Sam & Dave were an American soul and rhythm and blues (R&B) duo who perform… Read Full Bio ↴Sam & Dave were an American soul and rhythm and blues (R&B) duo who performed together from 1961 through 1981. The tenor (higher) voice was Samuel David Moore (born Samuel David Hicks on October 12, 1935 in Winchester, Georgia), and the baritone/tenor (lower) voice was Dave Prater (May 9, 1937, Ocilla, Georgia – April 9, 1988, Sycamore, Georgia).

Sam & Dave are members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and are Grammy Award and multiple gold record award winning artists. According to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Sam & Dave were the most successful soul duo, and brought the sounds of the black gospel church to pop music with their call-and-response records. Recorded primarily at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1965 through 1968, these included "Soul Man", "Hold On, I'm Comin", "I Thank You", "When Something is Wrong with My Baby", "Wrap It Up", and many other Southern Soul classics. Other than Aretha Franklin, no soul act during Sam & Dave's Stax years (1965–1968) had more consistent R&B chart success, including 10 consecutive top 20 singles and 3 consecutive top 10 LPs.[1] Their crossover charts appeal (13 straight appearances and 2 top 10 singles) helped to pave the way for the acceptance of soul music by white pop audiences, and their song "Soul Man" was one of the first songs by a black group to top the pop charts using the word "soul", helping define the genre. "Soul Man" was a number one Pop Hit (Cashbox: November 11, 1967) and has been recognized as one of the most influential songs of the past 50 years by the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Rolling Stone magazine, and RIAA Songs of the Century. "Soul Man" was featured as the soundtrack and title for a 1986 film and also a 1997–1998 television series, and Soul Men was a 2008 feature film.

They are widely considered to be the inspiration for the Blues Brothers, and indeed their songs can be heard throughout that film.

Nicknamed "Double Dynamite", "The Sultans of Sweat", and "The Dynamic Duo" for their gritty, gospel-infused performances, Sam & Dave were one of the greatest live acts of the 1960s. They were an influence on many future musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, Tom Petty, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello, Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Joel and Steve Winwood. The Blues Brothers, who helped create a resurgence of popularity for soul, R&B, and blues in the 1980s, were influenced by Sam & Dave - their biggest hit was a cover of "Soul Man", and their act and stage show had many similarities to the duo.

I Take What I Want
Sam and Dave Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I take what I want
I'm a bad go-getter, yeah, yes I am
I'm never a loser
And I'm never bitter, yeah, oh no

'Cause I take what I want
Yeah, yeah, baby I want you, yes you

I've been watchin' you walk by
And I haven't said a word, not one word
But now I'm ready to get you
And I'm gonna make you my girl, my lovin' girl

'Cause I take what I want
Yeah yeah, baby I want you

Gonna pick you up now
Carry you away, yes I am
So you better pack up now baby
Pack him up today

Here I come, just a big bad man
When I walk away baby
You'll be holdin' my hand

'Cause I take what I want
I'm a bad go-getter, yeah, yes I am
But now I'm ready to get you
And I'm gonna make you my girl, my lovin' girl

'Cause I take what I want
Yeah baby, I want you
Nobody but you, baby
(Whaddya need now?)

Nobody but you, your love to be by my side
Your heart to be by my guide told your mind
I love you baby, nothin' but your soul
Alright

I'm taking what I want girl
And I want you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Sam and Dave’s “I Take What I Want” express the singer’s confidence and determination to get what he wants, specifically the love of a woman he has been watching. The lyrics portray the singer as a “bad go-getter” who is never a loser and never bitter. He declares that he takes what he wants, and in this case, he wants the woman he has been observing. The singer believes that he can win her over and make her his “lovin’ girl.”

The lyrics convey a sense of masculinity and bravado, with the singer declaring himself a “big bad man” who will carry the woman away. He tells her to pack up and get ready because he is coming for her. The lyrics are a declaration of the singer’s intentions and his belief in his ability to get what he wants, specifically the woman he desires.

Line by Line Meaning

I take what I want
I am a confident person who goes after what I want in life

I'm a bad go-getter, yeah, yes I am
I am an excellent achiever and nothing can stop me from succeeding

I'm never a loser
I always come out on top and never let anything get me down

And I'm never bitter, yeah, oh no
I don't hold any grudges and I always try to stay positive

'Cause I take what I want
I am a determined and assertive person who goes after what I desire

Yeah, yeah, baby I want you, yes you
I am interested in you and want to be with you

I've been watchin' you walk by
I have been noticing you as you pass by

And I haven't said a word, not one word
I have been keeping my interest in you a secret

But now I'm ready to get you
I am now prepared to pursue a relationship with you

And I'm gonna make you my girl, my lovin' girl
I want to be in a committed and affectionate relationship with you

Gonna pick you up now
I am going to take you away with me

Carry you away, yes I am
I will physically transport you with me

So you better pack up now baby
You should prepare to leave and come with me

Pack him up today
You should gather your belongings and come with me as soon as possible

Here I come, just a big bad man
I am a confident and strong individual

When I walk away baby
After we are together, you will be accompanying me as I walk away

You'll be holdin' my hand
We will be affectionately connected as we walk together

Nobody but you, baby
You are the only one I want

(Whaddya need now?)
What else can I do for you?

Your love to be by my side
I want your affection and companionship

Your heart to be by my guide told your mind
I want to lead our relationship with emotions and feelings, not just logic

I love you baby, nothin' but your soul
I love who you are as a person, not just superficially

Alright
I have said what I need to say

I'm taking what I want girl
I am taking the initiative to get what I want

And I want you
I want to pursue a romantic relationship with you

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ISAAC HAYES, DAVID PORTER, MABON HODGES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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johnny zell

5y↑5

I take what I want
I'm a bad go-getter, yeah, yes I am
I'm never a loser
And I'm never bitter, yeah, oh no
'Cause I take what I want
Yeah, yeah, baby I want you, yes you
I've been watchin' you walk by
And I haven't said a word, not one word
But now I'm ready to get you
And I'm gonna make you my girl, my lovin' girl
'Cause I take what I want
Yeah yeah, baby I want you
Gonna pick you up now
Carry you away, yes I am
So you better pack up now baby
Pack him up today
Here I come, just a big bad man
When I walk away baby
You'll be holdin' my hand
'Cause I take what I want
I'm a bad go-getter, yeah, yes I am
But now I'm ready to get you
And I'm gonna make you my girl, my lovin' girl
'Cause I take what I want
Yeah baby, I want you
Nobody but you, baby
(Whaddya need now?)
Nobody but you, your love to be by my side
Your heart to be by my guide told your mind
I love you baby, nothin' but your soul
Alright
I'm taking what I want girl
And I want you