If you happen to hear “Come and Get You Love” on oldies radio or on some movie or television show (where it often pops up), you might just assume that Redbone is one of your run-of-the-mill one-hit wonders. But those who know the history of this band know that they were trailblazers in the music industry.
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“Come and Get Your Love” went to the Top 5 in 1974, and remains a reliable source of joy and good feelings. Here’s how this band came to be and what it took to deliver their biggest hit.
Honoring Their Heritage
The driving force for Redbone were a pair of brothers of Native American and Mexican descent. Patrick and Candido (“Lolly”) Vazquez grew up in California. They developed a passion and talent for music, and they soon were plying their trade throughout the ‘60s as writers and guest instrumentalists.
They had received the advice to change their names, as their management feared an act with a Native American background might not have much chance to succeed in that era. The brothers obliged, becoming Pat and Lolly Vegas.
At the time, they performed with slicked-back hair that somewhat hid their heritage. They also tended to play surf-rock when they played live, even though the music they were creating on their own drew on a variety of influences. When they formed their own band, they honored those influences, and eventually, their heritage as well.
“Love” Revival
They took the name Redbone based on Cajun slang for people of mixed descent. By the time they released their 1973 album Wovoka, all four members were of at least of partial Native American descent. By this time, they were leaning into their background, wearing traditional Native American garb when they played.
Redbone had scored a solid hit in 1971 with “The Witch Queen of New Orleans.” “Come and Get Your Love” would surpass all that. It was written by Lolly Vegas. (Pat later claimed to have helped, although he didn’t seek credit.) On the Wovoka album, the song featured a slow intro before it got into the meat of the R&B-flavored, swampy rhythm.
When the song was released as a single in 1974, it was shaved down to emphasize the groove. The technique worked, as “Come and Get Your Love” made it all the way to the Top 5. It would prove to be the group’s biggest hit, and Redbone became the first ever group of Native Americans to reach so high on the American pop charts.
Behind the Lyrics of “Come and Get Your Love”
When you consider the lyrics of “Come and Get Your Love,” don’t think of it so much as a man calling out to a specific woman in a romantic way. Instead, think of it as him advising her to indulge in the cosmic love available to everybody, and you’ll hit on the wavelength Redbone was after.
The narrator asks this person, What’s the matter with her head and her mind. He insists she needn’t worry: Nothin’ the matter with your head. And he tells her to look for the source of love and inspiration: Hail, oh yeah, get it from the main vine. Not for nothing does he call her divine, as he’s trying to make that connection between divinity and all living things.
Of course, you don’t have to get so deep to enjoy “Come and Get Your Love.” You can just sink into the groove and sing along with that irrepressible chorus. And then, when the song is complete, take a minute to appreciate just what Redbone was able to accomplish.
Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
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