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.
Nobody but You
O.V. Wright Lyrics
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Nobody but a fool would love you
After the way you've done me
Broke every vow you made me, broke every rule
Who'd lie awake all night, cry til you were out of sight
Loving you with all her might
Nobody but a fool
Stars got in my eyes or either rocks got in my head
All I know was your two lips kissed me heavenly
Til yesterday those tender lips kissed goodbye to me
I put on the saddest song ignore the telephone
I go ahead and cry the make-up from my eyes
I let my mind play tricks and then
I let it fool me once again
Into thinkin' that I'll never be alright
Then when I'm no longer crazy and I'm back to my old self
I realize how good I've always felt
[Chorus]
People tried to tell me how you'd hurt me I suppose
But I was blind as any bat and deaf as any post
You clawed me like a tiger, I loved you like a lamb
And knowing I still do just shows me up for what I am
[Chorus]
Nobody but a fool
Nobody but a fool
In the song "Nobody But You" by O.V. Wright, the chorus sets the tone by emphasizing the foolishness of loving someone who has betrayed and hurt you. The singer acknowledges that only a fool would continue to love the person who has broken every promise and rule in the relationship. Despite the pain and heartache they've caused, the singer finds themselves unable to let go completely, highlighting the complex emotions involved in loving someone who has done them wrong.
The verses delve deeper into the singer's feelings of betrayal and confusion. They reflect on the initial trust they placed in their partner, which was shattered when the partner's actions proved to be deceitful. The imagery of stars in their eyes and rocks in their head portrays a sense of naivety and delusion, suggesting that love can sometimes blind us to the faults of those we care about. The realization that the tender kisses they once cherished are now gone leaves the singer feeling abandoned and heartbroken.
The lyrics also touch on the cyclical nature of grief and healing. The singer describes the process of mourning the loss of the relationship, from playing sad songs to crying and eventually finding moments of clarity and self-reflection. Despite the initial despair and self-deception that they will never recover, the singer eventually regains their composure and recognizes their own strength and resilience. This journey from heartbreak to self-empowerment showcases the transformative power of overcoming a difficult love.
The final chorus reinforces the central theme of the song, reiterating that only a fool would continue to invest in a love that has caused them so much pain. The singer acknowledges the warnings from others about their partner's harmful tendencies but admits to their own blindness and vulnerability in the face of love. The juxtaposition of being clawed like a tiger yet loving like a lamb captures the conflicting emotions of being hurt by someone you still care for deeply. In the end, the repeated refrain of "Nobody but a fool" serves as a poignant reminder of the internal struggle between holding on to love and recognizing when it's time to let go.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bill Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind