Music Friday: Duo Promises Gifts of Jewelry in Sam Cooke’s ‘Bring It on Home to Me’

Welcome to Music Friday when we feature classic songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. Today we shine the spotlight on Marc Broussard and Jamie McLean singing Sam Cooke’s 1962 R&B hit “Bring It on Home to Me.”

Honored as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, “Bring It on Home to Me” is a song about a young man who lets the love of his life slip through his fingers. At first, he doesn't take the break-up seriously, but now he'll do anything to get her back.

Broussard and McLean sing, "I’ll give you jewelry, and money too / And that’s not all, all I’ll do for you / Oh, oh, bring it to me / Bring your sweet loving / Bring it on home to me."

The duo delivers a powerful, soulful rendition of the song that employs a call-and-response format. In the original, Cooke teamed up with none other than Lou Rawls.

The original version of the tune topped out at #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B Sides chart and #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. The 2019 rendition appeared as the first track on the Jamie McLean Band's 2019 album, "New Orleans Session." The band is described as a musical gumbo that incorporates New Orleans soul, middle Americana roots, Delta blues and New York City swagger.

Broussard's style has been described as "Bayou Soul" — a Southern-influenced blend of funk, blues, R&B, rock and pop.

While Broussard and McLean injected their own brand of soul into the song, over the past 55+ years the biggest names from every corner of the music world have gravitated to the song. They include The Animals (1965), Sonny & Cher (1966), Otis Redding and Carla Thomas (1967), Aretha Franklin (1969), Lou Rawls (1970), Rod Stewart (1974), Van Morrison (1974), Mickey Gilley (1976), Paul McCartney (1988) and Mandy Moore with Sam Trammell (2017).

Trivia: "Bring It on Home to Me" was actually the "B" side of Cooke's "Having A Party." Both songs became hits.

Please check out Broussard and McLean's studio performance of “Bring It on Home to Me.” The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

“Bring It on Home to Me”
Written by Sam Cooke. Performed by Marc Broussard & Jamie McLean.

If you ever change your mind
About leaving, leaving me behind
Oh, oh, bring it to me
Bring your sweet loving
Bring it on home to me

You know I laughed when you left
But now I know I’ve only hurt myself
Oh, oh, bring it to me
Bring your sweet loving
Bring it on home to me

I’ll give you jewelry, and money too
And that’s not all, all I’ll do for you
Oh, oh, bring it to me
Bring your sweet loving
Bring it on home to me

You know I’ll always be your slave
Till I’m buried, buried in my grave
Oh, oh, bring it to me
Bring your sweet loving
Bring it on home to me

I tried to treat you right
But you stayed out, stayed day and night
I forgive you, bring it to me
Bring your sweet loving
Bring it on home to me

Yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah)
Yeah (yeah), yeah (yeah)…

Credit: Screen capture via YouTube / Marc Broussard.