Dillon was born in 1944 in Linstead, St. Catherine, Jamaica.[1] Influenced by American singers Connie Francis, Patti Page and Dionne Warwick, she began singing in talent contests. It was during a performance at the Glass Bucket Club in Kingston, Jamaica with the group The Vulcans, that Duke Reid's session guitarist Lynn Taitt discovered Dillon.[1]
Dillon was 22 when she recorded her first record for Duke Reid. In 1967, Reid released Dillon's "Don’t Stay Away". While most of Dillon’s subsequent recordings would be covers of popular and obscure American songs including Bettye Swann's "Make Me Yours", Perry Como's "Tulips and Heather," The Grass Roots "Midnight Confessions", and Stephen Stills's "Love the One You're With"; "Don't Stay Away" was an original composition featuring Tommy McCook and the Supersonics as the backing band.
Another original song, "It’s Rocking Time" would later be turned into the Alton Ellis' hit "Rocksteady". While these early recordings demonstrate Dillon's mastery of the rocksteady sound, a much slower, soulful, response to the sultry weather that made ska's upbeat rhythm and tempo undesirable even impracticable, it was no indication of her greatest performance, 1967’s "Perfidia". Popularized by the American surf rock band The Ventures, "Perfidia" is a 1940 song written by Alberto Domínguez and made popular by the Cuban bandleader, Xavier Cugat.
At the end of 1967, Dillon moved to New York.[1] The following five years, she spent living a double life. She had a family and career in the United States, flying frequently back to Kingston, Jamaica to continue recording for Reid.
After a number of singles and an album entitled Living in Love, Dillon ended her recording career in 1971. She was 27 years old.
In 1991, Michael Bonnet, the entertainment director for the Oceanea Hotel in Kingston approached Dillon inviting her to sing. Her refusal at first was later rescinded and sparked a revitalized interest in performing and recording. In the years following, Dillion would tour the UK, Germany and Japan.
In 1998 Phyllis Dillon returned to the recording studio with Lynn Taitt, marked by reinterest in ska music in the United States. She remained active until illness took hold.
Phyllis Dillon died on 15 April 2004 in New York, after a two year battle with cancer, at the age of 59.
Eddie Oh Baby
Phyllis Dillon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't you know I'm in love with you
If you don't believe it's true
Then why don't you try me
Look how long I've been waiting
For you to come right in
And now that we are together
Oh Eddie, oh Eddie, oh baby
Can't you see I'm in love with you
If you don't believe it's true
Then why don't you try me
I'll never let you down
I will never let you wear no frown
If you say that you love me madly
I think I will accept you gladly
Oh Eddie, oh Eddie, oh baby
Don't you know I'm in love with you
If you don't believe it's true
Then why don't you try me
Look how long I've been waiting
For you to come right in
And now that we are together
Please make all my joys come over
The song "Eddie Oh Baby" by Phyllis Dillon showcases a woman declaring her love for a man named Eddie. She pleads with him to believe that her love is true and encourages him to try her out. The lyrics also express how long she has waited for Eddie to come into her life and how she wants him to make her happy. She reassures him that she will never let him down and that she will accept him gladly if he loves her madly.
The lyrics may seem simple, but they express a deep emotion of love and longing. The repetition of Eddie's name creates a sense of importance and desire for him. The lyrics also showcase the desire for a committed and loving relationship, as the singer wants Eddie to be with her and make her happy. The overall message is that the singer is in love, and she wants Eddie to feel the same way about her.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Eddie, oh Eddie, oh baby
Expressing affection for Eddie in a playful manner
Don't you know I'm in love with you
Asking Eddie if he's aware of her love for him
If you don't believe it's true
Challenging Eddie's disbelief in her love for him
Then why don't you try me
Encouraging Eddie to give their relationship a chance
Look how long I've been waiting
Pointing out the amount of time she's been waiting for Eddie
For you to come right in
Anticipating Eddie's presence in her life
And now that we are together
Celebrating their union
Please make all my joys come over
Requesting that Eddie bring her happiness and fulfillment
Can't you see I'm in love with you
Asking Eddie if he can recognize her love for him
I'll never let you down
Promising Eddie that she will always support and uplift him
I will never let you wear no frown
Promising Eddie that she will work to ensure that he's always happy
If you say that you love me madly
Expressing willingness to reciprocate Eddie's love
I think I will accept you gladly
Expressing openness to a romantic relationship with Eddie
Contributed by Sydney I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.