On December 10, 1967, Redding, his manager, and band members Jimmy King (b.1949; guitar), Ronnie Caldwell (b. 1948; organ), Phalon Jones (b. 1949; saxophone), and Carl Cunningham (b. 1949; drums) died in a plane crash in Lake Monona while on their way to a performance in Madison, Wisconsin.
Trumpeter Ben Cauley survived the crash and bassist James Alexander (who missed the flight due to returning a rental car) rebuilt the group.
The reformed band consisted of Cauley; Alexander; Harvey Henderson, saxophone; Michael Toles, guitar; Ronnie Gorden, organ; Willie Hall, drums and later Larry Dodson, lead vocals.
The group backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings afterwards, including on Isaac Hayes' Hot Buttered Soul album, and changed direction in the 1970s to have a successful funk music career. Lloyd Smith joined the Bar-Kays in 1973. They continued to score hits on R&B charts well into the 1980s and lately have incorporated contemporary rap & remix elements into their continuing career and have performed all over the world.
I Can't Turn You Loose
The Bar-Kays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If I do I'm gonna loose my life
Oh I can't turn you loose now
If I do I'm gonna loose my life
I can't turn you loose to nobody
I love you baby, yes I do
Give shakin' mama, I told ya
I'm in love with only you
I'll give ya everything you want
Gotta, gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
I cant turn you loose now
I'm in love with the prettiest thing
I never, never turn you loose now
Because of all the sweet love she brings
I can't turn you loose to nobody
I love you baby, yes I do
Give shaking mama,
I told ya I'm in love with only you
Gotta, do it baby why don't ya
I'll give ya everything you want
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta keep a grip on you
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
I know you think I'm gonna stop now
But we ain't gonna stop it now
One more time
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin' on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta keep on holdin' on
Everybody want it
Everybody can have it
Gotta, gotta gotta, gotta s
Oo, soo hold on,
I'm comin'
Gotta, gotta, gotta
Get a grip
Can't turn you loose
Hold on, I'm comin'
Gotta, gotta, gotta
Get a grip
Can't turn you loose
Hold on, I'm comin'
Hold on, I'm comin'
Gotta get a grip on you baby
Gotta, gotta gotta
Gotta, gotta gotta
We're groovin', groovin'
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin on
Never gonna turn you loose
I can't turn you loose
Gotta gotta
Keep on holdin on
Gotta get a grip
Can't turn you loose
The Bar-Kays's "I Can't Turn You Loose" is a song about the power of love and the lengths to which we will go to hold onto that love. The singer sings about a love so strong that he cannot let it go, even if it means risking his own life. The lyrics suggest that the object of his affection is someone he has been with for some time and whom he cares deeply about. He declares that he loves only her and promises to give her everything she wants. The song has a sense of urgency, as if the singer is afraid of losing his love if he doesn't hold on tight.
The repeated phrase "I can't turn you loose" is the key to the song's meaning. It suggests that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to keep his love, including fighting off any attempts from others to take her away. The phrase can also be interpreted as a metaphor for the power of love itself, which can be difficult to control and can sometimes feel overwhelming. The song's soulful groove and upbeat tempo add to the sense of joy and hopefulness that comes with being in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Huh I cant turn you loose now
I cannot let you go now, at the risk of losing my own life.
If I do I'm gonna lose my life
I fear that releasing you will have fatal consequences for me.
Oh I can't turn you loose now
I cannot let you go now, it is too risky.
I can't turn you loose to nobody
I cannot let anyone have you, because I love you and want you only for myself.
I love you baby, yes I do
I truly love you, I want you to know that.
Give shakin' mama, I told ya
I want you to dance with me, and I have already asked you to.
I'm in love with only you
I am completely devoted to you, and no one else.
Gotta baby do it baby why don't ya
We should make love, right now.
I'll give ya everything you want
I will do anything to make you happy, I will fulfill your every desire.
Keep on holdin' on
I will never let you go, I will always hold on to you.
Never gonna turn you loose
I will never let you go, I will always hold on to you.
I'm in love with the prettiest thing
You are the most beautiful thing to me, I love you so much.
Because of all the sweet love she brings
Your love makes me feel so good, and I cannot let anyone take that away from me.
I know you think I'm gonna stop now
You may think I am going to give up on us, but I will not.
But we ain't gonna stop it now
We will not stop our love, we will keep going strong.
Everybody want it
Everyone desires love and companionship.
Everybody can have it
Everyone has the potential to find love and companionship.
Hold on, I'm comin'
I am on my way to you, I will be there shortly.
Gotta get a grip
I need to make sure that I never let go of you.
We're groovin', groovin'
We are enjoying ourselves and having a great time together.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Otis Redding
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind