The Brothers Johnson's version of his composition "Strawberry Letter 23" reached #1 in the Billboard rhythm and blues chart and #5 in the Billboard pop chart in 1977.
Shuggie's albums include: "Here Comes Shuggie Otis", "Freedom Flight" and "Inspiration Information".
In 2001 David Byrne rereleased the album "Inspiration Information" on Luaka Bop.
(2) Guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer/multi-instrumentalist Shuggie Otis may not be a household name, but his "Strawberry Letter 23" is in the record collections of millions of households. The Brothers Johnson's cover of "Strawberry Letter 23" has sold over a million copies, peaking at number one R&B and number five pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1977. It was on their LP Right on Time, which went platinum, selling over a million copies, holding the number one R&B spot for three weeks and making it to number 13 pop in spring 1977. Otis wrote "Strawberry Letter 23" for his girlfriend, who used strawberry scented paper for her letters to him. Another Otis favorite, "Inspiration Information," received substantial airplay in Chicago and other markets, charting #56 R&B in early 1975.
Born Johnny Otis, Jr. on November 30, 1953, in Los Angeles, CA, Otis' formidable musical talents appeared at an early age. He began his professional career around 1965. He played a guitar solo on his bandleader, father Johnny Otis' 1969 number 29 R&B hit, "Country Girl," issued by Kent Records. His guitar skills were so adept that during his teen years, he would have to wear dark glasses and strategically apply black ink between his nose and mouth to appear old enough to perform in clubs with his father.
Signing with CBS Records, Otis began recording virtuoso guitar-laced R&B/West Coast blues sides. His first LP was Al Kooper Introduces Shuggie Otis on CBS. Johnny Otis produced 1970's Here Comes Shuggie Otis, which was issued on the CBS imprint, Epic Records. Otis' Freedom Flight was issued September 1971 and included the original version of "Strawberry Letter 23," the heart-tugging "Someone's Always Singing," "Ice Cold Daydream," and the bluesy "Me and My Woman," co-written by Otis and Gene Barge (known best for his association with Chess Records, Chuck Willis, and Natalie Cole).
His LP Inspiration Information was issued in October 1974, with Otis playing all of the instruments on jazzy and Latin-tinged R&B numbers. The LP was one of the first releases to showcase the electronic rhythm box then found usually on organs. Besides "Inspiration Information," the LP included the sly "Sparkle City," the sweet ballad "Outtamihead," and the lush, strings-laden "Island Letter," which was the B-side of "Inspiration Information."
George Johnson of the Brothers Johnson was dating one of Otis' cousins who gave Johnson a copy of Freedom Flight. Immediately, he liked "Ice Cold Daydream" and "Strawberry Letter 23." The latter song was played at his brother Louis Johnson's wedding during the wedding march. Louis suggested the song to their producer Quincy Jones for an album track. The track's complex guitar solo was played by Lee Ritenour. The Brothers Johnson version is quite close to Otis' original version.
Later on in the '90s, Otis played with his own band around northern California and toured extensively. His son, Lucky Otis, played bass with Johnny Otis' band. Shuggie Otis is featured in the book Alligator Records Presents West Coast Blues, issued in August 1998 by Milwaukee, WI, publisher Hal Leonard. ~ Ed Hogan, Rovi
Driftin' Blues
Shuggie Otis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a ship out on the sea
Well I'm drifting and drifting,
Like a ship out on the sea
Well I ain't got nobody
In this world to care for me
If my baby would only take me back again
Well you know I ain't good for nothin' baby
Well I haven't got no friends
I give you all of my money,
Tell me what more can I do
I give you all my money,
Tell me what more can I do
Well you just a good little girl
But you just won't be true
Bye-bye baby, baby bye-bye bye-bye,
It's gonna be too late baby
I'll be so far away
The song "Driftin' Blues" by Shuggie Otis describes the feeling of aimlessly wandering in life, like a ship on the sea without any direction. The first two lines of the song establish this feeling of being lost, as the singer repeats the phrase "drifting and drifting." He compares himself to a ship out on the sea, which symbolizes the vast unknown that he is navigating. The singer then laments that he has nobody in this world to care for him, which further emphasizes his aloneness and suggests that he may be feeling abandoned.
The next stanza of the song reveals that there is someone who he hopes will take him back - his "baby." He acknowledges that he isn't good for anything, and in fact doesn't even have any friends. He then offers his money as a way to prove his worth, but it seems that his offerings are of no use because his baby won't be true to him. The final stanza features the singer saying goodbye to his baby, recognizing that it's too late to salvage the relationship because he will soon be gone, far away from her.
The lyrics of "Driftin' Blues" paint a picture of a man who is feeling lost and alone, but who is also grappling with a failed relationship. Through his lyrics, Shuggie Otis portrays the raw emotions that come with heartbreak and the challenges of being adrift in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm drifting and drifting,
Like a ship out on the sea
The singer is feeling aimless and lost in life, like a ship without a clear destination out at sea
Well I ain't got nobody
In this world to care for me
The singer is feeling lonely and like they have no one in their life who cares about them
If my baby would only take me back again
Well you know I ain't good for nothin' baby
The singer is lamenting the loss of a past relationship and feels like they are worthless without it
Well I haven't got no friends
The artist is feeling completely alone without any friends or support system in their life
I give you all of my money,
Tell me what more can I do
The artist is feeling desperate and like they have nothing else to offer in their relationship
Well you just a good little girl
But you just won't be true
The singer is frustrated with their partner for not being loyal even though they are otherwise a good person
Bye-bye baby, baby bye-bye bye-bye,
It's gonna be too late baby
I'll be so far away
The singer is resigning themselves to the end of the relationship and the fact that they will soon be alone and far away from their partner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES MOSE BROWN, EDDIE E WILLIAMS, JOHNNY MOORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind