The group was formed at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The original line-up comprised John Gary Williams, Julius E. Green, William Brown and Robert Phillips. They were originally called The Emeralds, but changed their name because there was another group of that name; the name "Mad Lads" was suggested by Stax employee Deanie Parker in response to the group's behavior and also in recognition of local disc jockey Reuben "Mad Lad" Washington. They first recorded for Stax in 1964, releasing "The Sidewalk Surf", co-written by Isaac Hayes under the name Ed Lee, which was not a hit. However, their second record, "Don't Have To Shop Around", rose to no. 11 on the Billboard R&B chart, and no. 93 on the pop chart. Featuring organ by Hayes and piano by Booker T. Jones, it has nonetheless been described as "curiously anachronistic, owing more to doo-wop than southern soul," and featured "the high, innocent tenor of John Gary Williams."
They followed up with "I Want Someone", "I Want A Girl" and "Patch My Heart", which were all R&B hits in 1966. However, towards the end of the year Williams and Brown were drafted. The group continued to make live appearances with the pair being replaced by Sam Nelson and Quincy Billups Jr., but the new line-up's recordings were not as successful. After Williams returned from military service, he was reinstated in the group, over other members' protests, at the insistence of record company co-owner Jim Stewart. The group continued to have R&B chart hits through to 1969, their final hit being a version of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" which also reached the pop chart. In 1972, the group continued for a while and finally split up.
Williams recorded a solo album, John Gary Williams, at Stax in 1973. He later worked outside the music business in Iowa and Los Angeles, before forming a new touring version of the Mad Lads in 1984. The new group recorded an album, Madder Than Ever, in 1990.
Julius E. Green died on January 14, 2013. William C. Brown III died on July 24, 2015, aged 69. John Gary Williams died in May 2019.
Chart singles
Year Single Chart Positions US Pop US R&B
1965 "Don't Have To Shop Around" 93 11
1966 "I Want Someone" 74 10
"I Want A Girl" - 16
"Patch My Heart" - 41
1968 "Whatever Hurts You" - 31
"So Nice" - 35
1969 "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" 84 28
"Patch My Heart" was also sampled in the #1 Pop Hit "All 4 Love", produced by Howie Tee and performed by Color Me Badd.
Cry Baby
The Mad Lads Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome back home.
Now he told you, that he loved you much more than I
But he left you and you don't, you just don't know why
And when you don't know what to do
You come runnin' and start to
Cry cry baby, cry baby, cry baby,
Don't you know nobody can love you the way I do
Take the pain and the heartache too
Ah honey you know that I'll be around
When you need me, go on and
Cry cry baby, cry baby, cry baby,
Welcome back home.
I've spent so many nights
Just waiting for you to come walkin' through that door
And even tho you've made a fool of me so many times before
I know that all it takes is just the sight of your face
To make me realize that I'll always love you darlin'
And I can see that you got some more tears to shed
I can see it baby, because your eyes, your eyes are getting red
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon and
Cry cry baby, cry baby, cry baby.
The Mad Lads’ “Cry Baby” is a soulful song about a man who is always there for his beloved, comforting her whenever she feels brokenhearted. He shares her pain and understands her plight, claiming that he can love her better than anyone else. The song starts with the singer addressing his lover as she returns home with a broken heart after being left by someone else. He reminds her that the person who left her may have claimed to love her more, but he was the one who remained by her side through thick and thin.
The singer reassures his lover that he is always there for her, that nobody can love her the way he does, and that he is ready to take on her pain and heartache. He sings about waiting for her return each night, even though she has hurt him several times before. He claims that all it takes is just the sight of her face to make him realize that he will always love her, no matter what. He knows that she has more tears to shed, and he lets her know that he is ready to be there for her whenever she needs him, asking her to cry, cry, cry, like she always does.
“Cry Baby” portrays love as a selfless act, one that requires patience, empathy, and understanding. The singer, who is always around to comfort his lover, shows that love is not just about saying the words "I love you" but rather demonstrating it through actions. The song is a poignant reminder of the importance of empathy and support in any relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Cry cry baby, cry baby, cry baby,
Addressing the subject of the song, encouraging them to let out their emotions and cry.
Welcome back home.
Acknowledging that the subject has returned after leaving for someone else.
Now he told you, that he loved you much more than I
Referencing the subject's previous partner, who claimed to love them more than the singer does.
But he left you and you don't, you just don't know why
Reminding the subject that their previous partner left them and they still haven't figured out why.
And when you don't know what to do
Acknowledging the subject's confusion and indecision.
You come runnin' and start to
Suggesting that the subject's first reaction is to come to the singer for support.
Like you always do.
Emphasizing the subject's pattern of behavior in seeking comfort from the singer.
Don't you know nobody can love you the way I do
Asserting that the singer's love for the subject is unique and unmatched.
Take the pain and the heartache too
Offering to support the subject through their emotional pain.
Ah honey you know that I'll be around
Reassuring the subject that the singer will be there for them.
When you need me, go on and
Encouraging the subject to seek the singer's help whenever they need it.
I've spent so many nights
Describing the singer's own feelings of longing and waiting.
Just waiting for you to come walkin' through that door
Expressing the singer's hope and anticipation for the subject's return.
And even tho you've made a fool of me so many times before
Acknowledging that the subject has hurt the singer in the past.
I know that all it takes is just the sight of your face
Asserting that the singer's love for the subject is powerful enough to overcome their past pain.
To make me realize that I'll always love you darlin'
Stating the singer's unwavering love for the subject.
And I can see that you got some more tears to shed
Observing that the subject still needs to let out more emotional pain.
I can see it baby, because your eyes, your eyes are getting red
Noticing the physical evidence of the subject's emotional distress.
So c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon and
Urging the subject to continue crying and releasing their emotions.
Cry cry baby, cry baby, cry baby.
Repeating the refrain as a final encouragement to cry and seek support.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BERT BERNS, NORMAN MEADE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind