Lewis began taking piano lessons at the age of four. As a young man, Lewis played with a number of local ensembles, such as Edward Virgil Abner's Knights of Music. Lewis would eventually join a jazz group called The Clefs.
He formed The Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956 with Eldee Young and Isaac Holt. They started as primarily a jazz unit but after their hit, "The In Crowd", in 1965 (the single reached fifth place on the pop charts, and the album second place) the trio concentrated more and more on pop material. Young and Holt left in 1966 to form the Young-Holt Trio and were replaced by Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White. White was replaced by Maurice Jennings in 1970. In the late 1970s an additional keyboard player was frequently added to the lineup. A contemporary version of "The In Crowd" was recorded for Lewis' 2004 album, Time Flies.
His 2005 album "With One Voice" pays homage to his gospel roots with the help Smokie Norful, Darius Brooks, and Donald Lawrence and the J.W. James Memorial A.M.E. Church Combined Choir.
In addition to recording and performing, he was a radio host on Chicago's Smooth Jazz station, WNUA (95.5 FM). His syndicated show Legends of Jazz, featuring classic jazz recordings from artists such as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis), could be heard in 60 cities in the United States and other countries as well. His Legends of Jazz television series on PBS, was first aired in April 2006.
From December 2006, the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show became a part of Broadcast Architecture's Smooth Jazz Network, simulcasting on other Smooth Jazz stations across the country for the first time.
Lewis was artistic director of Jazz at Ravinia (an annual feature at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois) and helped organize Ravinia's Jazz Mentor Program.
Something
Ramsey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Makes me work all day
Something you got, baby
Makes me bring home my pay
Something you got, baby
You ought to know
My my, whoa whoa
I love you so
Something you got, baby
Makes the world go 'round
Something you got, baby
Keep me home every night
Something you got, baby
You ought to know
You ought to know
Whoa, whoa, my, my
Whoa I love you so
Something you got
Makes me work all day
Something you got
Makes me bring home my pay
Something you got
You ought to know
My my, whoa whoa
I love you so
The lyrics of Ramsey Lewis's "Something You Got" speak about the powerful influence a woman has on her partner. The "something" she has is not defined, but it is strong enough to make the man work all day and bring home his pay. He loves her so much that he stays home with her every night. The woman's power is so great that it even makes the world go 'round. The repetition of the line "Something you got" reinforces how deeply this something has affected the man. The song ends with a repeated refrain of "I love you so," driving home the idea that the woman's power over him is all-encompassing.
The repetition of the phrase "Something you got" is likely intentional, intended to emphasize the unspoken quality of the woman's power. The song was released in the mid-1960s, which was a time of great social change in the United States. The lyrics of the song reflect a common sentiment of the time: the idea that women had great power to influence the men in their lives.
Ramsey Lewis's "Something You Got" has been covered by a number of other artists over the years, including Wilson Pickett, Earl Grant, and Alvin "Red" Tyler. The song has also been used in numerous films and television shows, including Mad Men and The Sopranos.
Line by Line Meaning
Something you got, baby
There's a certain quality about you that captivates me, my love.
Makes me work all day
Your influence has me striving and toiling endlessly, day in and day out.
Makes me bring home my pay
My desire to provide for you prompts me to earn and bring back money each time.
You ought to know
It should be obvious or well-known to you that I'm smitten with you.
My my, whoa whoa
An expression of intense emotion and excitement over the depth of love I have for you.
I love you so
Undying love and affection for you; cannot put into words how much I love you.
Makes the world go 'round
The force of your love and energy sustains me and keeps everything in motion.
Keep me home every night
The alluring power of your love keeps me wanting to stay with you all through the night.
You ought to know
It should be obvious or well-known to you that I'm smitten with you.
Whoa, whoa, my, my
An expression of intense emotion and excitement over the depth of love I have for you.
Whoa I love you so
Undying love and affection for you; cannot put into words how much I love you.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRIS KENNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind