With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Bettye Lavette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys
You know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you loved some one else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby
People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
I'm just about to love my mind
Honey, honey, yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
The lyrics to Bettye Lavette's song "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" tell a story of a man who has learned through the grapevine that his girlfriend is planning to leave him for another man. He is devastated by this news and can't hold back his tears, despite society's expectation that men shouldn't cry. He is confused and begs his girlfriend to tell him directly if she plans to leave him. The repetition of the phrase "Not much longer would you be mine" emphasizes the man's fear of losing the love of his life.
The song speaks to the universal theme of trust and communication in relationships, as well as the pain of heartbreak. The use of the metaphor of "hearing it through the grapevine" creates a sense of gossip and hearsay, highlighting the importance of clear and direct communication.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" are a powerful expression of heartache and the struggle to maintain a relationship. The song has resonated with audiences for decades and remains a classic of the soul and R&B genres.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
You must be curious as to how I found out
'Bout your plans to make me blue
About your scheme to make me feel low
With some other guy you knew before
By being with a former lover of yours
Between the two of us guys
Comparing you and I
You know I loved you more
I loved you more than he did
It took me by surprise I must say
I was caught off guard by the news
When I found out yesterday
The moment I was informed yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
I learned of it through hearsay
Not much longer would you be mine
Our relationship wouldn't last long
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
The message I received was through gossip
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
I am extremely distressed about it
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
Society dictates men shouldn't cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
But I cannot help but cry
Losin' you would end my life you see
If I lose you, it would be the end of me
'Cause you mean that much to me
That's how much you matter to me
You could have told me yourself
You should have communicated it personally
That you loved some one else
That you had feelings for another person
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
But instead, I found out from others
People say believe half of what you see
Folks say to believe only a portion of what you witness
Son and none of what you hear
Offspring, and none of what you hear second-hand
But I can't help but be confused
But I can't help but be uncertain
If it's true please tell me dear
If it's factual, please reveal it to me
Do you plan to let me go
Do you intend to break up with me?
For the other guy you loved before?
For the previous lover you had feelings for?
Not much longer would you be mine, baby
Our relationship is coming to an end soon
I'm just about to love my mind
I'm on the brink of losing my sanity
Honey, honey, yeah
Just an affectionate way of referring to someone
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind