Sounds of Soul Music

The song was written by Sam Cooke, and he had the idea for the sound effect of cupid’s arrow that goes straight to his lover’s heart. There are elements of R&B, Latin, pop, and jazz in the song, which helped put it on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” In 1961, the song went to #17 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100, #20 on Hot R&B sides, and #7 on the U.K. Singles Chart. Besides Cooke’s wonderful silky voice, on the track are Clifton White (guitar), René Hall (guitar), Clifford Hills (bass), and Joseph Gibbons (guitar and banjo).

Here are the lyrics to “Cupid” by Sam Cooke:

Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover’s heart for me, for me
Cupid, please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight to my lover’s heart for me

Now, I don’t mean to bother you
But I’m in distress
There’s danger of me losing all of my happiness
For I love a girl who doesn’t know I exist
And this you can fix

So, Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover’s heart for me, nobody but me
Cupid, please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight to my lover’s heart for me

Now, Cupid, if your arrow make her love strong for me
I promise I will love her until eternity
I know between the two of us her heart we can steal
Help me if you will

So, Cupid, draw back your bow
And let your arrow go
Straight to my lover’s heart for me, nobody but me
Cupid, please hear my cry
And let your arrow fly
Straight to my lover’s heart for me

Now, Cupid
Don’t you hear me
Calling you?
I need you
Cupid
Help me
I need you
Cupid
Don’t fail

For other songs by Sam Cooke: “You Send Me,” “Another Saturday Night,” “Chain Gang,” “Sad Mood,” and “Wonderful World.” On The Daily Doo Wop’s sister site Pass the Paisley are “Ain’t that Good News” and “A Change is Gonna Come.”

For More Golden Oldies Music                                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that werewere hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

Please click here for the Daily Doo Wop YouTube channel, to which you can subscribe. Thank you for stopping by The Daily Doo Wop. Hope you enjoyed “Cupid” by Sam Cooke.