim Thug and the Boss Hogg Outlawz on a song named "Recognize A Playa".
Johnny Rawls joined Wright's backing band in the mid-1970s, and played together with Wright until the latter's death in 1980. The band then continued billed as the O.V. Wright Band for another 13 years, and toured and performed with other musicians over this time span. These included B.B. King, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Little Johnny Taylor, and Blues Boy Willie.
Don't Let My Baby Ride
O.V. Wright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wouldn't make love to me
You went fast asleep
You wouldn't even talk to me
Said I'm so crazy
Coming home intoxicated
I said I just wanna love ya
Guess that's why I'm so elated
(C'mon girl)
Give it to me, baby
(Give to me baby)
Give it to me, baby
(Give to me baby)
Make it hot like you've had enough
Give it to me, baby
(Give it to me, baby)
Just Give it to me, baby
Give it to me, baby
(Give it to me, baby)
I'll make you hot like you had enough
Give it to me, give me that stuff
That funk, that sweet, that funky stuff
(Give it to me)
Give me that stuff
That funk, that sweet, that funky stuff
Give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me
Give me that stuff
That sweet, funky stuff
Oh how woo
(Give to me, baby)
When I was high as the sky
Out all night just dancing
You say let's go home
(C'mon, I'm tired let's go home)
That's the time I start romancing
You say "how can I love ya?"
(How can I love you baby)
"When your body keeps on moving"
I say "Wait til I squeeze you"
(Oh)
Maybe then you'll start to grooving
(C'mon girl)
Give it to me, baby
(Give it to me, baby)
Give it to me, baby
(Give it to me, baby)
(I betcha)
I'll make ya hot like you had enough
Give it to me, baby
(Give it to me, baby)
(Just give it to me, baby)
Give it to me, baby
(Give it to me, baby)
(I betcha)
I'll make ya hot like you had enough
Give it to me, give me that stuff
That funk, that sweet, that funky stuff
(Give it to me)
Give me that stuff
That funk, that sweet, that funky stuff
Give it to me, give it to me
Give it to me, give it to me
Give me that stuff
That sweet, funky stuff
Yo ho
(Hey Girl)
Give it to me what you say
Give it to me what you say
(Give it to me)
What you say
(Give it to me)
What you say
(Hey girl)
Give it to me what you say
Give it to me what you say
Give it to me
Give it to me
(Hey)
Give it to me
The song "Don't Let My Baby Ride" by O.V. Wright is a funky blues song that conveys the desire of the singer to make love to his partner, who seems to be uninterested due to his past behavior of coming home intoxicated. He asks for her to give him her love and passion, which he calls "that sweet, funky stuff" and promises to make her hot like she's had enough. The singer tries to convince his partner that he wants to love her, only to be met with her complaints about his intoxication. He insists that it's only because he loves her, and hopes to convince her to give into their passions.
The lyrics of the song highlight the struggle of communication between partners, particularly when one person feels neglected or uninterested due to their partner's past behaviors. The song conveys the desire and passion of the singer, who is willing to work to make his partner feel loved and desired again.
Line by Line Meaning
When I came home last night
The singer had come home the previous night, but their partner wouldn't have sex with them and went to sleep.
You wouldn't make love to me
The singer's partner refused to be intimate with them.
You went fast asleep
The singer's partner fell asleep quickly.
You wouldn't even talk to me
The artist's partner refused to engage in conversation with them.
Said I'm so crazy
The partner accused the artist of being wild for coming home intoxicated.
Coming home intoxicated
The singer arrived home under the influence of alcohol.
I said I just wanna love ya
The singer expressed a desire to be intimate with their partner.
Guess that's why I'm so elated
The artist was very happy because they wanted to be intimate with their partner.
Give it to me, baby
The artist is requesting intimacy from their partner.
Make it hot like you've had enough
The artist asks their partner to be enthusiastic and passionate in their lovemaking.
Give it to me
The singer repeats their request for intimacy.
That funk, that sweet, that funky stuff
The artist is asking for their partner to be funky, fun, and lively in their lovemaking.
When I was high as the sky
The singer was dancing all night and probably under the influence of a substance.
Out all night just dancing
The singer had been dancing all night.
You say let's go home
The partner was tired and wanted to go home.
That's the time I start romancing
The artist begins to flirt and initiate intimacy.
You say "how can I love ya?"
The partner questions their ability to be intimate after dancing all night.
"When your body keeps on moving"
The singer suggests that their partner is still energetic and can be intimate.
"Wait til I squeeze you"
The singer intends to be passionate and make their partner feel loved.
Maybe then you'll start to grooving
The artist hopes that their partner will be inspired to be intimate.
Yo ho
An expression of excitement and enthusiasm.
Give it to me what you say
The artist repeats their request for intimacy.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON ROBEY, OVERTON VERTIS WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind