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Wake up Everybody
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Lyrics


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I heard church bells ringing,
I heard a choir singing.
I saw my love walk down the aisle.
On her finger, he placed a ring, oh, oh.

I saw them holding hands
She was standing there with my man.
I heard them promise 'til death do us part.
Each word was a pain in my heart.

Oh. All I could do, all I could do was cry.
All I could do was cry.
I was losing the man that I loved,
and all I could do was cry.

And now the wedding is over,
rice has been thrown over their heads.
For them, life has just begun but mine is at an end

Oh. All I could do, all I could do was cry.
All I could do was cry.
I was losing the man that I loved,
And all I could do was cry.

Overall Meaning

In the song "Wake Up Everybody", the singer is attending a wedding ceremony and witnesses their lover get married to someone else. The opening lines describe the joyous occasion, with church bells ringing and a choir singing. The singer sees their love walking down the aisle, about to be married to someone else. The wedding is a painful experience for the singer and each promise made by the couple to each other is like a knife in the singer's heart.


The second verse describes the aftermath of the wedding as the couple's new life together begins while the singer’s life feels like it has come to an end. The repetition of the lines, "All I could do was cry" indicates the profound grief and helplessness the singer is feeling in this situation. The song is a powerful exploration of heartbreak and the pain of lost love.


An interesting fact about the song "Wake Up Everybody" is that it was released in 1975 by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and was written by John Whitehead, Gene McFadden, and Victor Carstarphen. The song was a part of the socially and politically conscious message of the group and addressed issues such as poverty, discrimination, and inequality. The song became a hit and reached number twelve on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.


Line by Line Meaning

I heard church bells ringing,
I perceived the sounds of bells accompanying a religious ceremony.


I heard a choir singing.
I perceived the voices of a group of people singing together in harmony.


I saw my love walk down the aisle.
I witnessed the person I am affectionate towards walking towards the altar.


On her finger, he placed a ring, oh, oh.
The one I adore put a piece of jewelry on their future spouse's finger.


I saw them holding hands.
I caught sight of two people clasping each other's hands.


She was standing there with my man.
The individual I long for was standing adjacent to, and in the company of, the person I am emotionally attached to.


I heard them promise 'til death do us part.
I listened to the two people make a vow that their commitment would only end upon their demise.


Each word was a pain in my heart.
Every syllable of their agreement to each other caused me great emotional distress.


Oh. All I could do, all I could do was cry.
Oh. I was unable to do anything except shedding tears.


All I could do was cry.
My sole reaction was to weep without any other physical or emotional response.


I was losing the man that I loved,
I was gradually losing my beloved person.


and all I could do was cry.
Crying was my only option.


And now the wedding is over,
The nuptial ceremony has concluded.


rice has been thrown over their heads.
Tiny grains used in cooking have been hurled in the air above the newlyweds.


For them, life has just begun but mine is at an end
For the couple, existence is just beginning while my survival might seem impossible to continue.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERRY JR GORDY, GWENDOLYN GORDY FUQUA, ROQUEL DAVIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@murielmchie1506

I was high listening to this song one day that following Sunday I was at church at the alter crying giving my life to YESHUA that was 1976 this is 2024 I still play it and I'm still in church preaching the gospel

@shawnclark5609

Good and fox bless you ✝️💪❤️

@yvettejirsaraie5185

Happy Resurrection Day, Saints! Today is the day that the Lord has made. We understand that the world won’t get better if we do not teach the children the right direction to go. Let’s rededicate our lives to the last Adam, the awesome Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior! 💁🏾🇺🇸🕊️🌎🙏❤️

@danrolli3576

Amen 🙏🏻🇺🇸

@reginaldjohnson1637

Teddy Pendergrass was the MAN!!

@jerrycook386

This song should be played in every church every Sunday. And tides taken up right after to feed the homeless, and foster care children. That song is the best sermon possible.

@beddyfrointlich574

on every street corner

@perryellis1423

Church is supposed to be in your heart not a building, that's what wrong with religion nowadays. If you wanna give you don't need a iir a preacher to tell you to do so.

@lindaatkins385

Absolutely based on the Gospel of the Lord!! 🙏

@BelairHeinmen

I sang this song with my choir

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