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.
Workin' On A Groovy Thing
Barbara Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I knew that I was gonna love you
(Gonna love you)
And everyday I've thought of how I'm gonna love you
(Gonna love you)
Now you're here next to me
And ecstasy is a reality
When you are near
I'm alive 'cause you are here
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Workin' on a groovy thing (Workin' on a groovy thing)
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Let's not rush it (No, no)
We'll take it slow (slow, slow, slow)
Before I met you
I know my lips were only wasted (Only wasted)
'Cause you have got the sweetest kiss I've ever tasted (Ever tasted)
Music moves us along
Your arms around me are slick and warm
Happiness is in my soul
I'm about to loose control
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Workin' on a groovy thing (Workin' on a groovy thing)
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Let's not rush it (No, no)
We'll take it slow (Slow, slow, slow)
Oh, yeah
Music moves us along
Your arms around me are slick and warm
Happiness is in my soul
I'm about to loose control
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Workin' on a groovy thing (Workin' on a groovy thing)
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Let's not rush it (No, no)
We'll take it slow (Slow, slow, slow)
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Workin' on a groovy thing (Workin' on a groovy thing)
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby
Barbara Lewis's song "Workin' On A Groovy Thing" is a love song about the slow build of a relationship. The opening two lines of the song imply a sense of inevitability that the two will fall in love, with the repetition of "gonna love you" emphasizing the certainty of it. The song then moves into the present moment, with the two finally together and experiencing "ecstasy" and happiness. The repetition of "workin' on a groovy thing" throughout the song emphasizes the idea that the relationship is a work in progress, something that they are actively creating together.
The first verse continues to build on the idea of the slow build of the relationship, with the singer acknowledging that their life was incomplete before they met their lover, and that their kisses were wasted on the wrong people. The second verse then returns to the present moment, with the singer fully enveloped in the feeling of being with their loved one, and noticing the effect the music has on them as well. The repeated phrase "let's not rush it, we'll take it slow" emphasizes the idea that the relationship is worth savoring and that the two are in no hurry to move too fast. The song ends on the same note, with the "groovy thing" still a work in progress but with a strong sense of happiness and possibility.
Line by Line Meaning
When I saw you
I knew that I was gonna love you
(Gonna love you)
And everyday I've thought of how I'm gonna love you
(Gonna love you)
From the moment I laid eyes on you, I had a feeling that I would fall in love with you. Every day since then, I've been thinking about how much I'm going to love you.
Now you're here next to me
And ecstasy is a reality
I feel good
When you are near
I'm alive 'cause you are here
Having you here with me now makes me feel so happy and alive. Being near you brings me great joy and a sense of being fully alive.
Before I met you
I know my lips were only wasted (Only wasted)
'Cause you have got the sweetest kiss I've ever tasted (Ever tasted)
Before I met you, I felt like my kisses were meaningless. But since I met you, I've tasted the sweetest kiss I've ever experienced.
Music moves us along
Your arms around me are slick and warm
Happiness is in my soul
I'm about to loose control
The music and the embrace of your arms make me feel elated and happy deep in my soul. It's almost like I'm losing control of myself in the best way possible.
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Workin' on a groovy thing (Workin' on a groovy thing)
Workin' on a groovy thing, baby (Workin' on a groovy thing, baby)
Let's not rush it (No, no)
We'll take it slow (slow, slow, slow)
We're in the process of creating something really special together, and it's going to take time and patience to get it just right. We shouldn't rush it, but instead take things slow and enjoy the moment.
Writer(s): Neil Sedaka, Roger Atkins
Contributed by Jayden M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.