Clay was born in rural Bolivar County, Mississippi to a musical family, who moved in 1953 to Muncie, Indiana. After singing with local gospel group, the Voices of Hope, he returned to Mississippi to sing with the Christian Travelers, before settling in Chicago in 1957. There, he joined a series of gospel vocal groups including the Golden Jubilaires, the Famous Blue Jay Singers, the Holy Wonders, and the Pilgrim Harmonizers, before making his first solo secular recordings in 1962. They were unissued, and Clay joined the Gospel Songbirds, who recorded in Nashville in 1964 and who also included Maurice Dollison who sang R&B under the name Cash McCall, and then the Sensational Nightingales.
In 1965 Clay signed with One-derful! Records in Chicago, to make secular recordings. After releasing a series of gospel-tinged soul records, his first hit came in 1967 with "That's How It Is (When You're In Love)", which reached # 34 on the US Billboard R&B chart, followed by "A Lasting Love" (# 48 R&B). In 1968 the record company folded and his contract was bought by Atlantic Records, who launched their subsidiary Cotillion label with Clay's version of the Sir Douglas Quintet hit, "She's About A Mover", produced at the FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. The record became Clay's biggest pop hit, reaching # 97 on the Billboard Hot 100 (# 47 R&B). However, follow-ups on Cotillion, including "Hard Working Woman" produced by Syl Johnson, and "Is It Over?" produced by Willie Mitchell in Memphis, were less successful.
Clay moved to Mitchell's Hi Records in 1971, and made many of his best known soul blues records for the label. His biggest hit came in late 1972 with "Trying To Live My Life Without You," a # 102 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, # 70 on Cash Box, and # 24 R&B, which he followed up with "If I Could Reach Out". "Tryin' To Live My Life Without You" was later covered by Bob Seger, whose version made # 5 on the pop chart in 1981. After several more Hi singles and the album I Can't Take It, Clay moved to Kayvette Records, where he had his last national hit single in 1977, "All Because Of Your Love" (# 44 R&B). He later recorded for the Elka and Rounder labels, as well as his own Echo Records for whom he recorded the original version of "The Only Way Is Up" in 1980.
He remained a popular live act in Europe and Japan, as well as the US, and recorded three live albums, Soul Man: Live in Japan, Otis Clay Live(also in Japan on Victor VDP-5111) and Respect Yourself, recorded live at the Lucerne Blues Festival in Switzerland. In the 1990s he also recorded two soul albums for Bullseye Blues: I'll Treat You Right and the Willie Mitchell-produced This Time Around. In 2007, he recorded the gospel album Walk a Mile in My Shoes.
He was a nominee for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. As a resident of Chicago's West Side, he was actively involved in community-based economic and cultural initiatives, including the development of The Harold Washington Cultural Center. On August 11, 2012 he was one of several acts that performed at Lincoln Center Out of Doors Summer Concerts in New York City. He was backed by the band Platinum. Clay was joined on stage for the finale by William Bell and Teenie Hodges. Clay was one of the 2013 inductees to the Blues Hall of Fame. In 2015 Otis published with Billy Price the album This Time For Real.
He died of a heart attack on January 8, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois at the age of 73.
Precious Precious
Otis Clay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Precious, precious.
Precious baby, you're mine.
Mmm... if you don't love me, I'm used to that.
If you don't need me, baby, I can adjust to that.
If you don't want me, honey, that's alright.
If you ain't willin', baby, there sure won't be no fight.
In loving you
And I'll be waiting 'round when you get through.
Oh, you're precious, honey.
You're so precious.
Precious baby, you're mine.
You've been in and out of my life
And, ooh, baby that hurts,
Baby, that hurts, yeah.
You've been with every girl in this town.
You've been dealin' in dirt.
Just wallowin' in dirt, yes you have.
But I look at love as a two-way street.
You get the good with the bad,
You take the bitter with the sweet.
Oh, you're precious, honey.
You're so precious, baby.
Precious baby, you're mine.
Oooh-oooh, na, na, na, na, yeah, baby.
Oooh-oooh, na, na, na, na, yeah, baby.
Mmm... what people say about ya
Sure ain't no fun
But what they don't know about ya,
You're like two men wrapped up in one.
We've got our life, so let's make it.
It's our chance, so come on, baby, let's take it.
Oh, you're precious, baby.
You're so precious (precious).
Precious baby, you're mine.
Yes, honey (precious).
You're precious, baby.
Precious baby, you're mine.
Ooh, you're precious, baby, yeah (precious).
You're so precious, yes, you are (precious).
Precious baby, you're mine.
Oooh, you're precious, honey (precious).
Oooh, you're precious, baby (precious).
Precious baby, you're mine.
The lyrics to Otis Clay's song Precious Precious speak of the unconditional love the singer has for his partner. He acknowledges that his partner may not reciprocate his love and may even have been with other people, but he still sees them as precious and valuable to him. The lyrics demonstrate the strength of the singer's love and his willingness to accept the good and the bad in his partner. The lyrics also suggest that the singer believes that their love is worth fighting for and that they should both take a chance on each other and make the most of their time together.
