As performers, their best-known song is "Solid" (1984 US and 1985 UK), although they have had many other hits, mostly on the R&B charts. Many of their songs have been recorded in hit versions by artists as diverse as Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and so many, many others.
Ashford and Simpson met at Harlem's White Rock Baptist Church in 1963. After having recorded unsuccessfully as a duo, they joined aspiring solo artist and former member of the Ikettes, Josie Jo Armstead, at the Scepter/Wand label where their compositions were recorded by Ronnie Milsap ("Never Had It So Good"), Maxine Brown ("One Step At A Time"), as well as the Shirelles and Chuck Jackson. Another of the trio's songs "Let's Go Get Stoned" gave Ray Charles a number one U.S. R&B hit in 1966. That same year Ashford & Simpson joined Motown where their best-known songs included "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "You're All I Need To Get By", "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)".
The duo was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.
Love It Away
Ashford & Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love can't fill those empty nights
Love don't always make it right
Some times you gotta fight
To get it right
Some times you gotta scream
Some times you gotta act darn right mean
And turn the other way
Don't are what they say
And if they ask you why
Look 'em dead in the eye and say
Love don't always make it right
Love can't fill those empty nights
Love don't always make it right
Some times you gotta fuss
Get serious
Some times you kick back
Some times you don't think before you act
Just turn on the heat
And don't be too sweet
Usin' common sense
Is no kind of defense because
Love don't always make it right
Love can't fill those empty nights (No)
Love don't always make it right
Some times you gotta fight for it
Some times you gotta have a fit
Well, some times you gotta open fire
Tell him just what you desire
Some times you get low down
And let out the scream
Ooh some times you gotta get up
Tell 'em, tell 'em what you mean because
Love don't always make it right
Love can't fill those empty nights (No, no)
Love don't always make it right {No, no, no} (Oh)
Love don't always make it right (Well)
Love can't fill those empty nights {Listen}
Love don't always make it right {Right} (No)
Love don't always make it right
Love can't fill those empty nights
Love don't always {Always} make it right (Make it right) {Make it right} (Oh ) {Ooh, hoo}
Love don't always make it right (Yeah)
Love can't fill those empty nights
Love don't always (Don't always) make it right (Ooh ) {Listen to me, listen to me}
Love don't make it right (Oh, some times you just got to fight)
Love don't make it right {Some times you get on down}
Love don't make it right (We got to keep on tryin')
Love don't make it right {Can't you see what you're doin' to me} (Oh)
Love don't always make it right
Love can't fill those empty nights
Love don't always (Don't always) {Oh} make it right {No} (No, no, no, ooh)
Love don't always make it right
Love can't fill those empty nights (Ooh)
Love don't always (Oh) make it right
The song "Love Don't Make It Right" by Ashford & Simpson is about the reality of relationships and how love alone cannot solve or fix all the problems that may arise in a relationship. The lyrics convey a message that sometimes fighting, arguing, and even being mean to your partner may be necessary to keep the relationship healthy and to ensure that both partners feel fulfilled. The song emphasizes that love can't replace or fill up the emptiness that may exist in a person's life.
The lyrics encourage the listener to be upfront and honest about their needs and desires and to be willing to communicate with their partner. The song implies that in order to be in a healthy relationship, partners may have to go through tough times, but they need to keep trying and never give up. The song advises the listener not to act too sweet or use common sense as a defense mechanism as these things may not help in resolving the conflicts.
Overall, "Love Don't Make It Right" is a song that realistically portrays the ups and downs that come with being in a relationship. It encourages people to communicate, fight for their happiness and never give up on love.
Line by Line Meaning
Love don't always make it right
Love is not always enough to fix a relationship.
Love can't fill those empty nights
Feeling alone cannot be fixed by love alone.
Love don't always make it right
Reiterating that love isn't enough to make everything right.
Some times you gotta fight
Sometimes you need to work hard to make your relationship work.
To get it right
To make the relationship successful.
Some times you gotta scream
Sometimes you need to express your emotions about the relationship.
Some times you gotta act darn right mean
Sometimes you need to be tough and stern in your relationship.
And turn the other way
You need to ignore what others say about your relationship.
Don't are what they say
Don't care about what others say regarding your relationship.
And if they ask you why
If anyone asks you about your relationship,
Look 'em dead in the eye and say
Look straight in their eyes and tell them the truth about your relationship.
Some times you gotta fuss
Sometimes arguments are needed to make things better in your relationship.
Get serious
You need to be serious about your relationship to make it work.
Some times you kick back
Sometimes taking a break from the relationship can be good.
Some times you don't think before you act
Sometimes you need to act quickly without thinking too much about your relationship.
Just turn on the heat
Be more passionate and intimate in your relationship.
And don't be too sweet
Don't have unrealistic expectations in your relationship.
Usin' common sense
Applying logic and rational thinking to your relationship.
Is no kind of defense because
Just being rational is not enough to save the relationship.
Some times you gotta have a fit
Sometimes you need to throw a tantrum to get attention from your partner.
Well, some times you gotta open fire
Sometimes you need to be aggressive and go all out to get what you want out of your relationship.
Tell him just what you desire
Be explicit and tell your partner what you want and need from the relationship.
Some times you get low down
Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom to realize the importance of your relationship.
And let out the scream
Expressing your feelings loudly to get your partner's attention.
Ooh some times you gotta get up
Sometimes you need to stand up and fight for your relationship.
Tell 'em, tell 'em what you mean because
Be open and honest with your partner about what you want from the relationship.
Love don't make it right (Oh, some times you just got to fight)
Love isn't enough to fix a relationship sometimes you need to fight for it.
Love don't make it right {Some times you get on down}
Love isn't enough to fix a relationship sometimes it can make you feel down.
Love don't make it right (We got to keep on tryin')
Love isn't enough to fix a relationship, we need to continue trying.
Love don't make it right {Can't you see what you're doin' to me} (Oh)
Love isn't enough to fix a relationship, can't you see what you're doing to me?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind