I was actually planning to play Africa by Toto tonight, but a couple of things changed my mind.  No worries, though … I’ll definitely be playing it soon, for it’s a song that … speaks to me, that I really like.  Instead, I figured some Sam Cooke would be just the thing to get me over the holiday weariness that seems to be stronger as we get older.  Nothin’ quite like Mr. Sam!

Who doesn’t love the voice of Sam Cooke?  Sam Cooke wrote this song, but the original intent wasn’t for him to sing it.  Cooke’s producers had asked him to write a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show — but once they heard her sing, they kept “Cupid” for Cooke himself.  She must’ve really botched it!

It was Cooke’s idea to drop in the sound of an arrow being fired “straight to my lover’s heart.”  According to the folks over at SongFacts …

Sam Cooke’s producers had the idea for him to do a song for a girl they had seen on a Perry Como TV show. “She didn’t do anything but just look up at Perry Como in the most wistful-type manner,” said J.W. Alexander, Cooke’s business adviser. Cooke decided to drop in the sound of an arrow being fired “Straight to my lover’s heart” whenever the song called for it.

The arrow sounds were made by backing vocalists Kenneth Simms (leaving the bow) and Bobbie Simms (hitting the target). Kenneth and Bobbie were twins and it was the first time they ever recorded in a studio.

The song was covered by Johnny Nash, whose version topped Cooke’s in the UK, coming in at #6, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and the Spinners.  Cooke’s version charted at #7 in the UK and #17 in the U.S.

Cupid
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 wll 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

Songwriters: Sam Cooke
Cupid lyrics © S.I.A.E. Direzione Generale, Abkco Music Inc., ABKCO MUSIC INC