One of the most popular black singers of the 60s, Wilson Pickett helped introduce the aggressive, rhythmic style of black music to a wide audience and has influenced almost countless rnb artists over the years. It all got started in Prattville, Alabama, where he was raised. Pickett moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of sixteen, and he made his professional debut spending several years singing with the gospel group The Violinaires in the late 50s. From 1961 to 1963, he was in The Falcons, writing and singing their 1962 hit "I Found A Love".
Pickett then went solo and signed with Lloyd Price's Double L Records, where he wrote and recorded "If You Love Me" and "It's Too Late." In 1964, Pickett signed with Atlantic Records and did his early recordings in the Stax studio in Memphis, Tennessee with Booker T. Jones and Steve Cropper of The MGs. Cropper co-authored three of his early hits, "In the Midnight Hour" and "Don't Fight It from his debut album The Exciting Wilson Pickett that established him as a major soul star. The album also included "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)," "She's So Good to Me," and "Land of a 1,000 Dances," all recorded at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals.
Pickett then had hits with "Mustang Sally," "I Found a Love," and "Funky Broadway," all recorded in Muscle Shoals. Pickett then teamed with Bobby Womack in 1968 for Midnight Mover that yielded a Top 10 R7B and pop hit with Womack's title song. In 1969, Pickett had a major hit with The Beatles "Hey Jude,", followed in 1970 by "Sugar, Sugar." Later in 1970, Pickett worked with producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. The result was two crossover hits "Engine Number Nine," and "Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You."
After crossover hits "Don't Knock My Love - Part 1" and "Fire and Water" Pickett left Atlantic for RCA, with minimum success. Pickett later recorded for several record companies, including his own Wicked label, but failed to have anymore hits.
Wilson Pickett was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.In 1999 he performed with his friend Bruce Springsteen.In 2002 he performed in the movie Only The Strong Survive.Singing his classic hits like In the Midnight hour and Land Of 1000 Dances.In 2004 Pickett retired from performing do to Health problems.Pickett told his sister he was going to the field of God but he never recovered.
On January 19,2006 Pickett died of a heart attack at his home. At his funeral long time friend Richard Pennimen (Little Richard) did a eulogy for Mr Pickett with his brothers at his funeral.
Pickett's Personal life was troubled. In 1993 he struck a pedestrian Pepe Ruiz. Later that year Ruiz died. Soul Singer Don Covay called him "Young and Wild". Pickett was arrested many times in his life.
634-5789
Wilson Pickett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Call on me, all right
And if you want a little huggin'
Call on me baby, hmm-hmm
Oh, I'll be right here at home
All you got to do is
Pick up your telephone
What's my number? (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
If you need a little huggin'
Call on me
That's all you got to do now
And if you want some kissin'
Call on me baby, all right
No more lonely nights
Will you be alone
All you got to do is
Pick up your telephone
And dial, now (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
That's my number (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
Oh, I'll be right there
Just as soon as I can
Oh, and if I be a little bit late, now
I hope that you'll understand
Oh yeah, all right, ooh
And if you need a little lovin'
Call on me
Lord have mercy
And if you want some kissin'
Call on me, baby
That's all you got to do now
No more lonely nights
Will you be alone
All you got to do is
Pick up your telephone
And dial, now (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
That's my number (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
Oh, yeah (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
Call me on the telephone (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
No more will you be alone (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
What's my number? (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
That's my number (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
The lyrics to Wilson Pickett's song 634-5789 are all about availability and the willingness to offer comfort to someone in need. Pickett offers himself as a source of comfort, singing, "If you need a little lovin'/Call on me, all right/And if you want a little huggin'/Call on me baby, hmm-hmm/Oh, I'll be right here at home." He repeats the refrain of "all you got to do is pick up your telephone/And dial now (634-5789)/What's my number? (634-5789)," emphasizing the ease with which he can be reached and the convenience of having someone available at any moment.
The song also touches on the fear of loneliness and the importance of intimacy. Pickett sings, "No more lonely nights/Will you be alone," conveying the message that by reaching out to him, the listener can avoid feeling isolated and experience the warmth of human connection. The repetition of the phone number throughout the song also serves as a symbol of that connection, emphasizing the idea that a simple phone call can bring people closer together.
Overall, 634-5789 is a song about emotional availability and the comfort that can come from human connection. It's about being open to others and being willing to provide support when it's needed, even if it's as simple as a phone call.
Line by Line Meaning
If you need a little lovin'
If you're feeling lonely and need some love and affection
Call on me, all right
Don't hesitate to reach out to me for help
And if you want a little huggin'
If you need a hug to feel better
Call on me baby, hmm-hmm
Let me be the one to give you that hug
Oh, I'll be right here at home
I'll be waiting for your call at my home
All you got to do is
The only thing you need to do is
Pick up your telephone
Take your phone in your hands
And dial, now (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
And call me at my phone number 634-5789
What's my number? (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
Memorize my number so you can reach me anytime
If you need a little huggin'
If you need a comforting embrace
Call on me
Call me anytime you need it
That's all you got to do now
It's as simple as that
And if you want some kissin'
If you want some loving physical connection
Call on me baby, all right
Let me be the one to give you that physical connection
No more lonely nights
You won't have to spend any more nights feeling lonely
Will you be alone
Because I'll be there for you
Oh, I'll be right there
I'll come over to your place as soon as possible
Just as soon as I can
I'll rush over to you as quickly as possible
Oh, and if I be a little bit late, now
And if I'm delayed a bit
I hope that you'll understand
I hope you can forgive me for being late
Oh yeah, all right, ooh
I'm excited to see you and give you the love you need
And if you need a little lovin'
If you need someone to show you some love
Call on me
Get in touch with me
Lord have mercy
May God show you his mercy
And if you want some kissin'
If you want me to kiss you
Call on me, baby
Give me a call so we can share a kiss
No more lonely nights
You won't have to spend any more nights feeling lonely
Will you be alone
Because I'll be there for you
Oh, yeah (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
Oh yeah, call me whenever you need me at 634-5789
Call me on the telephone (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
Don't hesitate to call me at 634-5789
No more will you be alone (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
You don't have to feel lonely anymore, I'll be there for you
What's my number? (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
Remember my phone number 634-5789
That's my number (six-three-four-five-seven-eight-nine)
That's the phone number you can use to reach me anytime
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE CROPPER, EDDIE FLOYD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind