Born James Moore in Lobdel, Louisiana, the eldest in an orphaned family, Moore worked as a longshoreman and building worker during the late 1930s and early 1940s. One of the foremost proponents of post-war rural blues, he began performing in Baton Rouge bars under the name Harmonica Slim. He later accompanied Lightning Slim, his brother-in-law, both live and in the studio, before commencing his own recording career in 1957.
Named Slim Harpo by producer Jay Miller, the artist's solo debut coupled "I'm A King Bee" with "I Got Love If You Want It". Influenced by Jimmy Reed, he began recording for Excello and enjoyed a string of popular R&B singles which combined a drawling vocal with incisive harmonica passages. Among them were "Rainin' In My Heart" (1961), "I Love The Life I Live", "Buzzin'" (instrumental) and "Little Queen Bee" (1964). On these hits he was accompanied by understated electric backing from the regular stable of Excello musicians — including Lazy Lester, whom Harpo influenced.
The singer was known as one of the masters of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was a humorous takeoff on "slim harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.
Harpo was the point man of the 1950s Louisiana Swamp/Blues movement. Harpo, along with Lightning Slim, Lazy Lester, Lonesome Sundown, and a dozen other downhome artists recorded for A&R man J.D. Miller in Crowley, Louisiana. The records were then issued on the Excello label, based in Nashville.
Harpo's relaxed, almost lazy, performances set the tone for his subsequent work. His warm, languid voice enhanced the sexual metaphor of "I'm A King Bee", which was later recorded by the Rolling Stones. The same group also covered the pulsating "Shake Your Hips", which Harpo first issued in 1966, while the Pretty Things, the Yardbirds and Them featured versions of his songs in their early repertoires. Later, the riff from Harpo's hit "Shake Your Hips" was used in the ZZ Top hit "La Grange," and the Rolling Stones covered the song on their 1972 album, Exile On Main Street. Harpo enjoyed a notable US Top 20 pop hit in 1966 with "Baby Scratch My Back" (also a number 1 R&B hit), which revitalized his career.
Never a full-time musician, Harpo had his own trucking business during the 1960s, although he was a popular figure in the late 1960s blues revival, with appearances at several renowned venues including the Electric Circus and the Fillmore East. He died unexpectedly of a heart attack on 31 January 1970 at the age of 46, and was buried in Mulatto Bend Cemetery in Port Allen, Louisiana.
Strange Love
Slim Harpo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cutest thing I ever seen
Strange love
Cutest thing I ever seem
You remind me of something
That I have seen in a dream
Can I take you out to dinner
Can I take you out to dinner
Someplace where we can be alone?
Tell you how much I love you
Then let me hold you in my arms
You as sweet as honey
Love to be yo' honeycomb
You as sweet as any honey
I love to be yo' honeycomb
Then when the time is right, darlin'
There'll be some lovin' goin' on
The lyrics of Slim Harpo's "Strange Love" describe the singer's infatuation with someone who he finds incredibly endearing and attractive. He describes this person as the cutest thing he's ever seen, and is reminded of something he's seen in a dream. He expresses his desire to take this person out to dinner, somewhere where they can be alone, in order to express his love for them and to hold them in his arms. The singer seems to be captivated by this person's sweetness, comparing them to honey and expressing his desire to be their "honeycomb."
Overall, the lyrics of "Strange Love" seem to be focused on the singer's affection for someone he finds uniquely adorable and charming. The song captures the excitement and giddiness of a new romance, with the singer expressing his desire to spend time with this person and to express his feelings of love and desire for them.
Line by Line Meaning
Strange love
This love is unconventional and different from what I've experienced before.
Cutest thing I ever seen
You are the most adorable person I have ever come across.
You remind me of something That I have seen in a dream
I feel like I have met you before, in my dreams or in another life.
Can I take you out to dinner Someplace where we can be alone?
I want to spend more quality time with you and get to know you better.
Tell you how much I love you Then let me hold you in my arms
I want to express my love for you and show you how much I care by holding you in my arms.
You as sweet as honey Love to be yo' honeycomb
You are as sweet as honey and I want to be the one to take care of and protect you.
Then when the time is right, darlin' There'll be some lovin' goin' on
When the moment is perfect, we will share our love and affection with each other.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JERRY WEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JohnJones-qy5ko
Love the haunting quality of this song, and how the bass player didn't ruin it by adding fancy runs.
@beverlycashin4320
I love this song. And I love the extra beats he adds to the basic 12-bar.
@loukdare2904
A classic !!!
@verenavonschonburg-waldenb8636
that is a very nice little story or anecdote. Does anyone know it this was a mark or a rememberance of Slim Harpo himself?
I really would like to know. I did not know and how could I what was it like working on a farm around the 50s.
It must have been a very difficult time for people who had to work there and getting not enough money paid for their work and afro americans especially.
Maybe maybe not those kind of people had to bring out or describe what they have experienced in such bad and unfair circumstances, and that is just the opinion of someone who lives in Germany.....