Born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Wilson brothers began singing and playing in their father's Pentecostal church, and it was also mandatory they practice their music lessons at home as well. They learned various instruments, which primarily included lots of playing the piano. As much as they despised the lessons at the time, it proved to be a value tool for all three. With Ronnie being the oldest, he established his own band when he was just a fourteen-year-old.
Charlie, a few years younger, joined a rival band a couple of years later. One particular night, the two bands were performing just across the street from one another. Ronnie stopped by to check out Charlie grooving on the organ. While there, Ronnie asked Charlie to join his band for $50 over what he was making. Though Charlie's band-mates doubled his offer, he joined his brother's band as fate would have it
At a gig not too long after the two had joined forces, the group's bass player quit; Ronnie and Charlie summoned their younger brother Robert, barely fourteen himself, to the group to play bass. For a short while, the group performed without a name. Musician Carlton Morales, co-writer of Julian Lennon's pop hit "Vallotte" played with the band shortly after leaving the outfit The Mighty Majors. Finally, the Wilson brothers began calling their outfit the "Greenwood, Archer and Pine Streets Band". As such a name proved too long for music posters, the band shortened their name to the "G.A.P. Street Band". Due to a typographical error, the group was actually advertised as "Gap Band" and "The Gap Band". That title stuck.
They performed at various venues around the Tulsa area, including country & western joints, tennis clubs, rock clubs, and wherever else called on their services. However, by the middle of the 70s, Charlie became interested in Los Angeles, California and left Tulsa to explore his possibilities; the country's big cities were in the middle of a soul music boom, and he wanted in.. A short time later, Charlie convinced his brothers to join him. The group floundered about L.A.; hitting and missing on record deals, gigs, and the like, the guys had a lot of talent but needed guidance. Still maintaining their interest in major label work, the group met entertainment businessman Lonnie Simmons through a friend, a musician D.J. Rogers, and their destiny was set. Simmons owned a nightclub called "The Total Experience" on Crenshaw Blvd and a recording studio at the time, and he signed the group to his company, which was called "Total Experience Records". Simmons would later start up a record label, also co-songwriting the Gap Band's tunes at times.
The Top Five single "Shake" followed in 1979, along with "Steppin' Out" (number ten) and "I Don't Believe You Want to Get Up and Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)" (number four) in 1980. The latter was inspired at a concert in Pittsburgh where some kids were chanting the groove and the Gap Band picked up on it. In December of 1980, the trio dropped its first number one single with "Burn Rubber (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)" and followed it with the Top Five ballad "Yearning for Your Love" (1981).
The group went on to score three more number one songs ("Early in the Morning" and "Outstanding" in 1982 and "All of My Love" in 1989), three more number two songs ("You Dropped a Bomb on Me" in 1982, "Beep a Freak" in 1984, and "Going in Circles" in 1986) and a horde of Top Ten hits. They also did the soundtracks for Leon Isaac Kennedy's Penitentiary III and Keena Ivory Waynans' I'm Gonna Get You Sucker. The group was given only 24 hours notice to complete the title song.
In 1984 Ronnie became a born-again Christian and started pastoring. He joined Melba Moore and David Peaston in the touring play Mama, I'm Sorry. Charlie went through rough times fighting a cocaine addiction until finally rehabilitating a few years later. Charlie has been one of most sought-after vocalists in the music industry. He has worked with Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Eurythmics, Snoop Dogg, and scores of others. The Gap Band has recorded for various labels, including Mercury and Capitol Records. The group remained together for quite song time, enduring the good with the bad, and kept on touring into the new millennium.
The death of Robert Wilson, at the age of 53, on August 15, 2010 changed everything. Mourned by fans of the group across the world, many musicians cited his role in creating the band's funky soul sound. Numerous singles such as "Outstanding" and "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" remain radio classics to this day.
