Lucille

Album

Little Richard

Label

Specialty Records

Genre

Rock & Roll

Composer(s)

Albert Collins;Richard Penniman

Entered Chart

Mar 23, 1957

Peak Date

Apr 13, 1957

Released

Unknown

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Specialty 598

B-Side

Send Me Some Lovin'

This song began as a ballad Richard wrote called "Directly From My Heart to You," which he recorded as a member of The Johnny Otis band in 1955. "Directly From My Heart to You" was released by Peacock Records as a B-side, and when Little Richard recorded for Specialty Records in September 1955, he tried recording the song for his first album. It didn't make the cut, but Richard's career took off, and when he needed another single in 1957, he revived the song, but gave it the sound that made him a star, speeding up the tempo considerably. The lyrics were completely rewritten, and Richard went to a common theme for his hits: a girl's name. If Lucille was based on a real woman who broke Richard's heart, he isn't saying - he told Rolling Stone in 1970: "I don't know what inspired me to write it, it may have been the rhythm." Certainly, the lyrics serve the rhythm, with the nonsensical first line "Lucille, won't you do your sister's will" scanning to the beat. If there was a real Lucille, it would probably be either Richard's (female) lover Lee Angel, or his mentor Steve Reeder Jr., who performed under the name Esquerita. Little Richard hasn't kept a lot of secrets, so it's more likely that he did make up Lucille. His next single was also named after a girl: "Jenny, Jenny." In a 1999 interview with Mojo magazine, Richard explained: "The effects and rhythms you hear on my songs, I got 'em from the trains that passed by my house. Like 'Lucille' came from a train – Dadas-dada-dada-dada, I got that from the train." This was released at a time when Richard was hot - he sold 32 million records in 1956 and 1957. His songs were also very successful for other artists, who sometimes outsold him with his own songs. "Lucille" was covered by The Everly Brothers, who matched Richard's #21 peak position with their version in 1960. Waylon Jennings had a #1 Country hit when he recorded this on his 1983 album It's Only Rock and Roll, and other artists to cover the song include Van Halen, Deep Purple, Johnny Winter, Bill Haley & His Comets, Otis Redding, AC/DC and The Hollies. >> Other popular Lucille's in music: B.B. King's guitar is named Lucille, and Kenny Rogers had a hit with different song with the same title in 1977 - his is the one that goes, "You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille..." The Everly Brothers 1960 version broke new ground but using several guitarists on the track all at once. Recorded in Nashville and arranged by Don Everly, that sound later appeared on Roy Orbison's hit "(Oh) Pretty Woman." In 1993, Little Richard sang this on Sesame Street as "Rosita," in tribute to the blue monster of the same name.

Lucille, you won't do your sister's will?
Oh, Lucille, you won't do your sister's will?
You ran off and married, but I love you still

Lucille, please, come back where you belong
Lucille, please, come back where you belong
I been good to you, baby, please, don't leave me alone

I woke up this morning, Lucille was not in sight
I asked my friends about her but all their lips were tight
Lucille, please, come back where you belong
I been good to you, baby, please, don't leave me alone, whoa

I woke up this morning, Lucille was not in sight
I asked my friends about her but all their lips were tight
Lucille, please, come back where you belong
I been good to you, baby, please, don't leave me alone

Lucille, baby, satisfy my heart
Lucille, baby, satisfy my heart
I played for it, baby, and gave you such a wonderful start