Working as a valet/chaffeur for blues singer Freddie King, he started singing in local clubs where he was discovered by record executive/musician Harold Burrage.
His early records for small record labels in the city failed to register. Successful Chicago record producer Carl Davis (no relation) signed him in 1968 to a new label, Dakar Records that he was starting as part of a distribution deal with Atlantic.
His first release, "A Woman Needs To Be Loved" was flipped when the b-side started to get radio attention. The song, "Can I Change My Mind" featured a change of vocal style for Davis with a softer, more pleading approach and tone.
The record now shot up the listings and spent three weeks on the top of the Billboard R&B chart while climbing to #5 in the Hot 100. It sold over one million and received gold disc recognition.
Can I Change My Mind
Tyrone Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I packed my bags to leave
I thought she would start to cry
Or sit around my room and grieve
But y'all, the girl
She fooled me this time
She acted like I was
I would like to start all over again
Baby, can I change my mind
I just wanna change my mind
Baby, let me change my mind
As I took those steps
Toward that open door
Knowing all the time
Oh, Lord, I just didn't wanna go
But she didn't give me no sign
Nothing that would
Make me change my mind
I would like to start all over again
Baby, can I change my mind
Please, please, please, baby
I just wanna change my mind
Oh, I played my games
Million times before
But people, let me tell y'all
Oh, I never reached the door
Ooh, the winds howl tonight
I keep lookin' back but my baby's nowhere in sight
I would like to start all over again
Baby, can I change my mind
I just wanna change my mind
Baby, let me change my mind
In Tyrone Davis's song Can I Change My Mind, the singer is expressing regret about leaving his girlfriend. He thought that she would be devastated and try to stop him from leaving, but instead, she acted like he was the last thing on her mind. The singer knows that he made a mistake in leaving and wants to start all over again. He keeps talking about changing his mind and asking his girlfriend if he can come back.
The lyrics in this song show the vulnerability and regret that someone can feel after making a big decision. The singer's girlfriend didn't show how much he meant to her, which made him see things differently. He now realizes that he took her for granted and wants to make things right. The repetition of "Baby, can I change my mind" shows the desperation that the singer feels, and the hope that his girlfriend will take him back. The line "I played my games a million times before" suggests that the singer has a pattern of making mistakes and this time, he wants to break that pattern.
Line by Line Meaning
Aww, she didn't bat an eye
She didn't show any emotion or reaction.
As I packed my bags to leave
He was leaving her and packing his stuff when this happened.
I thought she would start to cry
He expected her to cry, showing her sadness.
Or sit around my room and grieve
He thought she would be very upset and stay at his room.
But y'all, the girl
He wants to emphasize that the girl had a significant impact.
She fooled me this time
He got tricked or surprised by her behavior this time.
She acted like I was
She pretended or acted like he didn't matter to her.
The last thing on her mind
He was the least of her concerns.
I would like to start all over again
He wants to go back and change his previous actions.
Baby, can I change my mind
He is asking for a chance to change his mind before it's too late.
I just wanna change my mind
He wants to take back his previous decision.
As I took those steps
As he started to leave.
Toward that open door
He was walking towards the door that would take him out.
Knowing all the time
He was completely aware of everything that was happening.
Oh, Lord, I just didn't wanna go
He never really wanted to leave.
But she didn't give me no sign
She didn't show or give him any hint or indication.
Nothing that would
She didn't do anything that would make him want to stay.
Make me change my mind
She didn't do anything to make him want to stay or change his plan.
Please, please, please, baby
He is desperate and begging for her to give him another chance.
Oh, I played my games
He's admitting that he made mistakes or played mind games.
Million times before
He did the same thing many times in the past.
But people, let me tell y'all
He is addressing the listeners to tell them something important.
Oh, I never reached the door
He never left because something always stopped him from leaving.
Ooh, the winds howl tonight
The weather is bad, and it's not a favorable night to be outside.
I keep lookin' back but my baby's nowhere in sight
He's looking back, hoping she'll show up, but she's not there.
Baby, let me change my mind
He still wants her to give him another chance to change his decision.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Barry George Despenza, Carl Wolfolk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Frances Pilley
Still an outstanding iconic sound here in 2023!! Still listening and loving it 👍🏾💖💖💖
Brenda Ollivierre
Still listening to this great song after all these years!! Never get tired of listening to Tyrone Davis
Cathy Berry
2022 Still listening to this
AMAZING SONG by such a talented artist. 🎶👍
CCC
😢
Frances Pilley
Still a classic soulful sound in 2023!! Love it ❤️❤️❤️
RICHARD PETREY
71 years young and still love this sound!!!!!!!!!!!❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Jack Rainfield
This has to be one of the best R&B tunes ever!
Limu013
Totally agree with you Jack !!
Oppothumbs M
I don't like any funk at all but this song is great. Great haunting song
geneo *
Turn back the hands of time also !!