Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on 1 Ju… Read Full Bio ↴Syl Johnson (born Sylvester Thompson in Holly Springs, Mississippi, on 1 July 1936; died 6 February 2022 ) was an American blues and soul singer and music producer. His most successful records included "Different Strokes" (1967), "Is It Because I'm Black" (1969) and "Take Me to the River" (1975). "Different Strokes" has been sampled by number of rappers including Wu-Tang Clan, Hammer, and the Ghetto Boys. Blues guitarist and singer Jimmy Johnson, and bassist Mack Thompson, are his brothers.

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.

I'm Yours
Syl Johnson Lyrics

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Open your eyes girl
Honey, can't you see?
The man that I am
Honey, you made me
All your friends try to put me down
Telling lies all over town
You can't believe it, no
Girl, you can't believe it

Oh, but baby I'm yours
I'm your puppet
Baby, I'm yours
Why don't you pull the strings?
I know that I'm good for you
I can do all the things
That you want me to do
Won't you let me love you?
You can make me feel brand new

Why don't you try, girl?
Cause I can satisfy
Oh, baby I'm yours
I'm your puppet on the string
Baby, I'm yours
Just like a puppet on the string
When you pull it, girl
I'll do anything
Why don't you try girl?
Cause I can satisfy
Oh, baby I'm yours
I can do anything

That you want me to do
Oh, baby I'm yours...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Syl Johnson's song "I'm Yours" talk about a man's devotion to his woman. He pleads with her to open her eyes and see the kind of man that he is because she made him who he is. He acknowledges that her friends are trying to put him down by telling lies about him all over town but implores her not to believe them. He declares that he is her puppet willing to do anything she asks of him because he loves her and wants to make her feel brand new.

In the chorus, he becomes more desperate in his plea, asking his girl why she doesn't pull the strings because he knows he is good for her and can satisfy her. He repeats that he is her puppet, just like a puppet on a string, and he is willing to do anything she demands of him. He invites her to try him out because he can do anything she wants him to do, emphasizing that he belongs to her entirely.

Overall, the song explores the themes of devotion, dependency, and the power dynamics in relationships. The lyrics are simple yet profound, and the soulful melody adds more emotion and depth to the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Open your eyes girl
Hey, pay attention to what I'm saying to you

Honey, can't you see?
Can't you see how I feel about you?

The man that I am
I'm a good man and devoted to you

Honey, you made me
You have changed me for the better

All your friends try to put me down
Your friends are spreading lies about me

Telling lies all over town
They're lying about me to everyone else

You can't believe it, no
Don't believe what they say about me

Girl, you can't believe it
Trust me and not them

Oh, but baby I'm yours
I belong to you entirely

I'm your puppet
I'm under your control and do whatever you want

Baby, I'm yours
I'm totally devoted to you