Written by: Billy Boy Arnold
Recorded: July 1973
Producers: Ken Scott, David Bowie
Engineer: Dennis MacKay
Released: 19 October 1973
Available on:
Pin Ups
Personnel
David Bowie: vocals, harmonica, Moog synthesizerMick Ronson: guitar
Trevor Bolder: bass guitar
Aynsley Dunbar: drums
Michel Ripoche: violin
David Bowie recorded a version of ‘I Wish You Would’ for 1973’s Pin Ups. It was written and originally recorded in 1955 by Chicago bluesman Billy Boy Arnold.
Arnold developed the song from ‘Diddy Diddy Dum Dum’, which he had written and sung with Bo Diddley. He took the song to the Vee-Jay label, who suggested he change the lyrics, leading to ‘I Wish You Would’.
British R&B band the Yardbirds recorded the song in February 1964, and it was released three months later as their debut UK single. It did not chart in the UK or US, but was included on their American debut album For Your Love. The song remained in the band’s live set for a number of years, and recordings are available with, variously, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page on lead guitar.
Davie Jones and the Lower Third recorded a number of demos in May 1965 at Central Sound Studios on London’s Denmark Street. They included a version of ‘I Wish You Would’, along with a cover of James Brown’s ‘I Don’t Mind’ and the future David Bowie’s own ‘Born Of The Night’.
Bowie revisited ‘I Wish You Would’ during the Pin Ups sessions at Château d’Hérouville in July 1973. Along with ‘Shapes Of Things’, it was one of two Yardbirds songs taped for the album.
‘I Wish You Would’ featured lead guitar and violin played in unison. The latter was played by Michel Ripoche, a member of the French band Zoo who played on a handful of the Pin Ups songs. For the solo, meanwhile, Bowie played harmonica over Ronson’s lead guitar.
Bowie’s recording was cut at a faster tempo than the Yardbirds’ version, and raised the key up a tone to A major. The only other Pin Ups song played in a different key from the original was ‘I Can’t Explain’.
Lyrics
Early in the morning by the break of day
That’s when my baby went away
Come back baby I wish you would
This crying and grieving won’t do me no good
Hugging and a-kissing late at night
You know pretty baby it feels just right
Come back baby, what you trying to do?
Turning on me and some other men too
Come back baby, give me one more chance
You know I still love you, gonna give you romance
Yeah, romance all night long
In my arms, oh yeah
Early in the morning by the break of day
That’s when my baby went away
Come back baby I wish you would
This crying and grieving won’t do me no good
Hey pretty baby I love you so
You know pretty baby it hurts me to see you go
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah
Oh yeah