The O'Jays originally consisting of Walter Williams (b. August 25, 1942), Bill Isles (January 4, 1941 – March 2019), Bobby Massey, William Powell (January 20, 1942–May 26, 1977) and Eddie Levert (b. June 16, 1942). The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. The O'Jays (now a trio after the departure of Isles and Massey) had their first hit with "Lonely Drifter", in 1963. In spite of the record's success, the group was considering quitting the music business until Gamble & Huff, a legendary team of producers and songwriters, took an interest in the group. With Gamble & Huff, the O'Jays emerged at the forefront of Philadelphia soul with Back Stabbers (1972), a huge pop hit, and topped the U.S. singles charts the following year with their anthemic "Love Train".
They formed the group in Canton, Ohio in 1958 while attending Canton McKinley High School. Originally known as The Triumphs, and then The Mascots, the friends began recording with "Miracles" in 1961, which was a moderate hit in the Cleveland area. In 1963 they took the name "The O'Jays", in tribute to radio disc jockey Eddie O'Jay (Toop, 1991), and released "Lonely Drifter", which charted nationally. Their debut LP was Comin' Through. Throughout the 1960s, they continued to chart with songs such as "Lipstick Traces" (which they performed nationally on the ABC Television program, Shivaree), "Stand In For Love", "Let It All Out", "I'll Be Sweeter Tomorrow", "Deeper In Love With You" and "One Night Affair", along with several other regional and national Pop and R&B hits. In 1972, they finally scored with their first million-seller, "Back Stabbers", from the gold album of the same name. By this time, original member Bobby Massey had also departed, leaving the group a trio. This album produced several more hit singles, including "992 Arguments", "Sunshine", "Time To Get Down" and the #1 Pop smash, "Love Train". They became known as "The Mighty O'Jays" due to their exciting, emotion-packed stage performances, led by the dynamic Levert, and the cool, multi-range vocals of Walter Williams, coupled with the matinee idol looks and smooth first tenor voice of William Powell.
During the remainder of the 1970s the O'Jays continued releasing chart-topping singles, including "Put Your Hands Together" (Pop #10), "For the Love of Money" (Pop #9), "Give the People What They Want", "Let Me Make Love To You", "I Love Music" (Pop #5), "Livin' for the Weekend", "Message in Our Music" and "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Tender Love)". Original member William Powell died of cancer in 1977 at the age of just 35.
After adding Sammy Strain (born December 9, 1941) (of Little Anthony & the Imperials), the O'Jays continued recording, though with limited success. 1978's "Use ta Be My Girl" was their final Top Five hit, though they continued placing songs on the R&B charts throughout the 1980s. Their 1987 album, Let Me Touch You, was a breakthrough of sorts, and included the #1 R&B hit "Lovin' You". Eddie Levert also got a copy of Kevan Tynes' "Loving You" prior to recording their version .Though they continued charting on the R&B charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the O'Jays never again achieved pop success. In 1992, Sammy Strain left the group, and returned to the Imperials, to be replaced by Nathaniel Best, and later, by Eric Grant. Later in the 1990s, the group did little recording, though they remained a popular live draw. Their latest album was Imagination in 2004.
In 2003, they co-starred in the movie The Fighting Temptations, which starred Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyonce Knowles. In the film, they played three barbers who joined the local church choir to help out the film's protagonist Darrin (Gooding) who was the choir director.
In 2005 the O'Jays were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Original members Eddie Levert, Walter Williams, Bobby Massey and, posthumously, William Powell, were inducted. In a note of controversy, 70's O'Jays member Sammy Strain was also inducted with the group, while original member Bill Isles was not. (Strain is one of the few artists in popular music history who is a double RRHOF inductee: with The O'Jays in 2005, and The Imperials in 2009). In 2006, the O'Jays performed at the ESPY awards, hosted by Lance Armstrong. "For the Love of Money" is the theme song to the hit reality TV show The Apprentice, starring Donald Trump, which is ironic considering that the lyrics warn of the evil people will do for the love of money.
