Early life and career
Peggy Scott-Adams grew up as a child from a very small typical town of Opp in Alabama. Throughout her early career, Peggy Scott toured with Ben E. King as a teenager and hit the Top 40 three times as a duet act with Jo Jo Benson back in the 1960s. She came back strong in the late 1990s after decades of inactivity with the top-seller song called "Bill," a wildly popular contemporary blues song about a story of a woman whose man has been fooling around --- with another man.
Not long after that, Peggy Scott had been out of the music business since the late 1960s, and subsequently she was working as a lounge singer in Pensacola, Florida until she moved to California and married a Compton city commissioner in 1988. She was then persuaded to return to the studio by singer/songwriter/producer, Jimmy Lewis. With his guidance, they recorded her solo debut album called Help Yourself released on October 22, 1996.
Solo career
One of the Jimmy Lewis songs was a novelty track which twisted the common complaint of a wife keeping her man faithful. The twist was that her man had romantic and sexual desires for another man. This complaint is more commonplace today. Released as a single the song, "Bill", initially just to blues radio stations, it also began getting airplay on Urban contemporary radio and soon gained most-requested status at several larger stations. It peaked at #87 on the Billboard Hot 100. The music video to "Bill" also became popular. The album, "Help Yourself" began selling well, making The Billboard 200 albums chart peaking at #72, #48 on the R&B chart and #1 on the Top Blues Albums chart.
The release of "Contagious" later in 1997 also featured a socially conscious hit single called, Spousal Abuse which tackle the issue of domestic abuse in relationships. Her third album Undisputed Queen released in 1999, was not quite as strong overall, but it did have its moments.
Scott-Adams continued to sing audacious soul blues in the year 2000 with Live in Alabama & More which featured the ballad, "When I'm With You" and the funky dance track, "Sweaty Men." Both singles became hits. The album Hot & Sassy became her strongest since Help Yourself, featuring such hit singles as "Mr. Right Or Mr. Wrong", "If I'm Still Not Married" and "Your Divorce Has Been Denied."
Her fifth album, Busting Loose was released in 2003. It featured the audacious lead single, If You Wanna Hear Me Holler, Lick Me Up Some Dollars. In 2006, she released her first Gospel album entitled God Can, And He Will. It received positive reviews and was also well received by her fanbase. A few years later, Adams returned with her sophomore gospel album, titled, "Back To The Roots." She issued the album on July 7, 2009, on her own label, Nora Records.
Help Yourself
Peggy Scott-Adams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So you just sat there and wallowed
Hungry and hollow
Why don't you just swallow your pride?
You got your daydreams and people
Just say things
And when they reach you, oh, they breach you
It was nice to meet you, now, goodbye"
I can't help you if you
Don't wanna help yourself
Always blaming someone else stop
You know I'm on your side
You're not telepathic, give me a sign
I know it's tragic
And I can't do magic but I'll keep trying
I can't help you if you
Don't wanna help yourself
Always blaming someone else
The lyrics of Peggy Scott-Adams's song Help Yourself talk about a person who is struggling with their emotions and is unable to move forward. In the first verse, it is described how the person became so angry that they could not think anymore and ended up feeling empty and hungry. The lyrics suggest that the person should swallow their pride and ask for help, instead of isolating themselves from other people. The second verse describes how the person is disconnected from others and has a negative attitude towards them. The chorus emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility for one's own life and behavior. The person is urged to stop blaming others and to start taking action to improve their situation. The lyrics acknowledge that helping oneself can be challenging, but it is a necessary step towards growth.
Line by Line Meaning
You got so angry that you couldn't think
Your emotions took over and clouded your judgment, leaving you unable to reason.
So you just sat there and wallowed
Instead of taking action, you allowed yourself to remain stuck in your negative feelings.
Hungry and hollow
You feel empty and unsatisfied, as if something is missing.
Why don't you just swallow your pride?
Stop letting your ego get in the way and take the necessary steps to improve your situation.
You got your daydreams and people
You have your own aspirations and relationships.
Just say things
People will often express their opinions or give you advice, whether you ask for it or not.
And when they reach you, oh, they breach you
You are deeply affected by the words and actions of others, to the point of feeling violated.
Say "I don't need you
Assert your independence and ability to stand on your own.
It was nice to meet you, now, goodbye"
Politely end the interaction and move on from people who do not bring positivity to your life.
I can't help you if you
I am willing to support and assist you
Don't wanna help yourself
But you need to take action and work towards improving your own situation.
Always blaming someone else stop
Instead of pointing fingers and placing blame, take responsibility for your own life and actions.
You know I'm on your side
Despite everything, I am still here for you and want to help.
You're not telepathic, give me a sign
I cannot read your mind, so communicate with me and let me know what you need.
I know it's tragic
I understand that your situation is difficult and unsettling.
And I can't do magic but I'll keep trying
While I cannot solve everything overnight, I am committed to putting in the effort and supporting you however I can.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: ADAM MELCHOR, ETHAN GRUSKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind