Though best known for their instrumental hit "Pick Up the Pieces," the band's strength lies in their consistently accomplished songwriting, stretching across several gold-selling albums and multi-Grammy nominations for Atlantic Records. Despite their Scottish roots, the six-piece band developed their own "authentic" sound influenced by R&B heroes such as Marvin Gaye, James Brown, and Donny Hathaway, which was eagerly adopted by black audiences in the US and elsewhere.
Many of the band's cuts, such as "Cut The Cake" and "Let's Go 'Round Again," attracted chart action as hit singles, while album tracks like "Schoolboy Crush" and "Person to Person" became much-sampled "rare" grooves. Other tunes like "Cloudy," "A Love Of Your Own," and "Nothing You Can Do" stand alongside some of the finest soul album tracks ever recorded.
The current lineup of the band, with noted US musicians alongside founding members Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre, continues to delight audiences and critics alike in its wide-ranging touring. The musical energy and trademark sound are remarkably true to the original, and with constant revisitation and re-workings of AWB's, and others' classics in the mix, it is no surprise that the Average White Band is now a multi-generational attraction and a perennial fixture with many of the top music venues.
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Average White Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I heard it through
I heard it through
I heard it through
Said, I heard it through the grapevine
Oh baby,
I bet you're wondering, how I knew
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys, you know love you more
You took me by surprise
When I heard you just met yesterday
Don't you know heard it through the grapevine
Not that sure you'll be mine
I heard it through the grapevine
And honey, I'm about to lose my mind
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine
Ooh you know a man ain't suppose to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losing you would end my life you see
Because you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you've gone and found someone else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine,
That no longer would you be mine
I heard it through the grapevine,
Honey I'm just about to lose my mind
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be, my baby
People say they hide from what you see
So, in love with what you hear
I've been hurt I've been confused
But if it's true, won't you tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For another guy who says he loves you more
'Cause I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine
I heard it through the grapevine,
And honey I'm just about to lose my mind
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be, my baby
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be, my baby
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be, my baby
The song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Average White Band is a cover of Marvin Gaye's 1968 classic hit. The song talks about a man who has been cheated on and found out through rumors, which affected him greatly. He had no idea that the love of his life was planning to leave him for another man. The lyrics are full of raw emotions and heartbreak, as the man expresses his deep love for his partner and how losing her would end his life. He is hurt and confused and can't hold back his tears, but he still hopes that the rumors are not true.
The song speaks to everyone who has ever been betrayed in love and found out through rumors. It shows how damaging rumors can be, especially if they are true. The pain of being cheated on is indescribable, and the song captures that pain perfectly. The phrase "heard it through the grapevine" is a common expression used to refer to rumors, highlighting how easily information can spread.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby I know
I am aware of a certain situation
I heard it through
I was informed through a source
I heard it through
I was informed through a source
I heard it through
I was informed through a source
Said, I heard it through the grapevine
I got to know about it through rumors
Oh baby,
My dear
I bet you're wondering, how I knew
You must be curious about how I found out
About your plans to make me blue
Your intention of making me upset
With some other guy you knew before
With someone you were acquainted with earlier
Between the two of us guys, you know love you more
I love you more than the other guy
You took me by surprise
I was caught off guard
When I heard you just met yesterday
I was shocked to know that you met someone new just yesterday
Don't you know heard it through the grapevine
You must be aware that it's been talked about in rumors
Not that sure you'll be mine
I have doubts if you'll be with me
I heard it through the grapevine
I heard it through rumors
And honey, I'm about to lose my mind
It's making me very anxious
I heard it through the grapevine,
I heard it through rumors,
Not much longer would you be mine
You won't be with me for long
Ooh you know a man ain't suppose to cry
Men are not expected to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
But I can't stop myself from crying
Losing you would end my life you see
Losing you would be unbearable for me
Because you mean that much to me
You are very important to me
You could have told me yourself
You should have informed me directly
That you've gone and found someone else
That you've started seeing someone new
Instead I heard it through the grapevine,
But I got to know about it through rumors
That no longer would you be mine
That you won't be with me anymore
People say they hide from what you see
People say to ignore what you see
So, in love with what you hear
But to listen to what you hear
I've been hurt I've been confused
I'm hurt and confused
But if it's true, won't you tell me dear
But if it's true, please tell me yourself
Do you plan to let me go
Do you plan to break up with me
For another guy who says he loves you more
For someone else who claims to love you more than me
'Cause I heard it through the grapevine,
Because I heard it through rumors,
And honey I'm just about to lose my mind
And it's making me very anxious
Not much longer would you be, my baby
You won't be with me for long, my dear
I heard it through the grapevine,
I heard it through rumors,
Not much longer would you be, my baby
You won't be with me for long, my dear
I heard it through the grapevine,
I heard it through rumors,
Not much longer would you be, my baby
You won't be with me for long, my dear
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@venusjo2749
LOVE this...Great Cover & Song. Thanks.
@martinchapman7880
WELL A DIFFERENT VERSION OF I HEARD THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE AND IT WORKS FOR ME I JUST LOVE IT....!!!
@maggierae9918
What a soulful rendition!
@martinchapman7880
LOVE THE AVERAGE WHITE BAND GREW UP LISTENING TO THIS BAND .....!!!
@gothic8
Love this group!
@martinchapman7880
WELL DARYLL I KNOW YOUR RIGHT ON POINT ...!!!
@MegaDeansy
Beside 'Queen of my soul' THIS is one of my fave AWB pieces, that sax-intro still sends shivers down my spine and sets the hair on my arms standing ! Being honest (and unashamedly biased !) I reckon it's better than Marvin's ......................................
@TheDreamtheaterlover
Dit was het beste jaar allemaal geweldige bands
@tommyjohnson3294
AWB in their prime.
@acenupe3
Hamish that was bad!!!