Two years ago Julia Schroeder, Walker’s manager, introduced Walker to Rick Estrin. Estrin realized that Walker’s voice was still as strong as ever and that he was one of those great soul-singers that just did not make it. His idea was to record a new album for Walker at Kid Anderson’s Greaseland studios.
Estrin and Anderson quickly enlisted Jimmy Pugh to play keyboards. Collectively they realized that the production of this new studio recording would be a costly venture but it wasn’t about the money. It was about making some beautiful new music with Walker and furthering this nearly extinct genre. It was Pugh’s idea to create The Little Village Foundation to search out, discover and record music that otherwise would not be heard.
The band includes J. Hansen, drums and percussion; Randy Bermudes, bass; Pugh, piano and organ; Kid Anderson, Bob Welsh and Rusty Zinn, guitars; Terry Hanck, Nancy Wright, Eric Spaulding, and Frankie Ramos, saxes; John Halblieb, Manny Angel, and Tom Poole, trumpets; and Farris Jarrah, trombone. Background vocalists include Lisa Anderson, Donnie Woodruff, Will Russ, and Dennis Dove. Guest Musicians include Nate Ginsberg, Lorenzo Farrell, and Estrin.
The song selection is interesting. Walker opens with “Read Between The Lines” written by Clarence “Blowfly” Reid, a Miami based songwriter and performer, who also wrote Betty Wright’s “Clean Up Woman”; and who at the time worked for Willie Clarke’s Deep City Records.
Lennon and McCartney’s “Help!” is slowed down and becomes a vocal duet for Walker and special guest Curtis Salgado. “Everybody Meets Mr. Blue” and “Hymn For Lonely Hearts”, were both written by Eddie Hinton the guitarist from The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. “I’ve Been Watching You” is from Bobby Rush. “Funky Way” was written by Calvin Arnold and originally recorded by Rufus Thomas in 1970. The title track “If Nothing Ever Changes” was written by keyboardist Bruce Pedalty.
Country music provides sensitive lyrics for a soul singer. Included are “I Don’t Remember Loving You” written by Bobby Braddock and Harlan Howard and sung by John Conlee in 1982; and “Not That I Care” written and sung by Cindy Walker and later covered by Willie Nelson.
Estrin loves the soul music genre as much as he does the Chicago Blues sound that he re-creates. Estrin has written “Is That It” and “What Love Can Do” (with a horn arrangement by Mike Rinta) and co-written another, the “Hands of Time”, with co-producer Anderson.
Walker is a singer as emotive as any of the classic soul singers such as Sam Cooke, Wilson Pickett, Solomon Burke and Johnnie Taylor. Estrin and Anderson’s production make this album a Blues Music Award nominee for both Soul Blues Album of The Year, and Album of The Year. Walker also received a nomination as Soul Blues Male Artist of The Year.
“If Nothing Ever Changes” it would be o.k. but Walker should be heard by a whole new generation.
If Only
Wee Willie Walker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When your heart cried out
I might have heard
What it was crying about
Time we spent together
Left you so alone
Now you’re with another
You packed and left our home
When your heart cried out
I’d be the only one
You’re thinking about
If only I’d seen
The pain in your eyes
I could have taken time
Time to realize
How can a man
Sitting face to face
Not see the pain
It’s a damn disgrace
If only I’d seen
The pain in your eyes
I’d be the only one
You’d be looking at tonight
HORN SOLI
If only I’d known
What you needed to hear
I could have said the words
To ease your fears
If only I’d touched you
When you needed to be loved
I could've reached out my arms
Held you with a hug
If only I’d known
What you needed to hear
I’d be the only one
To hold you near
The lyrics to Wee Willie Walker's song "If Only" convey a sense of regret and reflection from the perspective of someone who failed to listen and understand their partner's needs. The song explores the consequences of this failure, as the singer realizes that their inattentiveness caused their partner to leave and find solace with someone else. The lyrics express a longing for a second chance, acknowledging that if only the singer had paid closer attention and recognized the pain in their partner's eyes, they could have prevented the relationship from falling apart.
The first verse emphasizes the importance of listening and understanding. The singer admits that they failed to hear and comprehend their partner's cries for help and support, leading to their feelings of loneliness and ultimately to their departure. The line "Time we spent together left you so alone" suggests that despite being physically present, the singer was emotionally absent, failing to provide the emotional connection their partner needed.
The second verse delves deeper into the failure to see their partner's pain. The singer acknowledges the disgrace of being in a face-to-face interaction but failing to recognize the pain in their partner's eyes. This verse highlights the importance of empathy and attentiveness in a relationship, and how blindness to such emotions can lead to irreparable damage.
The final verse explores the missed opportunities to provide comfort and support. The singer regrets not knowing what their partner needed to hear, as they might have been able to alleviate their fears and insecurities. Similarly, the singer didn't offer physical affection when it was needed, and now they lament the chance they missed to hold their partner close.
Overall, "If Only" reflects on the regret and realization that comes from failing to listen, see, and understand one's partner in a relationship. It serves as a reminder of the importance of empathy, communication, and emotional connection in fostering a healthy and fulfilling partnership.
Line by Line Meaning
If only I had listened
I deeply regret not paying attention and understanding
When your heart cried out
When you were expressing your innermost emotions
I might have heard
I could have actively listened and understood
What it was crying about
The reason behind your emotional pain
Time we spent together
The moments we shared
Left you so alone
Made you feel isolated and abandoned
Now you’re with another
You have found someone else
You packed and left our home
You left our shared living space, taking your belongings
If only I had listened
I deeply regret not paying attention and understanding
When your heart cried out
When you were expressing your innermost emotions
I’d be the only one
I would have your undivided attention and love
You’re thinking about
You would be solely focused on me, contemplating our relationship
If only I’d seen
I deeply regret not recognizing
The pain in your eyes
The distress and suffering reflected in your gaze
I could have taken time
I could have prioritized and devoted time
Time to realize
Time to understand and acknowledge
How can a man
It is incomprehensible for a man
Sitting face to face
Being in close proximity and direct interaction
Not see the pain
Failing to perceive the anguish
It’s a damn disgrace
It's utterly shameful
If only I’d seen
I deeply regret not recognizing
The pain in your eyes
The distress and suffering reflected in your gaze
I’d be the only one
I would have your undivided attention and love
You’d be looking at tonight
You would desire and focus on me during this evening
HORN SOLI
Instrumental interlude with horns
If only I’d known
I deeply regret not being aware
What you needed to hear
The words that would have provided emotional support
I could have said the words
I would have expressed those comforting words
To ease your fears
To alleviate and diminish your anxieties
If only I’d touched you
I deeply regret not physically contacting you
When you needed to be loved
During the moments of requiring affection and care
I could've reached out my arms
I would have extended my arms towards you
Held you with a hug
Embraced you tightly to provide comfort
If only I’d known
I deeply regret not being aware
What you needed to hear
The words that would have provided emotional support
I’d be the only one
I would have your undivided attention and love
To hold you near
To keep you close and provide emotional support
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Anthony Paule, Christine Vitale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind