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.
I'm in Love
Wilson Pickett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love, love, love
I'm in love
Sho 'nuff in love
Look-a-here
My friends all wonder what's come over me
I'm as happy as a
Man can be, I'm in love (love, love, love)
I'm in love (love, love, love)
I'm so glad I can tell the world (love, love, love)
I'm through cryin' all night long (love, love, love)
Yes, I am (love, love, love)
I'm sho 'nuff in love (love, love, love)
Look-a-here
I feel just like a baby boy
On a Christmas mornin'
With a brand-new toy, I'm in love (love, love, love)
I'm in love, love, love
Ooh-ooh
I'm in love (love, love, love)
Sho 'nuff in love (love, love, love)
I can shout about it, yeah (love, love, love)
I can cry about it sometime (love, love, love)
Whoa, sho 'nuff in love, yes I am (love, love, love)
I can knock on wood, now (love, love, love)
The song "I'm in Love" by Wilson Pickett is a classic love song that describes the overwhelming feeling of being in love. The repetition of the phrase "love, love, love" throughout the song emphasizes the intensity of the emotion. The song starts with the singer declaring that he is in love and repeats it throughout the song to really emphasize his happiness. He then goes on to describe how his friends are all surprised by the change in his demeanor and comments on how happy he is. He likens his feeling to that of a child on Christmas morning, ecstatic about getting a new toy.
The singer's emotions are so intense that it becomes infectious and he can't help but exclaim his joy to the world. The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, highlighting his unabashed love. The line "I can cry about it sometime" adds some vulnerability to the overall upbeat tone of the song, shows that there is not just unconditional happiness in love but can also face some difficulties in the process. The final line "I can knock on wood now" is a superstition which means he is hoping he won't lose his happiness.
Overall, the song is a celebration of love and the happiness it brings. The repetition of the phrase "love, love, love" really drives home the message and creates an infectious sense of joy that is hard to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in love, yes, I am
I am currently experiencing the feeling of romantic love
Love, love, love
The intensification of the feeling of love
Sho 'nuff in love
I am absolutely and undoubtedly in love
Look-a-here
Pay attention to what I am going to say
My friends all wonder what's come over me
My friends are curious as to why I am suddenly acting different
I'm as happy as a
I am very happy
Man can be, I'm in love (love, love, love)
Being in love has brought me the highest level of happiness
I'm so glad I can tell the world (love, love, love)
I feel so happy that I want to shout about it to the world
I'm through cryin' all night long (love, love, love)
I used to cry all night long, but not anymore because I am in love
I feel just like a baby boy
I feel very young and innocent
On a Christmas mornin' With a brand-new toy, I'm in love (love, love, love)
The feeling of being in love is like the excitement of a child on Christmas morning with a new toy
Ooh-ooh
An expression of excitement or pleasure
I can shout about it, yeah (love, love, love)
I can express my love loudly and exuberantly
I can cry about it sometime (love, love, love)
Sometimes the intensity of the love I feel can bring me to tears
Whoa, sho 'nuff in love, yes I am (love, love, love)
I am definitely and undeniably in love
I can knock on wood, now (love, love, love)
I have good luck and everything is going well for me because of my love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bobby Womack
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ken Johnson
Excellent song written by Bobby Womack and Wilson is killing it! 👍👍
Chris Anderson
There's nothing like old school soul.You can feel it from their heart!
Belle Starr
Still sounds good March 2023 💃🏽
Tyrone Childs
Why am I in tears? This kind of music is gone forever but for YouTube and ever decreasing record collections. RIP Wilson Pickett
Ann Kelley
Great song and Wilson sings it with so much soul! Love this man. Thank goodness for these videos so that talent such as this will never be forgotten!
PHL76Music
I'm in love... with this song. Always have been ever since I heard it coming out of a jukebox in Florida when I was young & was on vacation with my parents. Heard it again in the supermarket last night, and I had to stop in my tracks and just listen. From the first guitar notes, you just know a great song is gonna follow, and it does.
Mozelle Philpart
Yes!😊
Sandra Atkins
Yes Jesus
Ted Williams
Still one of my favorite love songs 55 years later.
TheWonderfulKushite
Thank God I had great parents who appreciated good music like this and played it all the time. I never get tired of listening.