Paul Rishell was born in 1950 in Brooklyn, NY. His early musical experience… Read Full Bio ↴Paul Rishell was born in 1950 in Brooklyn, NY. His early musical experience was as a drummer playing rock 'n' roll and surf music in Connecticut in the early 1960's. In 1963 a friend introduced him to the country blues recordings of Son House and Robert Johnson, Charlie Patton and Blind Lemon Jefferson. Thus began Paul's lifetime devotion to this uniquely American form of music. By 1970 he was proficient on both acoustic and electric guitar and worked as a sideman and studio player in Boston. He played with Son House, Johnny Shines, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Howlin' Wolf, and shared the stage with many of his blues heroes. He also was a member of The Manic Depressives, together with Peter C. Johnson and John Payne. In 1975, Paul began performing regularly as a solo acoustic blues artist, and also attracted a strong local following with his own blues band.

In the mid-eighties, Paul took some time off to start a family. In 1987, his daughter Vanessa was born, and he began work with Tone-Cool Records on his first CD, Blues on a Holiday, released in 1990 to remarkable critical acclaim and recognition of his contribution to the blues tradition. He has dedicated himself to teaching the guitar styles of the masters and to educating his audiences about the original recordings of the country blues that inspired him.

While working on his second Tone-Cool CD, Swear to Tell the Truth, Paul Rishell met Annie Raines. Her work on the project heralded the beginning of a productive musical partnership: Paul and Annie have become a steadfast touring and recording team, working as an acoustic and electric duo, as well as with a full band. Since 1992 they have gained an ever greater following in the U.S. and overseas, performing and teaching at festivals, workshops, clubs and concert halls, and doing session work as well.

Candy
Paul Rishell & Annie Raines Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Some say that love is sweet as a rose,
Some say it's honey and the bee,
Well sit right down and let me tell you
What my love is to me.

"Candy"
I call my sugar "Candy"
Because I'm sweet on "Candy"

And "Candy" is sweet on me

He/She understands me,
My understanding "Candy"
And "Candy"'s always handy
When I need sympathy
I wish that there were four of him/her
So I could love much more of him/her

He/She has taken my complete heart,
Got a sweet tooth for my sweetheart
"Candy"
Its gonna be just dandy
The day I take my "Candy"

And make him mine all mine
Mine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Candy," by Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, are a clever play on words that describe the singer's love interest. The song plays on the idea of describing a person as a type of candy, such as "sweet on Candy," which in this case refers to the singer's lover. The first stanza introduces the theme of the song, which is the singer's devotion to their partner.

In the second stanza, the singer speaks more directly about their lover, referring to them as "my understanding Candy." The candy reference continues as the singer wishes for four versions of their lover so they can have more to love. The chorus repeats the notion that the singer calls their sweetheart "Candy" because they are sweet on them and they, in turn, are sweet on the singer.

The final stanza concludes with the singer's affirmation that they will one day take their Candy and make them theirs alone. The song overall is a playful and sweet love song that uses clever wordplay to describe the singer's affection for their partner.

Line by Line Meaning

Some say that love is sweet as a rose,
Love is often described as a rose and can be sweet for some.

Some say it's honey and the bee,
Others compare love to honey and the bee, suggesting that love is something that is naturally drawn to us.

Well sit right down and let me tell you
Let me explain to you my own understanding of love.

What my love is to me.
This is how I see and feel love personally.

I call my sugar "Candy"
I have a sweet nickname for the person I love.

Because I'm sweet on "Candy"
I'm completely infatuated with this person.

And "Candy" is sweet on me
This person loves and values me just as much.

He/She understands me,
This person knows me well and understands me.

My understanding "Candy"
The person I love also understands and accepts me completely.

And "Candy"'s always handy
This person is always there for me when I need them.

When I need sympathy
This person is there to show compassion and support when I'm going through a tough time.

I wish that there were four of him/her
I love this person so much that I wish I could have more of them.

So I could love much more of him/her
I want to continue loving and cherishing this person.

He/She has taken my complete heart,
This person has captured my heart entirely.

Got a sweet tooth for my sweetheart
I have an intense love and desire for my partner.

"Candy"
This person is like candy to me- sweet, irresistible, and something I can't get enough of.

Its gonna be just dandy
Everything will be wonderful.

The day I take my "Candy"
When I finally commit to this person.

And make him mine all mine
When I officially become this person's partner.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Joan Whitney, Alex Kramer, Mack David

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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