On February 23, 2007, Radio-Canada's website reported that Canadian Industry Minister Jim Prentice had used the song "For The Love of Money" without the group's permission during a political event, a faux pas since Prentice is responsible for the application of the Copyright Act in Canada. Radio-Canada also reports that Prentice has since been contacted by the attorneys for both the O'Jays and Warner/Chappell Music.
On June 28, 2009, at the 2009 BET Award Show in the Shrine Auditorium the O'Jays were honored with BET's 2009 Life Time Achievement Award. Tevin Campbell, Trey Songz, Tyrese Gibson, and Johnny Gill performed a medley of the groups songs followed by the presentation of the award by Don Cornelius. The group reminisced, joked with the audience and accepted their award before performing a rendition of their hit songs.
You Got Your Hooks In Me
The O'Jays Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What I see in you
Yet every time you talk of leavin' me
I get so shook up, I don't know what to do
[Chorus]
Oh, oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
And I walk like a fish
You know this thing is killin' me
I must like it or, or I wouldn't be here, baby
Every time I get behind your back
I tell my friends I'm leavin' you
And when you question me about it, baby
I swear what they're sayin' just ain't true, no
[Chorus]
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, ooh
I got, I'm gonna get away
You got poor me hangin' on a string, darlin'
Oh, I must like this thing
So woman, woman, do the things that you do
The way, the way you call my name, woman, I like
I'll be goin' around tellin' all my friends that I'm leavin'
No, but I ain't never goin' nowhere, no, no
I said woman, I said woman
The way, the way you love me, way you love me
I feel, feel, feel, feel like I feel, I want, got to have it
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess
The O'Jays' hit song "You Got Your Hooks In Me" is a classic example of a love/hate relationship. The singer sings about his inability to understand what he sees in his partner and yet how every time she threatens to leave him, he gets "so shook up, [he] doesn't know what to do." Despite telling his friends that he's leaving, he never follows through and continues to feel trapped in the relationship. The chorus repeats the idea that she has her "hooks" in him, comparing the feeling to a fish caught on a line, unable to break free. The misogynistic phrasing of "woman, woman, do the things that you do" is indicative of the time period in which the song was written (the 1970s), but the overall message remains timeless: love isn't always logical, and sometimes people feel trapped in relationships they know aren't healthy for them.
What stands out in the song is the use of the fishing analogy in the chorus to describe the singer's entrapment. The lyrics are cleverly crafted and powerful, reflecting the feelings of those who feel stuck in relationships that they can't walk away from. The singer's contradictory statements about leaving, the sense of being trapped, and the otherwise inexplicable feeling of attachment to an unhealthy partner, are all parts of love that aren't often discussed in popular music.
Overall, "You Got Your Hooks In Me" is a complex song that delves into the complexities of human relationships. It explores the feeling of being trapped in a toxic relationship and captures the struggle of trying to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
I just can't understand for the life of me
I'm unable to comprehend or rationalize my attraction to you.
What I see in you
I don't understand what qualities or traits you possess that draw me towards you.
Yet every time you talk of leavin' me
Whenever you mention the idea of breaking up, I become extremely anxious and uncertain.
I get so shook up, I don't know what to do
My emotions become overwhelming when I think about the possibility of losing you.
Oh, oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
You have a strong and irresistible hold over me, making it difficult for me to leave.
And I walk like a fish
Your hold on me is so strong that I feel like I'm being pulled in by a fishing line.
And, baby, I just can't break free
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to detach myself from you or break the hold you have on me.
You know this thing is killin' me
This situation is causing me great emotional distress and pain.
I must like it or, or I wouldn't be here, baby
Despite the suffering, I must enjoy being with you or I wouldn't continue to stay in this relationship.
Every time I get behind your back
Whenever I'm away from you or not in your presence.
I tell my friends I'm leavin' you
I confide in my friends that I plan to end the relationship with you.
And when you question me about it, baby
When you ask me about my intentions to leave you.
I swear what they're sayin' just ain't true, no
I deny that I was talking about leaving you or deny that my friends were telling the truth.
I got, I'm gonna get away
I'm determined to leave you and end this relationship.
