What Does It All Mean? Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away

I’ve been thinking about this track a lot since finally tracking down the original 12″ during my recent Birthday binge. Rhythmically it’s one of my favorite all time songs, even before Biggie and them sampled it for “Get Money,” and stands directly next to “Daylight” at the top of Roy Ayer’s productions. Striplin’s vocals, slink and slide all over that rhythm, making this song one of the most enduringly enjoyable listens I’ve ever had.

By sheer coincidence I was listening to this in the car on my way to Amoeba Hollywood and by the buyers counter they had the DVD of Obsessed. As I was watching Stringer Bell from the Wire trying to convince the girl from Heroes that nothing was really going on between them, I started thinking about this song and now I honestly can’t decide if this is a situation where this woman is pleading with a man to recognize that her love is what is real and what is best for him or if this woman is seriously stalking this man, fatal attraction style?

One their face, I don’t think the lyrics really help to answer that question, instead it’s something about the way Striplin sings, (especially in the second half when she’s seems to be everywhere thanks to overdubs) which seems to sound a bit dangerous, slightly unhinged and borderline unstable. Instead of this plea for this man to respect her love, some parts of the song almost sound like a threat.

Don’t Try, Don’t Try,
To turn me away,
‘Cause you can’t!

It’s like this woman is the one who really gets to decide when the relationship is over, no matter what her lover thinks. Maybe not, but now it’s stuck in my head…what do you think?

Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away

Sylvia Striplin – You Can’t Turn Me Away – from a 12” on the Uno Melodic label (1980)

(Chorus)
You Can’t Turn Me Away
You better believe in your heart I always want to stay

Don’t try to turn me off
When you think you found somebody new, No No Noooo
Don’t Try (3x) to Put me Down
Just because she came around, and I said that you can’t

Chorus (2x)

You know in your heart I’m the best for you
So don’t try (3x), to turn me away
Don’t try to put me down
Just because she came around
Don’t Try (2x) to turn me away, ‘cause you can’t

Chorus (2x)

You know in your heart I’m the best for you
Don’t Try (3x) to put me Down
Don’t think that you can put me down, oh no
Just because she came around and you can’t

Chorus (2x)

I Need Your Lovin’ I’ll Never Give In (Baby You Got It)
I Need Your Lovin’ I’ll Never Give In (Baby I Need It) + (Chorus & Vocalizing) (at least 7X)