The group formed in the late 1950s when The Chanteurs (Record, Robert "Squirrel" Lester, and Clarence Johnson) teamed up with Marshall Thompson and Creadel "Red" Jones to form The Hi-lites. Wishing to add a tribute to their home town of Chicago, they changed their name to the Chi-Lites" in 1964. Johnson left later that year, and their name was subsequently shortened to The Chi-Lites.
Eugene Record was the group's primary songwriter, though he frequently collaborated with others, such as Barbara Acklin.
Their major hits came in 1971, with "Have You Seen Her?", and 1972, with "Oh Girl".. In fact, The Mighty Majors ("You Can Never Go Back") won 1st Place at the Apollo Theatre Wednesday night Talent Show the night that The Chi-Lites were performing one of their finest performances ever at The Apollo that night in the early '70's.
Other transatlantic chart smashes followed, although the output became more fragmented as the group's personnel came and went. For example, bass singer Creadel Jones left in 1973 and was replaced in quick succession by Stanley Anderson; Willie Kensey; and then Doc Roberson. Shortly thereafter, Eugene Record left, and David Scott and Danny Johnson entered.
More personnel changes ensued, when Johnson was replaced by Vandy Hampton in 1977.
At that point the group totally disintegrated, but re-formed in 1980 with the mid sixties quartet of Record, Thompson, Jones, and Lester back together. Creadel Jones left for a second time in 1982, leaving the group as a trio. Record left again in 1990, and new lead Anthony Watson was recruited, considered by many to be one of the best in the group's history. (It should be noted that Robert Lester took over lead of "Oh Girl", while Watson led the other songs.) The group also featured an ever-changing female member.
Once the hits had completely dried up, further changes took place. In the early 1990s, Creadel Jones returned again, but would subsequently leave. Throughout the 1990s, Watson left twice; each time Frank Reed took over as lead singer. In 2002 the group was comprised of Marshall Thompson, Robert Lester, Anthony Watson, and Tara Henderson. Watson left for a third time, when Thompson's wife took over as female vocalist.
The present day group is virtual 'ever presents' - Marshall Thompson, and Robert Lester; plus Tara Thompson, and new lead singer, Frank Reed. Robert :Squirrel" Lester Passed away on Jan. 21st, 2010.
One relatively unknown album track by the group from the 70's, 'Are You My Woman', had its main riff sampled by Destiny's Child group member Beyoncé Knowles, on her massive world-wide hit 'Crazy in Love'.
In addition, their song "Oh Girl" was sped up and sampled by Paul Wall in his song "Girl".
The original lead vocalist, and main songwriter, Eugene Record died on Friday, July 22, 2005
My Whole World Ended
The Chi-Lites Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But now it's nothing, nothing without you, baby,
My whole world is incomplete.
'Cause honey, I can't see you no more.
That was all that you said, baby,
But you just might as well placed a gun to my head, baby, baby.
(Oh! How could you do it!)
Honey, My Whole World Ended the moment you left me.
It tumbled down to the ground, baby.
Did you ever mean those sweet things,
Ah, that you used to say?
(Spoken): Did you mean it baby?
Of a house with a lovely, lovely garden,
And a little baby some day.
Ah! Tell me, where did I go wrong, honey?
Whatever changed your mind, baby?
I've asked myself these questions over a million times, baby, baby.
(Oh! How could you do it!)
My Whole World Ended the moment you left me, Yeah, baby.
Honey, My Whole World Ended the moment you left me.
It tumbled down to the ground, baby, baby, baby.
Now my body is numb, I feel so senseless to the touch,
My life is so wasted without you,
I guess I loved you much too much.
How can I face tomorrow,
When yesterday is all I see?
I just don't wanna face tomorrow, if you're not sharing it with me.
Baby, baby,
(Tell me why.)
My Whole World Ended the moment you left me, Yeah, baby.
Honey, My Whole World Ended the moment you left me.
It tumbled down to the ground, baby, baby, baby.
The Chi-Lites' "My Whole World Ended" is a somber love song that tells the story of a man whose life lost its meaning and purpose after the woman he loved left him. The lyrics begin with the singer expressing how beautiful his life was only a week ago until everything came crashing down upon his lover's departure. He emphasizes how integral she was to his existence and how he cannot imagine life without her. The singer proceeds to say that her departure was like someone pointing a gun to his head, indicating the profound effect of her leaving on his life.
The chorus of the song acts as a refrain, highlighting that the singer's world came to a sudden end the moment she left him. He emphasizes the fact that he feels like he was tumbling down to the ground in despair because of her leaving. The second verse of the song is filled with questions, where the singer tries to find out what he did wrong for her to leave. He also asks if she meant all the sweet promises and dreams they had together, including building a life together that involved children and a lovely garden.
In the bridge, the singer laments how his body's numbness is the result of the pain he feels. His life feels wasted without her, and he loved her too much. The singer says he's unable to face tomorrow because yesterday seems all he can see, and he doesn't want to face tomorrow without her. He closes the song by asking why she left him, encapsulating the despair and confusion that comes with heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
Last week my life had meaning, it was beautiful and so sweet.
Before you left me, my life was complete and fulfilling.
But now it's nothing, nothing without you, baby,
Since you left, my life has lost all its value and worth.
My whole world is incomplete.
Without you, nothing makes sense and everything is incomplete.
'Cause honey, I can't see you no more.
I miss you deeply and cannot go on without you.
That was all that you said, baby,
You left without any explanation except to say you were leaving.
But you just might as well placed a gun to my head, baby, baby.
Your departure feels like a fatal wound to me.
(Oh! How could you do it!)
I cannot believe you would hurt me in this way.
My Whole World Ended the moment you left me, Yeah, baby.
Your absence has made my world come crashing down.
Honey, My Whole World Ended the moment you left me.
I feel like I have lost everything since you are gone.
It tumbled down to the ground, baby.
My life has fallen apart and I feel helpless without you.
Did you ever mean those sweet things,
I wonder if you ever truly meant the things you said to me.
Ah, that you used to say?
Did you actually mean what you said or was it just empty words?
(Spoken): Did you mean it baby?
I am asking you directly if you actually meant what you said.
Of a house with a lovely, lovely garden,
We talked about having a beautiful home with a lush garden.
And a little baby some day.
We talked about starting a family together.
Ah! Tell me, where did I go wrong, honey?
I am racking my brain trying to figure out what I did to cause you to leave.
Whatever changed your mind, baby?
I wish I knew what led to you changing your mind about our relationship.
I've asked myself these questions over a million times, baby, baby.
I have been thinking about this constantly and cannot seem to find answers.
(Oh! How could you do it!)
I am still in disbelief that you could hurt me in this way.
Now my body is numb, I feel so senseless to the touch,
I feel completely numb and unfeeling since you left.
My life is so wasted without you,
Without you, my life feels purposeless and meaningless.
I guess I loved you much too much.
Maybe I loved you too much and that scared you away.
How can I face tomorrow,
I am not sure how I will be able to go on without you.
When yesterday is all I see?
All I can think about is the past and the times we shared together.
I just don't wanna face tomorrow, if you're not sharing it with me.
The thought of facing another day without you is too painful.
Baby, baby,
I am yearning for you and miss you deeply.
(Tell me why.)
I need to understand why you left and if there is any hope for us to reconcile.
It tumbled down to the ground, baby, baby, baby.
Your absence has caused my life to completely fall apart.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HARVEY FUQUA, JAMES ROACH, JOHNNY WILLIAM BRISTOL, PAMELA JOAN SAWYER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind