They first started rehearsing on a council estate at Hornsey Rise, North London in 1965. In 1966 the group released the "Hold Me Closer" / "Baby Come Back" single, which initially did not capture much attention in the United Kingdom. However, in Germany and The Netherlands it went to #1 - a position its re-issue would later reach in the UK in 1968. Thus, the racially mixed London group gave President Records their only number one hit. A gold disc was presented to the group in June 1968 for a combined one million sales of the record [1]. The year 1968 saw the release of "I Get So Excited" which appeared in the Top 50 of the UK Singles Chart. It was reported in September 1969 that all five members of the group had been injured in Germany, when their car ran off an autobahn in a gale[3].
A string of single releases followed up to 1970, all of which charted in the UK. The group also attracted attention as one of the few racially integrated bands of the 1960s, which was reflected in the group's name: The Equals.
In 1971, Grant went home to Guyana, following a collapsed lung and heart infection which put him out of action at the beginning of that year. He promptly left The Equals to pursue his solo career. He would have eventually release several Top 40 singles in the late 1970s and early 1980s; among them, "Living On The Front Line", "Electric Avenue", and "Romancing the Stone". Grant also topped the UK Singles Chart in 1982 with "I Don't Wanna Dance". Although the band never charted again after Grant's departure, they remained a popular live act, performing into the late 1970s and beyond.
Baby Come Back
The Equals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, come back
Baby, come back
Baby, come back
This is the first time until today
That you have run away
I'm asking you for the first time
Hey (all right)
Hey (all right!)
Hey, yeah
Come back
Baby, come back
Baby, come back
Baby, come back
There ain't no use in you crying
'Cause I'm more hurt than you
I shoulda not been out flirting
But now my love is true
Ooh (all right)
Ooh (oK!)
Ooh, yeah
Come back
Baby, come back
Baby, come back
Baby, come back
Come back, baby, don't you leave me
Baby, baby, please don't go
Oh, won't you give me a second chance?
Baby, I love you so (all right)
Oh (oh, yeah)
Oh
Oh, yeah
Come back
I said baby, come back
I said baby, come back
Oh won't you please come back
Oh won't you please come back
The Equals' hit song "Baby Come Back" is a plea from a man to his lover to return to him after she runs away. The song starts with a repetition of the phrase "come back" which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The chorus is laden with pleading and the desperation of a man that has just realized the impact of his lover's absence. The man confesses that it is the first time she has left him and begs her to love him enough to stay.
The second verse is an admission of guilt by the man. He acknowledges that his lover has a reason to be upset with him because he has been flirting with other women. He clarifies that his love for her is real and he regrets his actions. He concedes that he is more hurt than she is, highlighting how much he needs her to come back.
The last verse expresses the man's longing for his lover, pleading with her not to leave him. He begs for a second chance and reiterates his love for her. The song's emotional depth and sincerity have made it a favorite for decades, as many people can relate to the feelings of desperation and regret expressed in the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Come back
Asking the person to return
Baby, come back
Affectionate way of asking the person to return
This is the first time until today
The first time the person has left
That you have run away
That the person has left without warning
I'm asking you for the first time
Asking for love and attention for the first time
Love me enough now to stay (all right)
Asking the person to love enough to stay
Hey (all right)
Expression of hopefulness and encouragement
Hey (all right!)
Expression of happiness and joy
There ain't no use in you crying
There is no reason to cry
'Cause I'm more hurt than you
The person singing is more hurt than the one who left
I shoulda not been out flirting
Admitting to fault and regretting past actions
But now my love is true
Trying to convince the person that love is genuine now
Ooh (all right)
Expression of empathy
Ooh (oK!)
Expression of acceptance
Ooh, yeah
Expression of excitement
Come back, baby, don't you leave me
Pleading for the person to stay
Baby, baby, please don't go
Begging the person to not leave
Oh, won't you give me a second chance?
Asking for another chance to make things right
Baby, I love you so (all right)
Expression of love and willingness to work things out
Oh (oh, yeah)
Expression of agreement and understanding
Oh
Expression of sadness and longing
Oh, yeah
Expression of hopefulness and excitement
I said baby, come back
Reiterating the request for the person to return
Oh won't you please come back
Begging and pleading for the person to come back
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddy Grant
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind