Mason initially focused on songwriting when she entered the music industry in her teens. As a performer, though, she had a major hit single with her third release in 1965, "Yes, I'm Ready" (#5 pop, #2 R&B). She had modest success throughout the rest of the decade on the small Arctic label, run by her manager, top Philadelphia disc-jockey, Jimmy Bishop. She reached the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 again in 1965 with "Sad, Sad Girl", and "Oh How It Hurts" in 1967. A two-year stay with National General Records, run by a film production company, produced one album and four singles which failed to find success.[citation needed]
In the 1970s, Mason signed to Buddah Records and toughened her persona, singing about sexual love and infidelity with an uncommon frankness at the time in songs like "Bed and Board", "From His Woman to You", and "Shackin' Up" and would interrupt her singing to deliver straight-talking 'raps' about romance. She also continued to write some of her new material. Curtis Mayfield produced her on a cover version of Mayfield's own "Give Me Your Love", which restored her to the pop Top 40 and R&B Top Ten in 1973; "From His Woman to You" (the response to Shirley Brown's single "Woman to Woman") and "Shackin' Up", produced by former Stax producer Don Davis in Detroit were also solid soul sellers in the mid-1970s.
Mason also sang vocals on the tracks "Sheba Baby," "I'm In Love With You," "A Good Man Is Gone," and "She Did It" on the soundtrack for the 1975 Pam Grier film, Sheba, Baby.[2]
After leaving Buddah Records in 1975 after two top ten R&B hits, she only dented the charts periodically on small labels. They included "I Am Your Woman, She Is Your Wife", which was produced in 1978 by Weldon McDougal who had produced her first major success, "Yes I'm Ready", and later in 1984, "Another Man" on West End Records.
Mason started to concentrate on running her own publishing company in the late 1980s, but continues to perform occasionally. She released a new CD, Feeling Blue, in September 2007. Mason was still performing to sold-out audiences in 2016. Her most recent show was at the Terrance Theater in Long Beach, California. Mason was inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame on March 1, 2016.
You Better Stop It
Barbara Mason Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better stop it
Look what you doing to me
You better stop it
Look what you doing to me
Ruining my life
Causing me misery
Making a complete fool out of me
And every chance you get
Oh you break my heart in two
Hey baby, you′re driving me crazy
Woah, you better stop it
Look what you doing to me
You'd better stop it
Look what you doing to me
All the promises you made
Oh they go to my head
Because I believed
Every word you said
You don′t know how sad it makes me feel
'Cause I know I'm getting ooh, the bad end of the deal
Hey baby, you′re driving me crazy
Oooh, oooh, ooooh
Oh, you′re running, running away
With my heart
You may think
Hurting me, is being smart
Oh, you better stop it
Look what you doing to me
Oh baby, stop it
Can't take it anymore
Oh baby, stop it
′Cause you breaking my heart
Oh baby, stop it
Just can't take it anymore
Oh baby, stop it
Look what you doing to me
You better stop it
Oh look what you doing to me
Oooh baby, stop it
You breaking my heart
Stop it baby
Can′t take it anymore
In Barbara Mason's song You Better Stop It, she sings about a relationship that is causing her misery and making her feel like a complete fool. She asks her partner to stop what they are doing to her, as they are ruining her life. She goes on to explain that she believed all the promises her partner made, but they have only caused her more heartache. Mason expresses her sadness over getting the bad end of the deal in the relationship, as her partner continues to break her heart. She sings that her partner is driving her crazy and it's time for them to stop hurting her.
The lyrics in this song accurately describe the emotions someone feels in a toxic relationship. The constant letdowns and heartbreak can cause feelings of misery and disappointment. Mason's plea for her partner to stop hurting her is relatable, as many people have experienced the same pain in their own relationships. The repetition of "look what you doing to me" emphasizes how much the actions of her partner have affected her, and how they need to stop before they cause more damage.
Overall, Mason's You Better Stop It is a powerful song that tells a relatable story about the effects of a toxic relationship. The emotion in her voice adds to the message of the song, making it a classic for those who have been hurt in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Oooh, oooh, ooooh
Expressing distress and vulnerability
You better stop it
Cease your harmful behavior
Look what you doing to me
Acknowledging the negative effects of the person's actions on the singer
Ruining my life
Creating chaos and destruction in the artist's life
Causing me misery
Creating distress and suffering in the artist's life
Making a complete fool out of me
Causing the singer to appear ridiculous or foolish
Treating me like I meant nothing to you
Disregarding the singer's feelings and worth
And every chance you get
Persistently engaging in hurtful behavior
Oh you break my heart in two
Causing immense emotional pain
Hey baby, you′re driving me crazy
Expressing how the person's actions are affecting the artist's mental health
All the promises you made
Referring to the person's unkept promises
Oh they go to my head
Believing and trusting in the person's promises
Because I believed
Trusting in the person's words and actions
You don′t know how sad it makes me feel
Stating the profound sadness caused by the person's actions
'Cause I know I'm getting ooh, the bad end of the deal
Being mistreated in the situation
Oh, you′re running, running away
Retreating from the relationship
With my heart
Taking advantage of the artist's emotions and vulnerability
You may think Hurting me, is being smart
Harming the singer is not a wise choice
Can't take it anymore
Expressing the breaking point of the singer
′Cause you breaking my heart
Causing great emotional pain
Look what you doing to me
Reiterating the negative effects of the person's actions
Oooh baby, stop it
Pleading for the person to cease their hurtful behavior
Writer(s): Barbara Mason
Contributed by Allison K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mobile and Hostile
Anyone who ever asks me "what is Soul ?" THIS goes on...it's got everything... class,talent and passion in equal measure
Dave Eardley
It is indeed one of the best tune's i've ever heard....incredible tune!!
cajunlover1000
Just found this song . . . Wow . . . sounds fantastic. Fresher than the crap they call music nowadays!! Songs like this will never die . . . someone will always discover them and love them afresh!!
christian creech
unbelievable soul, exquisite in every aspect.
Rob Baker Ashton
evergreen tune! one of THE BEST!!!!
Tammy Owens
Great song love it
Mohamed SEGHIRI
Bombe Atomique. 💣🧨🚀👍
De la vraie SOUL MUSIC comme j’aime!!!
SOULERA UNICA
LOVE THIS ONE!
niteowl147
Love it Dave thanks!
Deadstiff
She was Very underrated