A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the album's songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a critical success in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The song "Stronger Than Me" won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006, which went on to become an international success and one of the best-selling albums in UK history. At the 2007 Brit Awards it was nominated for British Album of the Year, and she received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song "Rehab" won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys, including three of the General Field "Big Four" Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Rehab"), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
Winehouse was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction. She died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, at the age of 27. After her death, Back to Black temporarily became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century. VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I bet you wonderin'
How I knew
'Bout your plans
To make me blue
With some other guy
You knew before
You know I love you more
It took me by surprise
I must say
When I found you yesterday
Don't you know that
I heard it
Through the grapevine
Not much longer
Would you be mine
Uhh, uhh
Heard it through
The grapevine
Oh
I'm just about
To lose my mind
Honey, honey
Oh, baby
Ooh ooh honey honey
I know a man
Ain't supposed to cry
But these tears
I can't hold inside
Losin' you
Would end my life
You see
Cause you mean
That much to me
You could have
Told me yourself
That you loved
Someone else
Instead
I heard it
Through the grapevine
Not much longer
Would you be mine
Ohh
I heard it
Through the grapevine
And I'm just
About to lose my mind
Honey, honey
People say believe
Half of what you see
Oh, and none
Of what your hear
But I can't help
But be confused
If it's true
Please tell me dear
Do you plan
To let me go
For the other guy
You loved before?
The song I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Amy Winehouse ft. Paul Weller is a soulful rendition of the classic song originally recorded by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1967. The song speaks of discovering that the one you love is planning to leave you for someone else but instead of being informed by the partner, the news reaches the singer through rumors and gossip. The lyrics are from the perspective of a man who is devastated by the news and is about to lose his mind over it. The opening lines indicate how he came to know about his partner's plans and how it hurt him deeply. He believed that he loved her more than the other guy she had in mind and that he was taken by surprise when he found out. The pre-chorus line 'Not much longer would you be mine' indicates that he knows that their time together is coming to an end. The chorus sees him expressing his frustration and pain, he is about to lose his mind over the news and he can't hold back his tears. In the second verse, he pleads with her to reveal the truth about her feelings towards the other guy and him. He is confused by rumors and conflicting information and implores her to tell him what she plans to do.
The song is highly emotive and showcases Amy Winehouse's extraordinary vocal abilities. Paul Weller's backing vocals provide additional texture, and his harmonica solo adds a bluesy feel to the song. The music arrangement is minimalistic, mainly featuring a drum kit, bass guitar, piano and electric guitar. The song builds up to the climax in the final verse, where Amy screams 'For the other guy you loved before' and Paul Weller follows it with his harmonica solo. The song is a powerful representation of love and betrayal, and the pain it can cause.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you wonderin'
You might be curious
How I knew
How did I find out?
'Bout your plans
About your scheme
To make me blue
To make me sad
With some other guy
With some other man
You knew before
You knew earlier
Between two of us guys
Between us two men
You know I love you more
You know I love you exceedingly
It took me by surprise
It shocked me
I must say
I have to admit
When I found you yesterday
When I discovered you
Don't you know that
You are aware that
I heard it
I was told
Through the grapevine
Through rumors and gossip
Not much longer
Very soon
Would you be mine
Will you still be mine?
Uhh, uhh
Hmm, hmm
Heard it through
Learnt about it through
The grapevine
Rumors and gossip
Oh
Expressing pain or pleasure
I'm just about
I'm almost
To lose my mind
To go insane
Honey, honey
A term of endearment
Oh, baby
Oh, darling
Ooh ooh honey honey
Ooh ooh darling darling
I know a man
I know a person
Ain't supposed to cry
Is not expected to cry
But these tears
But my tears
I can't hold inside
I can't keep them hidden
Losin' you
If I lose you
Would end my life
My life would end
You see
Do you see?
Cause you mean
Because you mean so much
That much to me
You mean a lot to me
You could have
You could've
Told me yourself
Told me directly
That you loved
That you were in love with
Someone else
A different person
Instead
But instead
People say believe
People say that you should believe
Half of what you see
Only half of what you see is true
Oh, and none
Oh, and nothing
Of what your hear
Of what you hear is true
But I can't help
But I cannot stop myself from
But be confused
Being confused
If it's true
If it's factual
Please tell me dear
Please tell me my love
Do you plan
Are you intending
To let me go
To not hold onto me
For the other guy
For the other man
You loved before?
You loved before?
Contributed by London P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@brucewilson1958
I'm 67. I have heard thousands of singers over the decades. I have my favorites. This young woman was utterly unique. Miss her, for sure.
@kccox8516
Angelina Jordan has been singing since she was a little girl. She reminds me of Amy.. Check her out❣️
@vladimirromero2427
Absolutely agree, sincerely she is unique, unforgettable and eternal, she is a BEAST, WHAT A VOICE MY GOD, GET ON MY KNEES, WHAT A RAW TALENT, I DON'T HAVE ALL THE SUFFICIENT ADJECTIVES TO QUALIFY TO HER, LOVE YOU AMY.
@sylviaalambar9350
Likewise
@sylviaalambar9350
Lovely Voice
@nancyhill1470
She was a great, unique talent and there will never be another like her. I sure miss her and wish she had put out more music cuz I’ve played Frank & Back to Black a gazillion times & still listening. RIP Songbird
@murrumbidgeekid
It was like Amy's voice lived in her body and she had to try and manage it. Like a force of nature.
@arpadelluna
Thank you. That is a really good description.
@susanpanse6580
Right on!
@thelawofitself
May she rest in peace🙏Such a unique soul but also so hurt inside 😓