- published: 26 Oct 2008
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Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls (December 1, 1935 – January 6, 2006) was an American soul, jazz, and blues singer. He was known for his smooth vocal style: Frank Sinatra once said that Rawls had "the classiest singing and silkiest chops in the singing game". Rawls released more than 60 albums, sold more than 40 million records,[citation needed] appeared as an actor in motion pictures and on television, and voiced-over many cartoons. He was also known for his frequently used expression,"Yeah buddy!"
Rawls was born on December 1, 1933 in Chicago and raised by his grandmother in the Ida B. Wells projects on the city's South Side. He began singing in the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church choir at the age of seven and later sang with local groups through which he met future music stars Sam Cooke, who was nearly three years older than Rawls, and Curtis Mayfield.
After graduating from Chicago's Dunbar Vocational High School, he sang briefly with Cooke in the Teenage Kings of Harmony, a local gospel group, and then with the Holy Wonders. In 1951, Rawls replaced Cooke in the Highway QC's after Cooke departed to join The Soul Stirrers in Los Angeles. Rawls was soon recruited by the Chosen Gospel Singers and himself moved to Los Angeles, where he subsequently joined the Pilgrim Travelers.
Sometimes I get disgusted, yeah
My mind goes up and down
Sometimes I get disgusted
My mind goes round and round
Well, now my woman has quit me
Now I'm feelin' low down
This is a mean old world to live in
And I'm just travelin' through
This is a mean old world to live in
I'm just travelin' through
Sometimes I feel so lonely
I don't know what to do
Well, it's a mean old world
Well, if my baby comes back home
Everything is gonna be alright
If my baby comes back home
Everything is gonna be alright
Then I won't have to worry
No more late at night
I said, it's a mean old world
And I'm just travelin' through
Well, it's a mean old world
And I'm just travelin' through
If my baby comes on home
Then I won't be blue
Oh, it's a mean old world
I'm just traveling through