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.
Let's Dance for Love
Syl Johnson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is the last dance
And I might not see you anymore, oh no
The DJ's playing touching toe music
And I've just got to dance, I can't refuse it
I got a funny feeling for you
I got a funny feeling for you
Baby, let's dance for love
Honey, lets's dance for love
I, I don't wanna say goodbye, oh no
I can tell there is something there honey, yeah
Just by the look in your eyes
The disco lights are laughing up blues
I've just got to have this dance with you
I've got a funny feeling for you
I've got a funny feeling for you
I've got a funny feeling for you, so come on
Baby, let's dance for love
Honey, lets's dance for love
Baby, let's dance for love
Honey, lets's dance for love
I don't care what nobody say
I'm gonna love you baby, my own way
I got a funny feeling for you
I got a funny feeling for you
I got a funny feeling for you, so come on
Baby, let's dance for love
Honey, lets's dance for love
Baby, let's dance for love
Honey, lets's dance for love
Baby, let's dance for love
Honey, lets's dance for love
Baby, let's dance for love
Honey, lets's dance for love
Baby
Honey
The lyrics to Syl Johnson's song "Let's Dance for Love" express a sense of urgency and desperation, as the singer pleads with his love interest not to leave while they are dancing together. The song captures the intensity of the moment when two people are dancing and feel a strong attraction to one another. The singer has a "funny feeling" for his love interest and can't resist the urge to dance with her even though he knows this might be the last time they see each other.
The disco lights add to the intense emotional atmosphere, providing a backdrop of laughter that contrasts with the serious tone of the lyrics. The music itself is touching toe music, which is a slower tempo than most disco songs, giving the dance a more intimate and sensual feeling. The final lines of the song, where the singer declares that he doesn't care what anyone else says, he is going to love his partner his own way, further emphasize the defiant and passionate nature of the dance.
Overall, the lyrics to "Let's Dance for Love" capture the complex emotions of a couple engaged in a dance, as they express their feelings in a public space. The song emphasizes the power of music and dance to bring people together, and to express feelings that might not be communicated otherwise.
Line by Line Meaning
I, I don't wanna see you go, oh no
I do not want you to leave my side
This is the last dance
This might be the final opportunity to dance together
And I might not see you anymore, oh no
I might never get the chance to see you again after this dance
The DJ's playing touching toe music
The DJ is playing emotional music
And I've just got to dance, I can't refuse it
I am compelled to dance as I cannot stop myself
I got a funny feeling for you
I have a strange affection for you
so come on
I urge you to join me
Baby, let's dance for love
Let us dance to express our love
Honey, let's dance for love
Sweetheart, let us dance to demonstrate our love
I don't wanna say goodbye, oh no
I do not wish to part ways with you
I can tell there is something there honey, yeah
I can sense a connection between us
Just by the look in your eyes
I can discern it from the expression on your face
The disco lights are laughing up blues
The disco lights are reflecting melancholy vibes
I've just got to have this dance with you
I am eager to have this dance with you
I don't care what nobody say
I am unresponsive to others' opinions
I'm gonna love you baby, my own way
I will love you as per my own preferences
Baby
An expression of endearment
Honey
An expression of affection
Writer(s): J. Moore, Lewis, Gray
Contributed by Charlie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.