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.
Ghetto Life
Rick James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Growing up in the ghetto
Hanging out on corners
Singin' with the fellas
Lookin' for the cute chicks
Trying to find a bit of fun
Looking for some trouble
Or anyone who'll give me some
I was young and crazy
In the ghetto
Didn't know what my life would be
In the ghetto
I was dumb and oh so lazy
In the ghetto
Something had a spell on me
In the ghetto
You want to know what I'm talkin' bout?
Talkin' 'bout ghetto life
Ghetto Life
You want to know what I'm singin' 'bout?
Talkin' 'bout ghetto life
Ghetto Life
When I was a young man
Kind of free and fancy
Met this little cute girl
She said her name was Nancy
She had pigtails to her shoulders
She couldn't have been much older
She taught me what I had to know
To make a girl not want to go
She was very kinky
In the ghetto
She laid her pigtails down on me
In the ghetto
And I was feeling oh so sneaky
In the ghetto
I had to see what love could be
In the ghetto
I knew it all along
That my game was strong
But I was wrong that time
I knew I had to pray
And give myself away
Did you think I was man enough?
Yeah
Did you think I was smart enough?
Yeah
Did you think I was strong enough?
Yeah
Did you think I'd work it out?
The Ghetto Life
Sing it to ya, hit it baby baby
Talkin 'bout ghetto life
You got to get on over
Talkin 'bout ghetto life
When I was a young boy
Tenements, slums and corner bums
Playing tag with winos
The only way to have some fun
One thing 'bout the ghetto
You don't ha
ve to hurry
It'll be there tomorrow
So no need to worry
In Rick James's song Ghetto Life, he reminisces about his youth growing up in the ghetto, hanging out on street corners and trying to find fun and trouble with friends. He describes how he was young and crazy, not knowing what his life would be and how something had a spell on him. He then recalls meeting a girl named Nancy who taught him what he needed to know to make a girl not want to leave. She was "very kinky" and he felt sneaky, wanting to know what love could be. However, he later realizes that he was wrong and had to pray and give himself away. The song ultimately talks about the struggles and realities of life in the ghetto.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a young boy
Life was tough in the ghetto
Growing up in the ghetto
Growing up around the filth and dirt
Hanging out on corners
Playing tag with winos
Singin' with the fellas
The only way to have some fun
Lookin' for the cute chicks
Searching for love or maybe just some kicks
Trying to find a bit of fun
Taking the easy path. But it never really sticks
Looking for some trouble
Living life in the ghetto where dreams never come true
Or anyone who'll give me some
No room for ambition. Or things that you could do.
I was young and crazy
Life in the ghetto is kinky
Didn't know what my life would be
Things never last
Something had a spell on me
Feeling like we're stuck
You want to know what I'm talkin' bout?
Singing about the ghetto life
Talkin' 'bout ghetto life
What it means, what we feel
When I was a young man
Meeting someone new in the ghetto
Kind of free and fancy
Who shows us a different way
She taught me what I had to know
Teaching us about love
To make a girl not want to go
And how to get people to stay
And I was feeling oh so sneaky
Feeling like we've hit the jackpot
I had to see what love could be
With this girl named Nancy
I knew it all along
We must pray and give ourselves away
That my game was strong
And hope things will work out one day
But I was wrong that time
Believing that we're strong enough
Did you think I was man enough?
To break from the spell of the ghetto's rough
Did you think I was smart enough?
Did you think I was strong enough?
Did you think I'd work it out?
Singing 'bout the ghetto life
Singing about the things we know
Talkin 'bout ghetto life
Hoping people will understand
You got to get on over
That this life isn't ideal
Tenements, slums and corner bums
The ugly, the tough, the grind
Playing tag with winos
Hoping that one day we'll escape
The only way to have some fun
From this place we're confined
One thing 'bout the ghetto
We must work to get out
You don't have to hurry
To make a better way
It's always around
Leaving behind the ghetto life
It's not like it's gonna worry
Hoping for a better day.
Lyrics © Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAVE KELLY, MICHAEL JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nicole Michelle Lynn
on She's A Brick House
Good call Stewart, it wasn't Rick James, it absolutely was the Commodores
Stuart Day
on She's A Brick House
You know Rick James did not sing Brickhouse right? It was the Commodores.