Born in Salem (near Ann Arbor), Michigan, Lewis was writing and recording by her teens with producer Ollie McLaughlin. (McLaughlin was a black DJ at Ann Arbor radio station WHRV, now WAAM, who is also credited with discovering Del Shannon.) Her first single release in 1962, the uptempo "My Heart Went Do Dat Da," did not chart nationally but was a local hit in the Detroit area. She wrote all of the songs on her debut LP (including the hit "Hello Stranger"). Though her follow-ups did not have the same success, her song "Someday We're Gonna Love Again" was covered by The Searchers for a British Invasion hit.
In the 1960s, Lewis recorded in New York City, with producers Bert Berns and Jerry Wexler, leading to commercially-successful hits like "Baby I'm Yours" which is written by Van McCoy ('The Hustle'1975) and "Make Me Your Baby." At the end of the decade she released a grittier-sounding album on Stax Records, and after its lack of commercial success, she began to withdraw from music.
However, over the next decade, a number of other artists had success with Lewis' songs, most notably Yvonne Elliman, who made the U.S. Top 20 (and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart) and the UK Top 30 with her version of "Hello Stranger" in 1977. "Baby I'm Yours" also charted in versions by Jody Miller and Debby Boone (the B-side of her single "God Knows"). In Canada, Suzanne Stevens had a hit in 1975 with a disco version of "Make Me Your Baby". Cover versions of Barbara Lewis' tracks continue into the new millennium with the Arctic Monkeys including a version of "Baby I'm Yours" as a B-side to their 2006 single, "Leave Before The Lights Come On".
In 1995, Lewis' "Baby I'm Yours” was featured on the Bridges of Madison County soundtrack. She was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999.
The backup group on many songs from the album "Hello Stranger" are The Dells who enjoyed some hits of their own.
Straighten Up Your Heart
Barbara Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Playing from the start
And our love's becoming
The talk of the town
(Talking, talking, talking
All over town)
I can't live up to misery and pain
My tears would fall like rain
(Teardrops are falling on my pillow)
'Cause I happen to know
One day soon, you'll let me go
It's gonna hurt, it's gonna
Hurt me so inside
So if you don't wanna
Don't want to see my cry
Please don't ever, ever say goodbye
Just straighten up your heart
(Straighten up, straighten up your heart)
And we can start anew
And if you do this for me
I'll know your loving is true
(It's true, it's true)
So straighten up your heart
(Straighten up, straighten up your heart)
And we can start anew
And if you do this for me
I'll know your loving is true
(It's true, it's true)
Baby, I'll know your love is true
(It's true, it's true)
Darling, I'll know your love is true
(It's true, it's true)
So true (it's true, it's true) I'll know
The lyrics to Barbara Lewis's song "Straighten Up Your Heart" describe a relationship that is on the verge of breaking down due to infidelity. The first verse acknowledges that the cheating started at the beginning of the relationship and that everyone in town knows about it. The next few lines express the singer's fear of the pain that she will experience when the relationship ends. She tells her partner that she knows he will leave her eventually, and it will hurt a lot when it happens. However, if he doesn't want to see her cry, he should straighten up his heart and stay with her.
The chorus repeats twice and emphasizes that if her partner can change his ways and be faithful, they can start anew and have a true, loving relationship. The final lines reinforce the idea that the singer wants her partner to be sincere in his love for her. She wants to trust him and be with him, but only if he is faithful and true.
Overall, "Straighten Up Your Heart" is a plea for a partner to stop being unfaithful and to commit to a genuine, faithful relationship. It portrays the heartbreak that comes with a cheating partner and the struggle to trust again.
Line by Line Meaning
Our cheating heart was
From the beginning of our relationship, we had dishonest intentions
Playing from the start
Dishonesty was an inherent part of our relationship
And our love's becoming
Due to our dishonesty, our love life is deteriorating
The talk of the town
People are gossiping about us and our troubled relationship
(Talking, talking, talking
All over town)
The gossip about our relationship is widespread and constant
I can't live up to misery and pain
I cannot handle the emotional pain and suffering caused by our relationship
That I'm about to face
I know that my emotional pain is inevitable
My tears would fall like rain
I would cry uncontrollably and excessively
(Teardrops are falling on my pillow)
I cry myself to sleep every night because of our relationship problems
'Cause I happen to know
I am aware and certain that it will end badly
One day soon, you'll let me go
Eventually, you will break up with me
It's gonna hurt, it's gonna
Hurt me so inside
The breakup will be emotionally painful and damaging for me
So if you don't wanna
Don't want to see my cry
If you care about my feelings, you will not break up with me abruptly
Please don't ever, ever say goodbye
If you truly love me, you will not leave me in emotional distress
Just straighten up your heart
Please be honest and trustworthy in our relationship
(Straighten up, straighten up your heart)
Improve the dishonesty and infidelity in our relationship
And we can start anew
We can rebuild and restart our relationship in a better way
And if you do this for me
If you change your dishonest behavior, be committed and loyal to me
I'll know your loving is true
I will know that you genuinely love me and our relationship
(It's true, it's true)
I will have clear proof and confidence of your true love
Baby, I'll know your love is true
My love for you will strengthen if you become honest and loyal to me
(It's true, it's true)
I will have no doubts about the authenticity of your love for me
Darling, I'll know your love is true
I will have confidence in your relationship and our future together
(It's true, it's true)
We will have a genuine, healthy, and happy relationship
So true (it's true, it's true) I'll know
I will confidently believe and trust in the authenticity of your love for me
Lyrics © MCMAHAN MUSIC
Written by: SHARON MC MAHAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
douglas anderson
I have or had this record. Had like a thousand records stolen from me about 10 years ago. Was so down I haven't even checked to see what was or wasn't stolen. Just found an old CD belonging to my late brother with this track and a bunch of other great tracks. Bringing back memories of my collection.
ian STAC3Y NORTHERN SOUL
great tune for a mod night .
Tony Beezwax
not yet played it in that environment :)
Robert Masi
aka "Mad Dad" Yeah.. One of Mad Dad's favorite tunes by
Barbara Lewis.
Jacqueline
⚰️💔