The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.
Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.
Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)
Discography
Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire
Talking About My Baby
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With her pretty smile, yeah yeah
She's 'bout to drive me crazy, yeah yeah
Makes my heart beat wild
So everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
I want to talk about my baby, yeah yeah
She does the walk real nice, yeah yeah
There's no questions about maybe
For her I'd make any sacrifice
So everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah
And when she walks that walk
I can't help but feel that she's for real
And when she talks that talk
I can't quite explain just how I feel
Talking about my baby
I want to talk about my baby, yeah yeah
To me she's everything, yeah yeah
She might fuss and called you lazy
But to her I'm still the king
So everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Yeah yeah, yeah yeah
The Impressions’ hit track “Talking About My Baby” is a declaration of admiration for the singer’s lover. It is an upbeat R&B soul song that is easy to dance to, with the use of the repeated refrain “yeah yeah” and a steady backbeat. The singer opens by saying he wants to talk about his baby and then goes on to describe her smile, how she’s about to drive him crazy, and how her beauty makes his heart race. He then emphasizes that everyone around him should agree with him that his baby is amazing, by saying “Everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah.”
In the second verse, he describes her walk and emphasizes that he would do anything to keep her, making it clear that he has no doubts about his feelings for her. The bridge highlights the feeling he gets when he sees her move and how he feels about the way she talks. The last verse is a conclusion of the singer’s thoughts on his baby.
The song’s structure, lyrics, melody, and harmonious chorus are a testament to The Impressions’ remarkable songwriting abilities. The use of repetition in the lyrics and the catchy melody make it easy for listeners to join in and sing along. Additionally, the ability of The Impressions to deliver such a heartfelt and relatable message is what made them standout in their time. Talking About My Baby is a perfect representation of the group’s soulful, positive, and uplifting music.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to talk about my baby, yeah yeah
I have an overwhelming desire to talk about my lover
With her pretty smile, yeah yeah
She has an attractive smile that fills me with joy
She's 'bout to drive me crazy, yeah yeah
She has the power to make me lose my mind with love
Makes my heart beat wild
She makes my heart race with excitement
So everybody say, yeah, yeah yeah
Join me in expressing our admiration for her
She does the walk real nice, yeah yeah
She has a graceful walk that captivates me
There's no questions about maybe
There's no doubt in my mind about my feelings for her
For her I'd make any sacrifice
I'm willing to do anything for her
And when she walks that walk
Her walk is so mesmerizing
I can't help but feel that she's for real
I know that she is genuine and true
And when she talks that talk
Her words are so captivating
I can't quite explain just how I feel
I'm unable to describe the depth of my emotions
To me she's everything, yeah yeah
She means the world to me
She might fuss and call you lazy
She may get upset and criticize me, but I still love her
But to her I'm still the king
Despite her criticism, I still hold a special place in her heart
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keith Fuqua
on People Get Ready
Amen brothers. Get ready people