Among a number of groups who helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960s, including The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Temptations and The Supremes, The Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. The group was the main male vocal group for the songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who crafted for the group a stream of popular hit singles, including two #1 hits: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There". After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson. When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to Los Angeles, California, the Tops stayed in Detroit and moved over to ABC Records, where they continued to have charting singles into the late-1970s. Since the 1980s, The Four Tops have recorded for, at various times, Motown, Casablanca Records, and Arista Records.
As an unofficial record, it is believed that The Four Tops were the band to continue performing the longest without a lineup change. Levi Stubbs, Abdul Fakir, Renaldo Benson and Lawrence Payton sang together as the Four Tops from 1954 until 1997, when Lawrence Payton died of cancer. That's an astonishing 43 years without a lineup change. The three surviving members continued to tour as "The Tops."
Loco in Acapulco
The Four Tops Lyrics
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If you stay too long
Yes, you'll be going loco down in Acapulco
The magic down there is so strong
Feel the pressure
Your back's against the wall
Love is gaining on you
You're just about to fall
If you're afraid to love
Afraid to take a chance
You better hide your feelings
Get out while you can
'Cause you'll be going loco down in Acapulco
If you stay too long
Yes, you'll be going loco down in Acapulco
The magic down there is so strong
You'll be pulling out your hair, drowning in despair
With a whole lot of nothing on your way to nowhere
Your search for paradise will come to an end
When you realize what a fool you've been
You'll be haunted by her face
Missing her warm embrace
Memories of loving her
Holding her tight every night
Was that the best part of your life?
Hearing her voice soft and low
Begging you to please
Please don't go
Don't go
No! Don't go! Don't go!
You can hear voices bleeding through those warm Latin nights
Memories are lost and found
Leaving broken hearts all over town, all over town
'Cause you'll be going loco down in Acapulco if you stay too long
Yes, you'll be going loco down in Acapulco
The magic down there is so strong
Going loco down in Acapulco
If you stay too long
Yes, you'll be going loco down in Acapulco
The magic down there is so strong
Going loco down in Acapulco
If you stay too long
The Four Tops’s song, Loco in Acapulco, is about the dangers of falling in love deeply and giving in to the magic of Acapulco. The first verse warns the listener of the magical and powerful nature of Acapulco, that if they stay too long, they will become "loco" or crazy. In the second verse, the lyrics address the pressure that comes with falling in love and the fear of taking a chance on love. The chorus is a repetition of the warning that if they do not heed the advice, they will go crazy and drown in despair under the strong magic of Acapulco.
The third verse speaks to the idea that giving in to the magic of Acapulco and falling in love can lead to heartbreak, and the memories of one's love will constantly haunt them. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, emphasizing the message of the song. Overall, the lyrics of Loco in Acapulco serve as a warning of the dangers of giving into the magic of love and the city of Acapulco.
Line by Line Meaning
Going loco down in Acapulco
Losing your mind in Acapulco
If you stay too long
If you don't leave soon
Yes, you'll be going loco down in Acapulco
You'll go mad in Acapulco
The magic down there is so strong
The pull of Acapulco is very strong
Feel the pressure
Feeling overwhelmed
Your back's against the wall
Feeling trapped
Love is gaining on you
Love is becoming more important to you
You're just about to fall
You're on the brink of falling in love
If you're afraid to love
If you're scared of love
Afraid to take a chance
Afraid to take a risk
You better hide your feelings
You should keep your emotions hidden
Get out while you can
Leave as soon as possible
'Cause you'll be going loco down in Acapulco
You'll go crazy in Acapulco
You'll be pulling out your hair, drowning in despair
You'll be very stressed and hopeless
With a whole lot of nothing on your way to nowhere
Feeling lost and hopeless
Your search for paradise will come to an end
Your search for happiness will be over
When you realize what a fool you've been
When you understand how silly you've been
You'll be haunted by her face
You'll remember her face
Missing her warm embrace
Missing her hug
Memories of loving her
Thinking about your love for her
Holding her tight every night
Cuddling her every night
Was that the best part of your life?
Was that the most wonderful time of your life?
Hearing her voice soft and low
Hearing her gentle and quiet voice
Begging you to please
Asking you to please
Please don't go
Please don't leave
Don't go
Don't leave
No! Don't go! Don't go!
Don't leave! Stay!
You can hear voices bleeding through those warm Latin nights
Hearing people's emotions and thoughts on those warm Latin nights
Memories are lost and found
Remembering and discovering things
Leaving broken hearts all over town, all over town
Causing a lot of heartache to people all over town
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Lamont Herbert Dozier, Phillip David Charles Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind