ralper

Ray Charles died today at the age of 73.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/10/arts/mus.../10CND-RAY.html

A great singer and an American legend. My favorite Ray Charles song was "You Don't Know Me" but they were all great. I have never heard a more beautiful version of "America" than the one he did.

Ray Charles, RIP

MsPerky

Yes...I liked him, too. Saw him in concert not too many years ago.

ralper

You Don't Know Me
Ray Charles

You give your hand to me
And then you say, "Hello."
And I can hardly speak,
My heart is beating so.
And anyone can tell
You think you know me well.
Well, you don't know me.
(no you don't know me)

No you don't know the one
Who dreams of you at night;
And longs to kiss your lips
And longs to hold you tight
Oh I'm just a friend.
That's all I've ever been.
Cause you don't know me.
(no you don't know me)

For I never knew the art of making love,
Though my heart aches with love for you.
Afraid and shy, I let my chance go by.
A chance that you might love me too.
(love me too)

You give your hand to me,
And then you say, "Goodbye."
I watched you walk away,
Beside the lucky guy
Oh, you'll never ever know
The one who loved you so.
Well, you don't know me

(For I never knew the art of making love, )
(Though my heart aches with love for you. )
Afraid and shy, I let my chance go by.
A chance that you might love me too.
(love me too)

Oh, you give your hand to me,
And then you say, "Goodbye."
I watched you walk away,
Beside the lucky guy
Oh, you'll never ever know
The one who loved you so.
Well, you don't know me
(you don't love me, you don't know me)

Matt_in_VA

I was saddened to learn of his death. As he was only twenty years older than me, it brings one's sense of mortality a bit closer to home.

On the way home this afternoon National Public Radio had a remembrance of his life and music. One can listen to it at the following site:

http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/...re_1947628.html

He was blind by the age of seven and his mother died when he was fifteen. I only learned that today and it gives me a whole new appreciation for his life and what he accomplished.

There is a life lesson that we can all learn from him about the self reliance that was instilled in him by his mother in his early years (the responsibility of parenting) to his overcoming his disability with shear determination (self determination and hard work). These qualities should inspire us all.

I believe that he will be remembered as a "national treasure".

P.S. Did I do it again? Did I kill this thread?

ralper

Georgia On My Mind
Ray Charles

Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Talkin' 'bout Georgia
I'm in Georgia
A song of you
Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Georgia, sweet Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back
It always leads back to you
I'm in Georgia, Georgia, sweet Georgia
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Georgia forever on my mind
Just an old sweet, sweet song
Keeps Georgia forever on my mind

Smokee

Remember Flip Wilson's character Geraldine? "She" used to always work in one, "Ray Charles honey!"

I gotta vote for Hit the Road Jack as my favorite.

ralper

Hit The Road Jack
Ray Charles

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.

Woo! Woman, oh woman, don't treat me so mean,
You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen.
I guess if you said so
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.

Now baby, listen baby, don't-a treat me this-a way
For I'll be back on my feet some day.

Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood
you ain't got no money you just ain't no good.

Well, I guess if you say so
I'd have to pack my things and go. (That's right)

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no
more.
Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more.

Don't you come back no more.

ELAhrens

I feel like I lost a family member. I grew up with his music, I listened, I learned and I loved . . . All because of the man and his music. I will truly miss him. Thank God we have records, CD's and vidieos that will keep him here with us.

Erik

ralper

Crying Time
Ray Charles

Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin' Oooh
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time

Now they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder (fonder)
And that tears are only rain to make love grow
Well my love for you could never grow no stronger (stronger)
If I lived to be a hundred years old

Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin'. Yeah now
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time

Now you say you've found someone that you love better (better)
That's the way it's happened every time before
And as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow ('morrow)
Cryin' time will start when you walk out the door

Oh, it's cryin' time again, you're gonna leave me
I can see that far away look in your eyes
I can tell by the way you hold me darlin'. Alright now
That it won't be long before it's cryin' time
(That it won't be long before it's cryin' time)

Palmateer

I Got a Woman
Ray Charles

I GOT A WOMAN way over town,
She's good to me, Oh yeah!
Well, I GOT A WOMAN way over town,
She's good to me, Oh yeah!
Now she's my dreamboat, oh, yes indeed,
She's just the kind of girl I need,
I found a woman way over town, She's good to me Oh
yeah!

I save my kisses and all my huggin' Just for her, Oh, yeah!
I save my kisses and all my huggin' Just for her, Oh yeah!
When I say baby please take my hand
She holds me tight She's my lover girl
I found a woman way over town,
She's good to me, Oh yeah!

To INTERLUDE
She always answers my beck and call,
Ever lovin' mama Mama tree top tall.
I feel so proud walkin' by her side,
Couldn't get a better girl,
No matter how hard I tried.

I GOT A WOMAN way over town,
She's good to me, Oh yeah!
Someday we'll marry, way over town,
She's good to me, Oh yeah!
Someday we'll marry, don't you understand
'Cause she's my only lover girl
I found a woman way over town,
She's good to me, Oh yeah!