Too Weak To Fight

Album: The Dynamic Clarence Carter (1968)
Charted: 13
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Clarence Carter recorded this song at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He wrote it with FAME's owner/producer Rick Hall, and their staff songwriters George Jackson and John Keyes. In the song, Carter finds himself powerless against the charms of his girlfriend, who has him in a tizzy. Running a compact 2:20, this song is a great example of Clarence Carter's emotive vocals, which were so convincing on his song "Patches" that many listeners thought he really did support his family by working on a farm. Carter would often laugh and show other signs of exuberance on his records, and on this one you can hear his groans of agony as he can't find a way to stand up for himself. The prominent horns were typical of a FAME production, and you can also hear the distinctive echo sound, which was created in the studio's famous echo chamber. In later years, echo was added electronically, but this one was carter singing is a little room with four stucco walls that would bounce the sound just right.
  • Carter, who went blind when he was just one year old, was born in Montgomery, Alabama and influenced by the hillbilly and blues sounds he heard from the area. He attributes his unique sound to his guitar style, which is a mix of these influences. The guitar on "Too Weak To Fight" he claimed was "nothing but an old country tune."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot

Jon Foreman of SwitchfootSongwriter Interviews

Switchfoot's frontman and main songwriter on what inspires the songs and how he got the freedom to say exactly what he means.

Joe Ely

Joe ElySongwriter Interviews

The renown Texas songwriter has been at it for 40 years, with tales to tell about The Flatlanders and The Clash - that's Joe's Tex-Mex on "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.