Brenda Holloway (born June 21, 1946 in Atascadero, California) is an Africa… Read Full Bio ↴Brenda Holloway (born June 21, 1946 in Atascadero, California) is an African-American singer and songwriter best known for her period as a recording artist for the Motown label during the 1960s. Her best known hits from her Motown days were the soul ballad Every Little Bit Hurts (which reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964. The title of the song was similar to the 60's television public service announcement about highway littering--Every Litter Bit Hurts. After her '64 hit, she recorded, When I'm Gone,which had been recorded by Mary Wells and was intended to be Mary's followup to her '64 mega-hit , My Guy. However, after a contract dispute, Mary Wells left Motown for 20th Century Fox Records. Brenda's version of "When I'm Gone" was a R&B hit, but never crossed over in the days of segragated R&B/Rock & Roll radio.

Holloway did not fit the Motown mold well. She lived in Los Angeles, not Detroit. She also had a grittier edge than the typical polished Motown performer, and wrote songs as well as sang them, which was unprecedented for a female Motown artist. Brenda Hollowy inspired many pop artists, including The Beatles who asked her to perform as the opening act on their 1965 tour of the U.S. She was the only female to open for them.

Depend On Me
Brenda Holloway Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You,
You need a love like mine that you can depend on
When your whole world's falling in
And you need a friend
You can depend on me
Oh, I'll be by your side
When you need me
When the whole world seems unfair

And no one seems to care
You can depend on me
Oh when life seems not worth living
And nothing seems to be going right
Comfort and love will be giving
Will change your darkness to light
I'll be right by your side
When you need, need me
When the whole world seems unfair
And no one seems to care
You can depend on me
Oh, don't you know that I'll be right by your side
Oh, little girl, little girl, little girl
When you need a friend

I'm yours 'til the end
Oh, yeah, I love you. I love you.

Overall Meaning

Brenda Holloway's song "Depend On Me" is a heartfelt ballad about the importance of having someone to depend on during the difficult times of life. The song begins with Brenda acknowledging that not everything in life goes as planned, and sometimes things fall apart in ways we cannot anticipate. She then offers herself as a source of support for the listener, promising to be by their side whenever they need someone to lean on. Brenda continues to affirm her commitment to being a loyal friend, even in times of darkness and despair when it seems like no one cares.

As the song progresses, Brenda's lyrics speak to the transformative power of love and comfort. She promises that her presence in the listener's life will change their darkness into light, and that she will always be there to offer comfort and love when nothing seems to be going right. The chorus repeats her message of dependability and devotion, with a declaration of her unending love for the listener.

Line by Line Meaning

You,
Addressing the person directly

You need a love like mine that you can depend on
You require a dependable love, one that is consistent and reliable, like mine

When your whole world's falling in
During times when everything in your life seems to be going wrong

And you need a friend
When you require someone to confide in, to help you through the tough times

You can depend on me
I am here for you, and you can rely on me

Oh, I'll be by your side
I will be present, offering support and assistance

When you need me
During moments when you require someone to guide or stand by you

When the whole world seems unfair
At times when everything appears unjust and wrong

And no one seems to care
When nobody is willing to assist, comfort, or offer guidance

You can depend on me
Despite everything, I am still available and willing to help you

Oh when life seems not worth living
During moments of sadness when life feels meaningless

And nothing seems to be going right
When no aspect of your life is going as it should be

Comfort and love will be giving
I will offer the comfort and love that you need to get through this tough time

Will change your darkness to light
My presence in your life can transform your sadness into happiness

I'll be right by your side
I will always be there for you

When you need, need me
Whenever you require my assistance, I will be there

When the whole world seems unfair
During moments when everything appears unjust and wrong

And no one seems to care
When nobody is willing to assist, comfort, or offer guidance

You can depend on me
Despite everything, I am still available and willing to help you

Oh, don't you know that I'll be right by your side
You should be aware that I will always be present for you

Oh, little girl, little girl, little girl
An affectionate comment addressed to the person

When you need a friend
During times when you require someone to talk to or lean on

I'm yours 'til the end
I am committed to being there for you until the very end

Oh, yeah, I love you. I love you.
Expressing love for the person

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERRY GORDY JR, BERRY JR GORDY, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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