I Can't Get Over You
The Gap Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl I just cant get over you
Girl I just cant get over you
Girl I just cant get over you
Love was meant for keeps cause you mean that much to me
I cant get over you no matter what i do. I cant get over you no matter what i do you although you said that we were though its all about you.
Girl I just cant get over you
Girl I just cant get over you
Girl I just cant get over you
Girl I just cant get over you
Cant get over you (Girl i cant get over you baby)
Matter what i do(All about you baby)
Said that were though its all about you baby
(All about you baby, all about you baby, all about you baby)
When i hold you tight with all my might makes me feel real good inside, oh yes it do
We cant let it end like this
Its all about you baby
Girl i cant get over you, you said that were through what am i suposed to do without you
The Gap Band's song "I Can't Get Over You" is about a man who is unable to move on from a past love. Despite his efforts, he can't seem to escape the memories and emotions that haunt him. He acknowledges that his former partner ended the relationship, but his obsession with her has taken over his life. Throughout the song, the man pleads with his lost love to come back to him and admits his love for her is too strong to ignore. He recognizes that love should be forever, and she means so much to him, making it impossible to let go.
The lyrics in "I Can't Get Over You" are universal and relatable to anyone who has experienced heartbreak. It touches on the vulnerability and despair that often come with the end of a relationship. The song is filled with emotion and passion as the man struggles to find a way to move on from his past love.
One of the most interesting facts about this song is that it was released in 1983 as part of The Gap Band's album, "Gap Band VI". The song was a hit and rose to number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Another interesting fact is that "I Can't Get Over You" is part of George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" remix album. The remix of the song was released in 1984 and turned out to be a big hit in the UK.
Line by Line Meaning
I cant get over you no matter what I do.
Despite my efforts, I cannot stop thinking about you.
I know you said that we were through its all about you.
You have ended our relationship, and everything seems centered around you.
I lay me down to sleep I pray the lord you come to me.
I express my longing for you in my prayers every night, hoping that you will come back to me.
Girl I cant get over you no matter what I do.
My feelings for you are intense, and I cannot forget about you.
Love was meant for keeps cause you mean that much to me
Our love was supposed to last forever, as you are incredibly important to me.
Girl I just cant get over you
I cannot stop thinking about you, even though I'm trying.
Cant get over you (Girl i cant get over you baby)
You have left such a deep impression on my heart and mind that I cannot move on.
Matter what i do(All about you baby)
No matter what I try, my thoughts are always centered around you.
Said that were though its all about you baby
You made it clear that it's over, and everything is about you.
When i hold you tight with all my might makes me feel real good inside, oh yes it do
When we were together and I held you tightly, it made me feel immense happiness inside as it meant that we were meant to be together.
We cant let it end like this
Our love story should not end this way.
Its all about you baby
You are the center of my thoughts, emotions and concerns.
Girl i cant get over you, you said that were through what am i suposed to do without you
You ended our relationship, and I cannot imagine my life without you.
Writer(s): Ronnie Wilson, Lonnie Simmons, Charles K Wilson
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Adebisi's Music
This Track is still dope even in 2021. It's basically a Jazz track with a dash of vocals...amazing!
Henry Nyabuto
And I agree..no wonder I like it..
ANTHONY PRESTON
Intro is crazy! Always loved this one! One of the most under rated songs of the 80's
sherwinfitz
+ANTHONY PRESTON It was overshadowed by all those bomb hits (Dropped the Bomb, Early in the Morning, and Outstanding). This whole album was smokin'!
InRealLIfe
Surely Was!
InRealLIfe
Truth!!!!!
TheOnlyGod
@sherwinfitz
Gap Band had three albums with all hits III; IV and V.
TheOnlyGod
The dramatic ending was even better than the intro. 👍🏾
myron johnson
I tell my wife all the time "they don't make music like this anymore because the world is loosing its soul to too much hate."
Serious Business456
Myron Johnson :I agree with you, its so sad but we have to play this music around those that don't know. 9-11-16