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 Want To Take You Home
Syl Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So she can see my shining star
I wanna take you home to see mama
So she can know who you are
This time you're back from folks at home
I don't know why it took so long
I talked with them on the telephone
I wanna take you home to see mama (mama)
'Cause then I know she'll understand
I wanna take you home to see mama (mama)
I wanna do it as fast as I can, whoo, ooh, whoo
Mama don't lie (mama don't lie)
She's as sweet as apple pie (sweet as apple pie)
I wanna see the gleam in her eyes (gleam in her eyes)
Wanna say I'm gonna love you 'til the day I die
I wanna take you home to see mama (mama)
'Cause then I know she'll understand
I wanna take you home to see mama (mama)
I wanna do it as fast as I can
(I wanna take you home to see mama)
Mama, yeah mama
(I wanna take you home to see mama)
I bring your daughter-in-law home
The lyrics of Syl Johnson's "I Want To Take You Home" express the desire to bring a loved one home to meet the mother for approval. The singer wants to introduce their significant other to the mother, so she can "see my shining star" and "know who you are." This can be seen as an important step in a relationship, as approval from family members can solidify the future of the relationship.
The second verse mentions that the loved one is returning from a period of being away, and the singer has been talking to their family on the phone. The family seems to be questioning why the singer's mind is "gone" and are curious about the loved one who has entered their life. The singer believes that if they bring the loved one home to meet the mother, then she will understand and support their relationship.
The chorus repeats the desire to take the loved one home to meet the mother, with the addition of the phrase "mama don't lie," indicating the trust and honesty that the singer has in their mother. The final lines express the singer's commitment and dedication to the relationship, stating that they will love their partner "til the day I die."
Overall, the lyrics express the importance of family approval and support in a romantic relationship, and the desire to solidify the relationship by introducing their significant other to their mother.
Line by Line Meaning
I wanna take you home to see mama
I want to introduce you to my mother and show her what a shining star I have in you.
So she can see my shining star
I want my mother to see how special you are to me.
So she can know who you are
I want my mother to get to know you so she can better understand our relationship.
This time you're back from folks at home
Now that you're back from visiting your own family, I want to take the opportunity to bring you to meet mine.
I don't know why it took so long
I'm not sure why we haven't done this sooner, but I want to make it happen now.
I talked with them on the telephone
I've had conversations with my family about you while you were away visiting yours.
They wanna know why my mind is gone
My family is curious about my current state of mind, likely because I am so preoccupied with thoughts of you.
Mama don't lie
My mother is honest and tells it like it is.
She's as sweet as apple pie
Despite her honesty, she is also kindhearted and caring.
I wanna see the gleam in her eyes
I am looking forward to seeing my mother's approval and admiration for you.
Wanna say I'm gonna love you 'til the day I die
I want to express my commitment to you and let you know that my love is unwavering.
I bring your daughter-in-law home
By bringing you home to meet my mother, I am essentially bringing my future wife home.
Writer(s): Darryl Carter, Brenda Johnson
Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.