You got poor me hangin' on a string, darlin'
You have complete control over me and I feel powerless to resist you.
I must like this thing
Despite feeling trapped and powerless, I still enjoy being with you.
So woman, woman, do the things that you do
Continue doing the things you do to keep me hooked and attracted to you.
The way, the way you call my name, woman, I like
I'm attracted to the way you say my name and the other things you do to show affection towards me.
I'll be goin' around tellin' all my friends that I'm leavin'
I'll continue to tell my friends that I plan to end things with you, but I know deep down that it's unlikely.
No, but I ain't never goin' nowhere, no, no
Despite what I tell myself and others, I know I'm unlikely to leave you or end this relationship.
I said woman, I said woman
I'm addressing you directly and emphasising your gender.
The way, the way you love me, way you love me
The way you show love and affection towards me is a major factor in why I stay with you.
I feel, feel, feel, feel like I feel, I want, got to have it
I feel intense desire and need for your love and affection.
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
You have an irresistible hold over me that makes it difficult for me to leave you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BUNNY SIGLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
wAkE uP bEaTz rEdDiRt EnTeRtAiNmEnT
(lyrics)
I just can't understand for the life of me
What I see in you
Yet every time you talk of leavin' me
I get so shook up, I don't know what to do
Oh, oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
And I walk like a fish
And, baby, I just can't break free
You know this thing is killin' me
I must like it or, or I wouldn't be here, baby
Every time I get behind your back
I tell my friends I'm leavin' you
And when you question me about it, baby
I swear what they're sayin' just ain't true, no
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, ooh
I got, I'm gonna get away
You got poor me hangin' on a string, darlin'
Oh, I must like this thing
So woman, woman, do the things that you do
The way, the way you call my name, woman, I like
I'll be goin' around tellin' all my friends that I'm leavin'
No, but I ain't never goin' nowhere, no, no
I said woman, I said woman
The way, the way you love me, way you love me
I feel, feel, feel, feel like I feel, I want, got to have it
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess
The Wake Up Channel
I just can't understand for the life of me
What I see in you
Yet every time you talk of leavin' me
I get so shook up, I don't know what to do
Oh, oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
And I walk like a fish
And, baby, I just can't break free
You know this thing is killin' me
I must like it or, or I wouldn't be here, baby
Every time I get behind your back
I tell my friends I'm leavin' you
And when you question me about it, baby
I swear what they're sayin' just ain't true, no
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, ooh
I got, I'm gonna get away
You got poor me hangin' on a string, darlin'
Oh, I must like this thing
So woman, woman, do the things that you do
The way, the way you call my name, woman, I like
I'll be goin' around tellin' all my friends that I'm leavin'
No, but I ain't never goin' nowhere, no, no
I said woman, I said woman
The way, the way you love me, way you love me
I feel, feel, feel, feel like I feel, I want, got to have it
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess you've got your hooks in me
Oh, baby, I guess
conrad ford
Saw these brothers in St. Louis during their last tour. It was so many walker, wheel chairs and oxygen tank in the house. The concert was incredible. One of the greatest vocal group of all time. The mighty O'Jays.
Berry Barfield
Nothing Wrong With It!!
conrad ford
@leonard york Yessss.
leonard york
That’s good music an people will come music was so much better back then I’m only 46 so I was around yet but if I could like you say The mighty O’jays GOAT
Steven Wells
The MANNHATENS to , ch out this white man i really think he's black he have so much SOUL, Chris Stapleton, millionaire, and Joy of my life just check his music please.you will love it.lol
Kwame Aboagye
The O’Jays are phenomenal soul group of all time.
3 African men from Dayton Ohio .
Eddie Levert
Walter Williams
William Powell
The O’Jays are a beautiful soul group of all time.
RIP Brother William Powell and big up to Brother Ken Gamble and Brother Leon Huff.
Kenneth Anderson
The O'Day Are From Canton Ohio!
paballo marule
I can't get over this song, I find myself singing out loud every time it plays
Steven Wells
Commanders, Just to be close to you
Steven Wells
INDEPENDENTS, LEAVING ME