Meyer Hawthorne

I really need to write a Mayer Hawthorne Appreciation piece. Hell, I will never forget that time when I walked into our friend Will Chill’s “Oldies But Goodies” set at the VFW, in the Burlington NJ “hood.” It was 2007, a “lunchtime crowd,” 100% Black, nobody under the age of 40, and the “brown likka” was flowin.

Will’s normal set was comprised of the typical set of 1970’s EWF, O’Jays, Ohio Players, Delfonics, Billy Preston, etc. People were up in there dancing & grinding up a storm. I had in my coat pocket Meyer Hawthorne’s then new release. Will was of course glad to see me walk in the door. But his smile quickly turned to a frown, when I asked him if I could throw some “new music” into his set. He says, “Bob these people are VERY fussy and picky when it comes to music, they aren’t going to react well to any of your damn neo soul artists.” I said “Will, just trust me, put it on and give it 30 seconds, if anyone complains, you can just take it off and switch to something else.” He looked down at the CD cover and said; Sh*t Bob, this is a Pee Wee Herman lookin white dude.” I said, Will just trust me.

Well, he put the song on and the unthinkable happened. People got up and started dancing, as if nothing whatsoever had changed in the playlist. Sure, enough when the song ended, someone came up to the DJ booth and said. What’s the name and artist of that song playing now?” I remember that song from back in the day, I used to have it on 45, but I lost it along the way. I have been looking for it for years, but I haven’t ever been able to find it again until today.

I looked at Will and just smiled. He said, “Bob you had better tell him, cuz this brotha ain’t gonna belive me……LOL

THE WALK (just an example)

It’s such a shame that Black Folks don’t like this kinda music anymore. This is such a GREAT song, music, lyrics, everything. I saw this group live in 2007 @ SXSW, he opened for Smokey Robinson of all people. However, I know of an “alternate universe,” where this group played in front of 110,000 fans in between periods at a hockey game in Michigan on New Year’s Day a few years ago! (Warning, this song is a bit violent and has a few cuss words)

“THE WALK”

Lyrics:

So long you did me wrong,

So long you did me wrong.

Baby whatcha doin’ now?

You’re pissin’ me off,

But your hair is so luxurious,

And your lips are so soft,

Any way you slice it,

You’re doin’ me wrong,

But I love the way you walk now,

And your legs are so long,

Well, your looks had me putty in your hand now,

But I’ve took just as much as I can stand now,

And you can walk your long legs, baby,

right out of my life.

(So long you did me wrong)

Yeah you can walk your long legs, baby,

Right out of my life.

(So long you did me wrong)

From the moment that I met you,

I thought you were fine, so fine,

But your shitty, fucking attitude,

Has got me changing my mind.

Everybody tells me, I need to let go, I know,

But your cocoa butter skin now,

Has got me begging for more.

Well your heels keep runnin’ through my head now,

Tried to deal, but I’m comin’ to the edge now,

And you can walk those high heels, baby,

Right out of my life.

(So long you did me wrong)

Yeah you can walk those high heels, baby,

Right out of my life.

(So long you did me wrong)

Tell me why,

Why’d you turn my blue skies cloudy grey,

You know I,

I can’t let you keep treating me this way,

Oh, you’ve been jerkin’ me around, but,

I’ve kept my eyes shut,

‘cause you’re shaped like an hourglass,

but I think your time’s up,

Well your heart’s like a blackened piece of coal now,

And I doubt that you ever had a soul now,

And you can walk your cold heart, baby,

Right out of my life.

(So long you did me wrong)

Yeah you can walk your cold heart, baby,

Right out of my life.

(So long you did me wrong)

Just walk it out,

(So long you did me wrong)

Keep on walkin’ now,

(So long you did me wrong)

Leave me alone,

(So long you did me wrong)

I’m better off on my own.

(So long you did me wrong)