Dan Penn & Spooner Oldham - I'm Your Puppet

[Willabe]

These 2 men wrote a fairly long string of hits through the years in several different music idioms. Spooner is also on a ton of hits and other songs on keyboard.

For me, the whole package on this song, lyric, melody, chords, is as good as it gets. James & Bobby Purify had a #5 hit with it in 1966 and it was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in 1967.

Penn's vocal on this, he nails it, delicate, nuanced, deep emotion, broken. And Spooner on the Wurlitzer, with the vibrato on, just beautiful! Lyrics below the clip.

Pull the string and I'll wink at you
I'm your puppet
I'll do funny things if you want me to
I'm your puppet, mm

I'm yours to have and to hold
Darling, you've got full control
Of your puppet

Pull another string and I'll kiss your lips
I'm your puppet
Snap your fingers and I'll turn you some flips
I'm your puppet, mm

Your every wish is my command
All you gotta do is wiggle your little hand
'Cause I'm your puppet
I'm your puppet

I'm just a toy, just a funny boy
That makes you laugh when you're blue
I'll be wonderful, do just what I'm told
I'll do anything for you
I'm your puppet
I'm your puppet

Just pull them little strings and I'll sing you a song
I'm your puppet
Make me do right or make me do wrong
I'm your puppet, mm

Treat me good and I'll do anything
I'm just a puppet and you hold my string
I'm your puppet

I'm your walking, talking (Mhm), living, loving puppet (Yeah)
I'm hanging on a string (Yeah, yeah), I'll do anything (Anything)
Love you and kiss ya and love ya (Yeah, yeah)
Pick you up (Oh, oh) and put you down

[RadioComm]

Great lyrics and melody. Plus he's playing my dream acoustic guitar, a Martin D-45.