In the 1950s, Johnson sang and played with blues artists Magic Sam, Billy Boy Arnold, Junior Wells and Howlin' Wolf, before recording with Jimmy Reed for Vee-Jay in 1959. He made his solo debut that same year with Federal, a subsidiary of King Records of Cincinnati, backed by Freddie King on guitar.
He then began recording for Twinight Records of Chicago in the mid 1960s. Beginning with his first hit, Come On Sock It to Me in 1967, Johnson dominated the label as both a hitmaker and producer. His song Different Strokes, also from 1967, featured recently on the Ultimate Breaks and Beats breakbeat compilation.
Like other black songwriters of the period, several of his records at this time explored themes of African-American identity and social problems in songs including Is It Because I'm Black, which reached Number 11 in the R&B charts in 1969.
In 1971, Willie Mitchell brought Johnson to Hi Records, for whom he recorded three albums and a number of singles. Produced in Memphis with the Hi house band, these yielded music of power and enduring value, including the hits We Did It, Back for a Taste of Your Love and Take Me to the River, his biggest success, reaching Number 7 on the R&B charts in 1975. However, at Hi Johnson was always to some extent in Al Green's shadow commercially, if not artistically.
After the Hi years ended, Johnson produced two LPs for his own Shama label, the latter of which (Ms. Fine Brown Frame, 1982) was picked up for distribution by Boardwalk Records and produced Johnson's last hit record, the title cut.
Around the mid-eighies, Johnson started a fast-food fish restaurant business, and became semi-retired from performing, only making occasional appearances at blues club gigs.
In 1992, Johnson found out that his classic song "Different Strokes" have been sampled by number of rappers including Wu-Tang Clan, Hammer, and the Ghetto Boys. Stimulated by this fact, he decided to make a come back in the music business. In 1994, he released the album Back in the Game on Delmark Records. The album featured the the Hi rhythm section and his youngest daughter Syleena Johnson.
Blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson, and bassist Mack Thompson, are his brothers.
Different Strokes
Syl Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'll be around for a while yeah, yeah, yeah
Can't you dig it, honey
While watching my style now,
alright
Oh yeah
So many ways that one can play
Too too sad, and it ain't no joke
Different strokes for different folks, now
Mama stroke, papa too
A stroke for me and a stroke for you
Ahh yeah
Stroke for a woman, stroke for a man
Stroke for a honey, Ah yeah
Stroke for the game, now
Too too sad, and it ain't no joke
Different strokes for different folks, now Aww yeah
Watch me do the stroke one time, baby
Watch me do the stroke two times, baby
lady I wanna do my stroke three times now
Let me do my stroke four times mama
Alright now, watch me
Let me do my stroke baby
Come on mama
The lyrics to Syl Johnson's "Different Strokes" are about the universal truth that different people enjoy different things. The chorus repeats the phrase "Different strokes for different folks," which means that everyone has their own unique preferences and tastes. The verses elaborate on this theme, with the singer urging his audience to "dig" his style while acknowledging that there are many different ways to play music. He mentions the "string-a-ling" and "funky poppy" styles, as well as the fact that people of different ages and genders enjoy different types of music. He even mentions stroke as a metaphor for the different ways people enjoy physical pleasure.
Overall, the song is about acceptance and diversity, and the importance of respecting others' choices even if they are different from our own. It's a positive message that still feels relevant today, and the driving funk beat and catchy melody make it easy to dance along to.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby you're laughin'
I know you're happy right now
But I'll be around for a while yeah, yeah, yeah
I'm going to stay here for a long time
Can't you dig it, honey
Do you understand what I mean?
While watching my style now, alright
Pay attention to the way I do things now, okay?
So many ways that one can play
There are many different ways to do things
Do the string-a-ling or the funky poppy
You can do it fast or slow
Too too sad, and it ain't no joke
It's very sad and serious
Different strokes for different folks, now
Everyone has their own unique way of doing things
Mama stroke, papa too
Everyone can do it
A stroke for me and a stroke for you
We can both do it
Stroke for a woman, stroke for a man
Both genders can do it
Stroke for a honey, Ah yeah
Everyone can enjoy it
Stroke for the game, now
It can be done in different contexts
Watch me do the stroke one time, baby
Let me show you how to do it once
Watch me do the stroke two times, baby
Let me do it twice now
Lady I wanna do my stroke three times now
I want to do it three times
Let me do my stroke four times, mama
Four times now
Alright now, watch me
Okay, pay attention
Let me do my stroke baby
Let me enjoy doing it
Come on mama
Join me and enjoy it too
Contributed by Skyler T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Carlos Puentes
Props to the RZA for giving him the recognition and financial restitution that was long overdue. Rest in power, Syl!
TheBookofrhymes
ππΎπ
Henry perez
Which song he use simple on WU
First Of All
@Henry perez im here for that too, to see if i could recognize it, lol! Sounds like Shame On A NGA.
HADEZ SHADOWZ
That's that shame on a NINJA
Daniel Brown
How the hell did he sample that on the fade out?
gritz & gravy
Rest in peace to the great Syl Johnson
Lamonica Johnson
Syl Johnson rip π for the family
Breno Barbosa
R.I.P to this legend! Died today, 2/6/22
Dee Westwood
Just learned who he was and I'm sad that I caught on way too late. Better late than never. R.I.P. to a true legend and pioneer...π―