The song contains a soulful melody and Otis Clay's expressive vocal delivery adds emotional weight to the lyrics. The phrase "Precious, precious" is repeated throughout the song, underscoring the central message of the lyrics. The use of the phrase "you're mine" emphasizes the singer's possessiveness over his partner, while the lines "You get the good with the bad, You take the bitter with the sweet" suggests that he is willing to accept both the good and the bad parts of his relationship.
Overall, Precious Precious is a song about the power of love and the importance of cherishing the people we care about. It is a heartfelt tribute to the value of human connection and the hope that it can bring.
Line by Line Meaning
Precious, precious.
My love for you is immeasurable and priceless.
Precious baby, you're mine.
You are the love of my life and I am committed to you.
If you don't love me, I'm used to that.
I am prepared to accept that you may not feel the same way about me as I do about you.
If you don't need me, baby, I can adjust to that.
If you do not require my presence or assistance, I am capable of adapting to that reality.
If you don't want me, honey, that's alright.
If you do not desire me romantically, that is something I can accept and move on from.
If you ain't willin', baby, there sure won't be no fight.
I will not force you to love me or stay with me if you are not willing, as that would only cause more pain and heartache.
'Cause I'm still satisfied in loving you
Despite the possibility of unrequited love, I am still happy to love and care for you.
And I'll be waiting 'round when you get through.
I will be here, patient and devoted, if and when you decide to reciprocate my feelings.
You've been in and out of my life and, ooh, baby that hurts, baby, that hurts, yeah.
Your inconsistency and fickle behavior has caused me emotional pain and distress.
You've been with every girl in this town.
You have a reputation for being promiscuous and unfaithful to your partners.
You've been dealin' in dirt. Just wallowin' in dirt, yes you have.
You have been engaging in immoral and unethical behavior, and it is something that concerns me.
But I look at love as a two-way street.
I believe that love should be a mutual give and take between two people, and that both parties should be equally invested.
You get the good with the bad, you take the bitter with the sweet.
Love has its ups and downs and its fair share of challenges, but I am willing to weather them all with you.
Oooh-oooh, na, na, na, na, yeah, baby.
Expressing emotional joy and happiness.
Mmm... what people say about ya sure ain't no fun.
Gossip and negative rumors about you are unpleasant and hurtful.
But what they don't know about ya, you're like two men wrapped up in one.
Despite your flaws and shortcomings, there are admirable qualities and attributes about you that they fail to recognize.
We've got our life, so let's make it. It's our chance, so come on, baby, let's take it.
Let us seize the moment and make the most of our time together, as life is fleeting and unpredictable.
Ooh, you're precious, baby, yeah.
Reiterating how much you mean to me and how much I cherish you.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JACKIE MOORE, JOHN LEE BATDORF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-lr8ud2mv9d
Precious, precious
Precious, precious
Precious baby, you're mine
Mmm... if you don't love me, I'm used to that
If you don't need me, baby, I can adjust to that
If you don't want me, honey, that's alright
If you ain't willin', baby, there sure won't be no fight
'Cause I'm still satisfied
In loving you
And I'll be waiting 'round when you get through
Oh, you're precious, honey
You're so precious
Precious baby, you're mine
You've been in and out of my life
And, ooh, baby that hurts
Baby, that hurts, yeah
You've been with every girl in this town
You've been dealin' in dirt
Just wallowin' in dirt, yes you have
But I look at love as a two-way street
You get the good with the bad
You take the bitter with the sweet
Oh, you're precious, honey
You're so precious, baby
@claudthornhill
I'm continually amazed of how many greats I missed in my love of our precious music. Otis Clay you are one of the greats, So glad I finally found you. RIP!
@DrTanyaEnglish
Nothing like seeing Otis live. He is a great angel now. An Inspiration.
@brendachilds3059
One of the greatest performers of all time
@rheahayes3149
I was Blessed to see Otis Clay & his Back-Up Singers & amazing Band in Canada 12 Times— He puts on an AMAZING SHOW & Line-ups Of people waiting to get into his concerts went around many blocks🇨🇦🇨🇦💗💗
@dogcat126
Now this is some good old soul music!
@LilyofEpicCool
THE man when it came to Southern Soul. The real thing. Sure aren't many left, and now there's one less. The music lives on forever.
@stevedegroodt5294
Solid stuff by a master, RIP Otis Clay. Dec 24, 2020
@melissaschroeter161
Did anyone ever say it would be easy... not to have you...... the music that sings you.... the soul that is ... a garden of variety...
@baddbuoy1
Felt this tune many nights at "Blues ETC" up on North Halstead in Chi Town. Otis was always on
@user-lr8ud2mv9d
Precious, precious
Precious, precious
Precious baby, you're mine
Mmm... if you don't love me, I'm used to that
If you don't need me, baby, I can adjust to that
If you don't want me, honey, that's alright
If you ain't willin', baby, there sure won't be no fight
'Cause I'm still satisfied
In loving you
And I'll be waiting 'round when you get through
Oh, you're precious, honey
You're so precious
Precious baby, you're mine
You've been in and out of my life
And, ooh, baby that hurts
Baby, that hurts, yeah
You've been with every girl in this town
You've been dealin' in dirt
Just wallowin' in dirt, yes you have
But I look at love as a two-way street
You get the good with the bad
You take the bitter with the sweet
Oh, you're precious, honey
You're so precious, baby