After dropping out of high school and joining the US Naval Reserve, he eventually went AWOL to concentrate on music. He fled to Canada in 1964 and started using the name Ricky Matthews. In Toronto, he led various incarnations of The Mynah Birds, some of which included Neil Young and Bruce Palmer (who would go on to form Buffalo Springfield) and Nick St. Nicholas (later of Steppenwolf). After scoring a deal with Motown, the band was swindled by their manager and the label discovered James was on the lam, and the band split up.
After serving time for desertion, James tried to rekindle the Mynah Birds, but eventually found a role as a writer and producer at Motown, using the name Terry Johnson on tunes for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and The Spinners. He moved to California in 1969 and formed Salt 'n' Pepper (not to be confused with Salt-N-Pepa) and worked with a number of bands (Heaven and Earth, Great White Cane, and Stone City Band) before returning to Motown, where he developed the gritty funk sound that would bring him hits and notoriety. "Super Freak" in 1981, from the Street Songs album, was his biggest hit. During this period, he also helped launch the careers of R&B singer Teena Marie and the Mary Jane Girls as well as producing Eddie Murphy's hit, Party All the Time.
After remaining moderately successful through the 80s, his popularity waned in the 90s and he succumbed to drugs, having frequent run-ins with the law, one of which resulted in a prison term. After an unsuccessful comeback attempt in 1997 and suffering a stroke, James retired. He died in 2004 from heart failure with multiple contributing factors.
Call Me Up
Rick James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't like no pain (I don't like no pain)
Make me surrender sugar
When you call my name (my name is Rick)
Rock me roll me
Baby don't you stop (Don't you ever stop)
Wake me shake me
When your love gets hot
Like fire, hot fire
Baby you can call me up (You know my number)
Hey baby you can call me up
Call me up
Touch me places baby
I've never been touched before (You can do it baby)
Kiss me in spaces make me holler out for more
Give more & more
Give me pleasure baby
Give me every bit you got (Give it to me baby)
Make me feel better by telling me
You'll never stop (Say you'll never stop)
I can feel your body burnin' to my flesh
Like fire hot fire
(Repeat 1st and 2nd verses)
Baby when you want a hand to hold
When you don't want to be alone just gotta call me up
Baby when you do it all night
When you want to get it right
Just gotta call me up
Baby when you want my lovin' around
And when you want to get on down
Just gotta call me up
Baby when you want to do it all night
When you want to get it right
Just gotta call me up
In "Call Me Up" by Rick James, he expresses his desire for a partner who can satisfy his physical needs. He wants his lover to love him tenderly and to make him surrender when she calls his name. He urges her to rock him and roll him, to wake him and shake him, and to touch him and kiss him in places he has never been touched before. Rick James wants his partner to give him pleasure and to do so with every bit she's got. Rick goes on to say that her touch feels like fire, hot fire, and that he wants her to call him up when she needs someone to talk to, to hold her hand, to be with her throughout the night, and to give her all of his love.
The song is about more than just physical pleasure; it's also about the emotional connection between two partners. Rick James sings about wanting to be there for his lover whenever she needs him, and he wants her to know that he will never stop loving her. The lyrics of the song are straightforward and explicit but are also quite romantic, making it a hit amongst lovers.
Line by Line Meaning
Love me tender baby
Expressing a desire for gentle and affectionate love
I don't like no pain (I don't like no pain)
Not interested in pain or suffering in a romantic relationship
Make me surrender sugar
Asking to be dominated in the relationship with affectionate pet names
When you call my name (my name is Rick)
Expressing a desire to be recognized and called by name in the relationship
Rock me roll me
Requesting physical intimacy in a passionate manner
Baby don't you stop (Don't you ever stop)
Making it clear that stopping physical intimacy is not desired
Wake me shake me
Asking the partner to be active and passionate in lovemaking
When your love gets hot
Expecting the partner to be passionate and intense in expressing romantic love
I can feel your body burning to my flesh
Experiencing the passion and intensity of physical intimacy
Like fire, hot fire
Comparing the intensity of physical intimacy to fire
Baby you can call me up (You know my number)
Expressing availability to the partner at any time
Hey baby you can call me up
Reiterating availability to the partner at any time
Call me up
Encouraging the partner to initiate contact
Touch me places baby
Expression of a desire for the partner to explore all parts of the body in lovemaking
I've never been touched before (You can do it baby)
Describing an experience of novelty or being untouched in romantic relationships
Kiss me in spaces make me holler out for more
Asking for passionate kisses that would leave a lasting impact or desire for more intimacy
Give me pleasure baby
Requesting pleasure and satisfaction from the relationship
Give me every bit you got (Give it to me baby)
Asking for complete and passionate expression of love and intimacy
Make me feel better by telling me
You'll never stop (Say you'll never stop)
Expecting the promise of a continuous and passionate relationship
Baby when you want a hand to hold
When you don't want to be alone just gotta call me up
A promise to be there for the partner and provide companionship when needed
Baby when you do it all night
When you want to get it right
Just gotta call me up
Encouragement to initiate contact when the partner desires prolonged and satisfying intimacy
Baby when you want my lovin' around
And when you want to get on down
Just gotta call me up
Assurance of availability and willingness to be active in the relationship
Baby when you want to do it all night
When you want to get it right
Just gotta call me up
Encouragement to initiate contact when the partner desires prolonged and satisfying intimacy
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@marquestravae8614
One of the most bangingnest bass lines EVER! There is no fast forward material on this classic album!!
@somethingdifferent4u247
Yep.
@William_sJazzLoft
no doubt
@er9779
But lots of rewinds!
@sadame1414
KEEP IT 💯
QUES!!
@joellharris3975
Just played the whole cd Friday, honey and I rode out to it lol he laughs at me because he's 10 older than me
@abrahampalmer1153
I rather be a young adult in the 80s instead of today's generation because of beautiful music no social media and too much technology.
@kennyadoti2820
Trust me, that period WAS the LAST time that we as humans will ever interact...hello tech life!!!
@marsheabyars3989
Facts
@deewoo2776
and we were focused on being an adult than an adult teenager .