Giving Up
Donny Hathaway Lyrics
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Is hard to do
When you really
Love someone
Giving up
So hard to do
When you still depend upon
Her warm and tender touch
Her kiss and her caress
Ooh, they used to
Mean so much
And bring you happiness
Giving up
So hard to do
I've tried
But it just ain't no use
Giving up
So hard to do
I said I've tried
But it just ain't no use
But my light of hope
Is burning dim
But in my heart I pray
That my love and faith
In the girl
Will bring her back to me
Ooh, whether
Whether she knows or not
She really needs me too
The little girl
Is all I got
Yes she is
And giving up
Giving up is so hard to do
Giving up
So hard to do
Giving up
So very hard to do
I said I've tried it
But I just can't get loose
Giving up
So hard for me to do
I don't want to lose you
'Cause you mean
So much to me
Giving up...
The song “Giving Up” by Donny Hathaway is a soulful ballad about the struggle of letting go of a past relationship. The lyrics express how hard it is to give up on someone you truly love, especially when you still depend on their warmth and tenderness. The first verse describes the simple pleasures of being with someone you love - their touch, their kiss, and their caress, which once brought so much happiness. However, even though these things no longer exist, the singer is finding it incredibly hard to move on.
The second verse mentions how the hope of reconciliation is slowly fading away. The singer acknowledges that giving up seems like the only option, but it’s a struggle nevertheless. There’s a belief that the love and faith will eventually bring her back to him, even though there’s a possibility that she may not even realize how much she needs him. The singer is trying to justify his efforts by conveying that the little girl he loves is all he’s got, and he just can’t bear to let go.
Overall, this song is a perfect representation of the difficulty of letting go of someone you still love. It acknowledges the pain of having to move on, even though all you want to do is hold on to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Giving up
Accepting defeat and letting go
Is hard to do
It's not easy to give up something valuable
When you really
When you truly
Love someone
Have strong feelings of affection and care towards someone
So hard to do
Really difficult to do
When you still depend upon
When you still rely on
Her warm and tender touch
Her affectionate touch that brings comfort and care
Her kiss and her caress
Her loving gestures that show care and fondness
Ooh, they used to
They were used to
Mean so much
Were very important and valuable
And bring you happiness
And create a feeling of joy and contentment
I've tried
I have attempted
But it just ain't no use
But it's not working
But my light of hope
But my remaining hope
Is burning dim
Is fading away
But in my heart I pray
But I still hope and wish
That my love and faith
That my affection and trust
In the girl
In the woman I love
Will bring her back to me
Will make her return to me
Ooh, whether
Whether or not
Whether she knows or not
Even if she is unaware
She really needs me too
She also requires my love and support
The little girl
The woman I love
Is all I got
She is everything to me
Yes she is
Truly
Giving up is so hard to do
It's incredibly challenging to accept defeat
Giving up
Accepting defeat and letting go
So very hard to do
Extremely difficult to do
I don't want to lose you
I don't want to be separated from you
'Cause you mean
Because you are important
So much to me
So valuable to me
Giving up...
Accepting defeat and letting go
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: VAN MCCOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fictitious Brown
Lyrics
Giving up
Is hard to do
When you really
Love someone
Giving up
So hard to do
When you still depend upon
Her warm and tender touch
Her kiss and her caress
Ooh, they used to
Mean so much
And bring you happiness
Giving up
So hard to do
I've tried
But it just ain't no use
Giving up
So hard to do
I said I've tried
But it just ain't no use
But my light of hope
Is burning dim
But in my heart I pray
That my love and faith
In the girl
Will bring her back to me
Ooh, whether
Whether she knows or not
She really needs me too
The little girl
Is all I got
Yes she is
And giving up
Giving up is so hard to do
Giving up
So hard to do
Giving up
So very hard to do
I said I've tried it
But I just can't get loose
Giving up
So hard for me to do
I don't want to lose you
'Cause you mean
So much to me
Giving up...
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Van Mccoy
Giving Up lyrics © Van Mccoy Music, Inc
Big Jay Tezzy
Giving up is hard to do
When you really love someone
Giving up... so hard to do
When you still depend upon
Her warm and tender touch
Her kiss and her hug.....her caress
Oooooh that used to mean so much
And bring you happiness
Woooo ooooooooh
Giving up, so hard to do
I've tried
But it just ain't no use
Giving up, so hard to do
I said I've tried
But it just ain't no use
But my light of hope is burning dim
But
But in my heart I pray
That my love and faith in the girl
My love...will bring her back someday
I'm talking 'bout when you really love someone
Whether
Whether she knows or not
She really needs me too
The little girl is all I got
Yes she is
And giving, giving up is hard to do
Giving up
So hard to do
Heey...giving up
So very hard to do
I said I've tried
Hey, but I just can't get loose
Giving up
So hard for me to do
I don't want to lose you
Cause you mean so much to me
Leslie Sanchez
Lyrics :
Giving up
Is hard to do
When you really
Love someone
Giving up
So hard to do
When you still depend upon
Her warm and tender touch
Her kiss and her caress
Ooh, they used to
Mean so much
And bring you happiness
Giving up
So hard to do
I've tried
But it just ain't no use
Giving up
So hard to do
I said I've tried
But it just ain't no use
But my light of hope
Is burning dim
But in my heart I pray
That my love and faith
In the girl
Will bring her back to me
Ooh, whether
Whether she knows or not
She really needs me too
The little girl
Is all I got
Yes she is
And giving up
Giving up is so hard to do
Giving up
So hard to do
Giving up
So very hard to do
I said I've tried it
But I just can't get loose
Giving up
So hard for me to do
I don't want to lose you
'Cause you mean
So much to me
Giving up...
Tamieka Gaines
This song healed my soul when I was forced to leave my ex. I almost died mentally. But he was hurting me in a toxic way and I left cold Turkey. But after I stayed gone I started healing, my love turned into common sense. I started to fall in love with myself. I replaced anger with thankfulness because I realized God brought me through and kept me. I loved him deeply but I loved myself more and now I'm happy, single, and more vibrant than I have ever been. Thanks Lenny for your words to ministering to my soul
Cy Anderson
Tamieka Gaines.....Kudos to u for getting out of a toxic relationship🙂 im glad your happy & more vibrant than u have ever been😊
Comedian Christopher Holmes
I'm in that same place right now..was forced to leave after catching my wife cheating on me. I love her but I don't want a woman that does me that way...she sent this song to me...imagine that.
Sarah Wheeler
Me too sis !!
Kevin Childs
This is Donny .. Hathaway.. not Lenny 😉
Kevin Childs
@Comedian Christopher Holmes
Check out the original sparkle .. Sista killed this song ….
georgia le
Donny Hathaway was on a whole other level. He just makes you get this unexplainable feeling that's so great but sad at the same time. It's so peaceful. Rip Donny
Brian Jones
What a terrific iconic saxophone solo by King Curtis in the middle of this beautiful song. It sure lifts the spirits. Donny was a master of vocal magic.
Sylvia Bellamy
Donny Hathaway totally underrated. I realized a lot of songs were somber! He was diagnosed a manic depression and schrizonina. Even with his challenges he was an incredible writer and singer! Miss you Donnie!
Denny
Eyes closed... shaking your head...stank face... that's what you feel when you hear this soulfulllll song!