Born Richard Dean Taylor on the 11th May 1939 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he began his career in 1961 as a pianist and singer with several bands in Toronto. He also made his first recordings in 1961, for the Audiomaster record label. The next year, Taylor's "At the High School Dance", a single for Amy-Mala Records, was a minor success. His next single, "I'll Remember", on the Barry label, reached number twenty-three for Toronto rock -and-roll radio station CHUM, and the singer decided to relocate to Detroit, Michigan to further his career.
In Detroit, Taylor was hired by Motown Records in 1964 as a songwriter and recording artist for the Motown subsidiary V.I.P. label. Taylor's scheduled first single (March 1964) for V.I.P. was the topical satire "My Ladybug (Stay Away from That Beatle)", but it was deemed too weak for release and was never issued.
It was not until November 1965 that Taylor's debut V.I.P. single, "Let's Go Somewhere", was issued. It was written by Taylor in conjunction with Brian Holland, and produced by the team of Holland and Lamont Dozier, who had already produced five number-one songs for The Supremes. However, the song was only a regional success, in several U.S. cities and Toronto.
Taylor's next single (1967's "There's a Ghost in My House") was written by the team of Holland–Dozier–Holland along with Taylor, and again produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. It was also a commercial disappointment in the U.S., but it reached number three in the U.K. in 1974. Taylor was also beginning to become a songwriter for other acts; for example "I'll Turn to Stone" by the Four Tops and "All I Need" by The Temptations were both charting U.S. singles in 1967, co-composed by him.
In 1968, Taylor's self-produced single "Gotta See Jane", (co-written with Brian Holland), became a top-twenty hit in the UK. However, his real success came as a member of the Motown writing and production team known as "The Clan". This production group were briefly the prime creators of material for Diana Ross & the Supremes after the Holland/Dozier/Holland team left Motown. Among Taylor's successful co-compositions and co-productions during 1968/69 as a member of The Clan were Diana Ross & the Supremes' number-one U.S. release "Love Child" and their number-ten releaset "I'm Livin' in Shame".
Taylor resumed his recording career in 1970, becoming one of the first artists assigned to Motown's new subsidiary Rare Earth, which was dedicated to Caucasian artists. In that year his first Rare Earth single, "Indiana Wants Me", reached number one in his native Canada. It reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and number two in the U.K.. "Gotta See Jane" was also reissued in 1971, and became a top-ten success in Canada. His 1972 single "Taos, New Mexico" did not do well on the Canadian charts.
Taylor continued recording for Rare Earth, and working as a writer/producer for other artists until Rare Earth was ended in 1976. Though he never again scored the charts as he had done with "Indiana Wants Me", his releases did moderately well, especially in Canada. As a Canadian citizen, he could be played on CKLW and other Canadian radio stations and counted towards the stations' Canadian content quotas.
Taylor attempted a comeback during the early 1980s, after which he had a hiatus from the music industry. He has recently established his own record company, Jane Records.
Indiana Wants Me
R. Dean Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
I wish I had you to talk to
If a man ever needed dyin', he did
No one had the right to say what he said about you
And it's so cold and lonely here without you
Out there the law's a comin'
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
I wish I had you to talk to
It hurts to see the man that I've become
And to know I'll never see the morning sunshine on the land
I'll never see your smiling face or touch your hand
If just once more I could see you, our home and our little baby
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
I wish I had you to talk to
I hope this letter finds its way to you
Forgive me, love, for the shame I put you through and all the tears
Hang on, love, to the memories of those happy years
Red lights are flashin' around me
Yeah, love it looks like they found me
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
I wish I had you to talk to
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
The song "Indiana Wants Me" by R. Dean Taylor is a story of a man who is on the run from the law in Indiana. The opening lines of the song "Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there" express the man's fear of going back to Indiana, where the law is waiting for him. He wishes he had someone to talk to, but he is alone and desperate. The man believes that he is being hunted because he killed a man who had no right to speak ill of the woman he loves. He describes how lonely and cold it is without her there and how he suffers from not being able to see her smiling face or hold her hand one last time.
The desperate man hopes that his written letter finds its way to his love despite his sorry state. He asks for forgiveness for the shame he put her through and tells her to hold on to the memories of those happy years they spent together. As the song comes to a close, he sees red lights flashing around him, and it seems like the law has finally caught up with him.
Overall, "Indiana Wants Me" is a poignant ballad that speaks to the pain of loss and loneliness, while also exploring themes of justice and redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
Indiana wants me, Lord, I can't go back there
I can't return to Indiana because they're after me and want to catch me.
I wish I had you to talk to
I wish I had someone to confide in during this difficult time.
If a man ever needed dyin', he did
The man who spoke ill of you deserved to die for his actions.
No one had the right to say what he said about you
What the man said about you was inappropriate and unjustified.
And it's so cold and lonely here without you
I feel lonely and miserable without your companionship and love.
Out there the law's a comin'
The police are coming to catch me.
I'm gettin' so tired of runnin'
I'm exhausted from constantly running and hiding from the authorities.
It hurts to see the man that I've become
I'm ashamed of myself and how I've turned out.
And to know I'll never see the morning sunshine on the land
I'm sad because I won't experience the simple pleasures of life anymore.
I'll never see your smiling face or touch your hand
I miss you terribly, and wish we could be together once more.
If just once more I could see you, our home and our little baby
If I could turn back time, I would do anything to be reunited with you and our family.
I hope this letter finds its way to you
I'm writing to you in hopes that this message reaches you safely.
Forgive me, love, for the shame I put you through and all the tears
I'm sorry for all the hurt and pain I've caused you, and I hope you can forgive me.
Hang on, love, to the memories of those happy years
Remember the good times we had together, and don't dwell on the negative.
Red lights are flashin' around me
Police sirens and lights are surrounding me, and my time is running out.
Yeah, love it looks like they found me
It appears that I've been caught and there's no escape.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: R. DEAN TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@josephhymel8075
This song reminds of a time back when my family played Monopoly on a Saturday night. When my Dad landed on Indiana avenue he would sing Indiana Wants Me. We would all laugh. I miss you so much Dad and Mom.
@wandaburgess9400
Joseph Hymel
I'm thinking of my dad right now too!! Miss you dad with all my heart!!
@ty7504
Our parents are an indelible imprint into our souls, dear Joseph-of-Hymel. We miss your parents too only in support of thee.
@auberjean6873
Joseph Hymel , such a neat memory! God bless you for sharing it and keeping your Dad's memory alive.
@giggiddy
@@auberjean6873 You're all in good company. Miss my dad more than anything in this world...
@auberjean6873
@@giggiddy, thank you. Miss my mom too. Sounds corny but they were truly my best friends. Happy to care for them the last 6 years of my Dad's life and the last 10 of my mom's. The world is much grayer without them. May memories of you Dad fill your heart with joy this holiday, that you were lucky enough to have a great Dad. Any man can be a father. It takes a great man to be a Dad. 💞
@lisakelly87
This song reminds me of my mom listening to her oldies on the "ghetto blaster" while sunbathing. She's been gone 10 years now and hearing this classic makes me think of the simple moments that stick with you in life and bring you comfort and happiness. ❤️
@seanpearl8156
Any song which makes you cry is a masterpiece. This song is a masterpiece!
@davidmahady8241
I cry every time I was getting real embarrassed glad I'm not only one!
@joesanto4513
Hello fellow human