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.
Hard To Get
Rick James Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're such a sexy treat
You are the girl that turns me on
And when you're hot, you're hot
I love the stuff you've got
You are the kinky girl I write about in every song
(Do do dah do do da do do dah)
(Do do dah do)
Don't be so hard to get
(Do do dah do do da do do dah)
(Do do bop bop, baby)
(Do do dah do)
'Cause I will get you yet, ho
Don't be so hard to get, baby, baby
Don't be so hard to get, baby, baby
Girl, you're loose, you're tight
You're black and even white
You have a rainbow sex appeal
And when we dance, romance
You give me such a chance
To get the kind of love
That no man ever has to steal
(Um pa pa um pa pa)
Don't be so hard to get
(Um pa pa um pa pa)
(Um pa pa um pa pa)
'Cause I will get you yet
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
(Um pa pa um pa pa) ho
You keep on runnin', baby
Why you runnin', baby?
Stop your runnin', yeah
You keep on runnin', baby
Why you runnin', baby?
Don't be so hard to get
Girl, don't be hard to get
Girl, don't be hard to get
Hey, hey, hey
(Um pa pa um pa pa)
Don't be so hard
(Um pa pa um pa pa)
Don't be so hard to get to
(Um pa pa um pa pa)
Don't be so hard
(Um pa pa um pa pa)
Listen to this, girl
Girl, you're cute, you're sweet
You're such a sexy treat
You are the girl that turns me on
And when you're hot, you're hot
I love the stuff you've got
I sing about you every time I sing a kinky song
(Do do dah do do da do do dah)
(Do do bop bop baby)
(Do do dah do)
Don't be so hard to get
(Do do dah do do da do do dah)
(Do do bop bop baby)
(Do do dah do)
'Cause I will get you yet
Don't be so hard to get (I will get you in the end)
Keep your lovin' freaky (Keep your lovin' soft and wet)
Don't be so hard to get (I'll give you love you can remember)
Keep your lovin' kinky (I'll give you love you won't forget)
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
The lyrics of Rick James's song Hard to Get describe a woman that turns him on and has a "kinky" sex appeal. He says that she is "cute," "sweet," and "sexy," and he loves the things she has. However, he's also frustrated with her because she's "hard to get." He sings that he will get her eventually but encourages her to stop running and make it easier for him.
The theme of the song is largely sexual desire, and James is expressing his frustration at not being able to have sex with the woman he desires. He uses a mix of metaphors, similes, and direct language to describe the woman, emphasizing both her physical appearance and her sexual prowess. He also uses various vocalizations and ad-libs to punctuate the lyrics and express his emotions.
Overall, the song is a reflection of James's musical style, which blended various genres such as R&B, funk, soul, and rock. It was released in 1981 as part of his album Street Songs, which was a commercial success and cemented his status as a musical icon of the 1980s.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl, you're cute, you're sweet
You are an attractive and likable person
You're such a sexy treat
You are alluring and attractive
You are the girl that turns me on
You excite and arouse me
And when you're hot, you're hot
You are particularly attractive and desirable
I love the stuff you've got
I find your qualities irresistible
You are the kinky girl I write about in every song
You are the inspiration for my artistic expression and sexual desires
Don't be so hard to get
Stop playing hard to get
'Cause I will get you yet, ho
I will eventually win you over
Girl, you're loose, you're tight
You are both relaxed and intense
You're black and even white
You have mixed heritage and appeal to a broad range of people
You have a rainbow sex appeal
Your sexual appeal is diverse and colorful
And when we dance, romance
We have a deep and meaningful connection when we dance
You give me such a chance
You offer the opportunity for a fulfilling relationship
To get the kind of love that no man ever has to steal
To experience the type of love that does not require deception or manipulation
Don't be so hard to get
Stop making it difficult for us to be together
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Exclamation of frustration or desire
You keep on runnin', baby
You continue to avoid me or our relationship
Why you runnin', baby?
I don't understand why you won't commit to our relationship
Stop your runnin', yeah
Stop avoiding and denying our connection
Don't be so hard to get
Stop making it difficult for us to be together
Keep your lovin' freaky
Keep your love passionate and unconventional
Don't be so hard to get
Stop making it difficult for us to be together
Keep your lovin' kinky
Keep your love unconventional, unique and wild
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Exclamation of frustration or desire
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JAMES A JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tshirt Help Desk
You are missed Rick James!!! Thanks for the music and the memories.
Jarrett Duque
@Josh Haugland momma still feed you from a bottle?
Josh Haugland
Dude kidnapped and tortured a woman, burned her with a meth pipe and sexually abused her… eh I think y’all just miss the music.
Michelle Jones
Absolutely !! Such a genius; REALLY MISS THIS ARTIST 💝
Fraser Gray
Hell yes..the king of punk funk 👑
He believed in having fun...so very important in this life, missed by so many much love brother !☀️💗☀️💗
Maloney7
You are soooooooo CORRECT. RIP Mr.James.
Patrick Guga
This song is fascinating when you really put your ear to it. The rhythm carries the melody throughout the entire song. Yet it's never repetitive or overbearing. There's a lot going on within the instrumentation as well as the vocal performances in every section of the RICK JAMES smash hit song. No part is exactly the same. Everything in this song just seems to totally click. Great composition and recording. It's a masterpiece of our rich BLACK music culture
Max Power
As a white dude id just like to say... Hell yeah 💪 stone citys rhythm n beats are off the goddamn chain stone cold badass!! Shit gets funky on another level legit.. been part of my everyday soundtrack for years.. id like to see someone stay still while this is jammin'... its goddamn impossible when equipped with a human soul 🙏 thank you...
Ski
Yes. His genius is/was DIVINE-of our grand creator. HE NEVER had to mess with LUCI-I know he knows this now. And when the EARTH is cleaned up, like JC cleaned up HEAVEN, I just know we will see his genius again.
Totc
Rick was a genius no doubt !!!