Bell, the brother of American footballer Ricky Bell (1955-1984), moved to Houston as a young boy and formed the group in 1966 with his friends James Wise, Willie Parnell and Billy Butler. They signed with local label Ovid.
After a spell in Vietnam for Archie, the group released Tighten Up, which was picked up by Atlantic for distribution and toppped both the R&B and pop charts. The song's line "we dance just as good as we walk" was a little ironic given that Archie had been shot in the leg and was consigned to a military hospital bed at the time.
The phenomenal success of the single prompted the band to rush out an album, despite their incapacitated leader.
In 1969, after Bell had left the army, the group recorded their first full album with Gamble and Huff, I Can't Stop Dancing, which reached number 28 on the R&B chart.
After mediocre chart showings in the late '70s, the group split in 1980. Archie Bell later released one solo album on Beckett Records.
Don't Let Love Get You Down
Archie Bell and The Drells Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh, don't let love get you down
Let love get you down
Get down, get down
I know that you've been hurt by love once before
You said that you didn't want to be loved no more.
Girl just don't sit around feeling sorry for yourselt
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down (don't do it, don't do it)
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down (don't let it, don't let it)
Get down, get down
Dry up those tears, girl, and hold your head up high
It don't make sense for you, to let love pass you bye
Even though your love didn't work out, the very first time
There's something you can do, to ease your troubled mind
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down (don't let you down, girl)
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down
Let love get you down
Get down, get down
Wow, ow-ow-ow
Don't let it, don't let it
Ow-ow, baby
Don't let it, don't let it
Un no,
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down (don't, don't do it)
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down (please don't do it, please don't do it, no)
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down (don't do it, don't do it)
Amen, amen
Don't let love get you down
Don't, don't let it get you down
Girl, stop feeling sorry for yourself
Go out and give that love to somebody else
Give it to me girl, give it to me
Girl, well, I'll take it
Wow-wwo, don't do it.
Don't let love get you dont
Don' t let love, don't let love get you down
Don't do it, don't do it
Don't
Let love is a powerful emotion that can bring us the joy and happiness of a lifetime. But we all know that love can also bring us pain and heartache. That's why Archie Bell's song "Don't Let Love Get You Down" is so relevant and relatable to everyone. The song is an encouragement not to give up on love just because of a bad experience. The lyrics are a reminder that everyone has been hurt by love before, but that shouldn't stop anyone from finding love again. It's easy to get lost in self-pity and despair after a breakup, but the song urges us to move on and give our love to someone else.
Archie Bell's lyrics are simple but powerful, and they are delivered with a lot of soul and passion. He sings about the importance of holding your head up high and not letting love pass you by, even after a failed relationship. He also reminds us that there's always something we can do to ease our troubled minds.
The catchy chorus of "Ooh, don't let love get you down," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the message of not giving up on love. Overall the song is an uplifting tune that encourages us to keep trying and never give up on love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Ooh, don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Let love get you down
Let love take over and bring you down.
Get down, get down
Enjoy love and get down with it.
I know that you've been hurt by love once before
I understand that love has hurt you before.
You said that you didn't want to be loved no more.
You expressed your unwillingness to be loved anymore.
Girl just don't sit around feeling sorry for yourself
Do not wallow in sadness and self-pity.
Just give your love to somebody else
Redirect your love towards someone else.
Dry up those tears, girl, and hold your head up high
Stop crying and be proud of yourself.
It don't make sense for you, to let love pass you by
It is not rational to let love slip away from you.
Even though your love didn't work out, the very first time
Despite the failure of your first love.
There's something you can do, to ease your troubled mind
There is a solution to bring peace to your troubled mind.
Wow, ow-ow-ow
Expression of wonder or surprise.
Don't let it, don't let it
Do not let love bring you down.
Ow-ow, baby
Interjection to capture attention or express emotions.
Don't let it, don't let it
Do not let love bring you down.
Un no,
Interjection to negate or dismiss something.
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Ooh, wow don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Amen, amen
Expression of agreement or support.
Don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Don't, don't let it get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Girl, stop feeling sorry for yourself
Stop experiencing sadness through self-pity.
Go out and give that love to somebody else
Redirect your love towards someone else.
Give it to me girl, give it to me
Offer me your love instead.
Girl, well, I'll take it
I will accept your love.
Wow-wow, don't do it.
Warning against letting love bring you down.
Don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Don't let love, don't let love get you down
Do not let love bring you down.
Don't do it, don't do it
Do not let love bring you down.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GENE MCFADDEN, JOHN WHITEHEAD, LEON HUFF, VICTOR CARSTARPHEN, VICTOR LEON CARSTARPHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mona cannon
That feeling you get when you hear old school music. Such a wonderful feeling listening to this jam by Archie Bell & The Drells. #PhillySound
Lukas Carlsten
Love this album by Archie Bell & The Drells!!
David Holmes
Super smooth and soulful. One of my favourites for a long time.
Cirlene Candido
Simplesmente linda!!! 🎵❤🎶
celina taveira
ISSO QUE OS HUMANOS DEVERIA OUVIR PARA TER MAIS CULTURA MUSICAL PARABENS A TODOS 16 05 2021
CreativeQueen
They don't make 'em like this, nowadays. Pure and Classic 👌🏾
Steve Turner
What a cracking tune. Never tire of hearing tunes like this one.
PeteTheRealTreat DuRose
Great song great album 🎶🎵🎼☮️❤️to everyone 🎼🎶🎵
Donald Newman
Carstarphen, McFadden & Whitehead penned this timeless classic for the guys from H-Town! Awesome!
Eduardo Henrique Santos de Almeida
Um R&B da melhor qualidade.