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 Wanna Know
Syl Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What′s running through your mind
I wanna know
When you're out of my hands
Do you think of me sometimes?
Life begins to fall
Some sink slow, yeah
Do you miss me, do you need me?
I wanna know
Do you miss me on a Sunday?
And on Monday too
Do you feel blue on a Tuesday?
Well I was too
Did you cry on a Wednesday?
Like I cried for you
And if on Thursday and Friday
I′m on your mind
Hurry home on a Saturday
We're gonna have a lovin' time
I wanna know
When things fall apart
I, I wanna know
Who′ll be the one
Who′ll be in your heart, all night yeah
When the sun sink low, do you miss me?
Do you need me?
Tell me right now
'Cause I oh yeah
I wanna know, yeah
In Syl Johnson's song "I Wanna Know," the lyrics speak to the uncertainty and insecurity that can come with a romantic relationship. The singer wants to know what is going on in their partner's mind, especially when they are not together. The questions asked throughout the song reveal a deep level of concern for the relationship's stability and the singer's role in their partner's life. They ask if their partner thinks of them when they are apart, if they miss them, and if they need them.
The lyrics also describe the emotional toll that a relationship can have on a person. The part where the singer asks if their partner cried like they did for them shows a vulnerability and a desire for connection. The line "when the sun sinks low, do you miss me?" is particularly poignant, as it acknowledges the end of the day and the loneliness that can set in when a partner is absent. Overall, Syl Johnson's "I Wanna Know" is a heartfelt plea for reassurance and confirmation of love and commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna know
The singer expresses a strong desire to know something
What's running through your mind
The singer is curious about the thoughts and feelings of the person they are addressing
When you're out of my hands
The singer is wondering what the other person is doing when they are not around
Do you think of me sometimes?
The artist wants to know if the other person still cares about them, even if it's only occasionally
Life begins to fall
The artist is suggesting that things are not going well, possibly as a result of the situation they are in
Some sink slow, yeah
The singer acknowledges that some people take longer than others to process and move on from difficult experiences
Tell me right now
The singer is emphasizing their urgency and desire to know the truth
Do you miss me, do you need me?
The artist is asking if the other person still has feelings for them
Do you miss me on a Sunday?
The artist is wondering if the other person thinks about them even on peaceful, low-stress days
And on Monday too
The artist is again emphasizing the importance of knowing if the other person has any lingering feelings for them on every day of the week
Do you feel blue on a Tuesday?
The singer is wondering if the other person is experiencing any sadness or longing on another average day of the week, just like they are
Well I was too
The artist confirms that they are also feeling sad and longing for the other person
Did you cry on a Wednesday?
The singer is asking if the other person has experienced any emotional pain or frustration recently
Like I cried for you
The singer confirms that they have been experiencing intense emotions as well
And if on Thursday and Friday
The singer continues to ask if the other person thinks about them every day of the week, even as the week progresses
I'm on your mind
The artist hopes to be on the other person's mind frequently, even if it is only in passing
Hurry home on a Saturday
The artist is looking forward to spending time with the other person in the near future and expresses a desire for their prompt arrival
We're gonna have a lovin' time
The singer is excited about the possibility of rekindling their romance and enjoying each other's company again
When things fall apart
The singer is acknowledging that things may not work out between them, despite their wishes
I, I wanna know
The artist again emphasizes their desire to know the truth about the other person's feelings
Who'll be the one
The artist is wondering who will be with the other person once they are gone
Who'll be in your heart, all night yeah
The artist is asking who the other person will think about and love when they are alone
When the sun sinks low, do you miss me?
The singer is asking if the other person still thinks about them during the quiet, solitary hours of the evening
Do you need me?
The artist is asking if the other person still has a strong desire for them
I wanna know
The singer repeats their desire to know the truth, suggesting the importance of this knowledge to them
Writer(s): Troy Oliver, Puff Ewanya Johnson
Contributed by Sarah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.