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.
Every Little Bit Hurts
Brenda Holloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every little bit hurts
Every night I cry
Every night I die
Every night I wonder why
You treat me cold
Yet you won't let me go
Every little hurt does
To you I am a toy
And you're the girl
Who has the say
Why I should play
Yeah you hurt me
Desert me I just can't take
The loneliness you give me
I just can't go
Another night this way
Come back to me
Darlin' you'll see
I can give you all the things
You wanted me for
If you will stay with me
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
Every night I cry
Every night I die
Every night I wonder why
You treat me cold
Yet you won't let me go
Come back to me
Darlin' you'll see
I can give you all the things
That you wanted me for
If you will stay with me
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
In Brenda Holloway's song "Every Little Bit Hurts," the lyrics depict a relationship that is filled with pain and heartache. The repetition of "Every little bit hurts" throughout the song emphasizes the emotional damage that the singer is experiencing. The lyrics suggest that the person being addressed in the song is treating the singer poorly, despite their desire to stay together.
The lines "To you I am a toy / And you're the girl / Who has the say / Why I should play" suggest that the singer feels powerless in the relationship, as if they have no control over how they are treated. The repeated refrain "Come back to me / Darlin' you'll see / I can give you all the things / You wanted me for" conveys the desperation of the singer to win back the affection of their partner.
Overall, the lyrics of "Every Little Bit Hurts" paint a picture of a relationship that is filled with pain and sorrow. The singer is subjected to emotional abuse and feels powerless to escape it, but still longs to make things work with their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Every little bit hurts
The pain I feel from your mistreatment is constant and pervasive
Every night I cry
Each night, I am brought to tears by the emotional pain you cause me
Every night I die
My emotional turmoil feels like a death, bringing me to a dark place every night
Every night I wonder why
I question what I have done to deserve your treatment, and if there is anything I can do to change it
You treat me cold
Your attitude towards me is aloof, distant, and unaffectionate
Yet you won't let me go
Despite treating me poorly, you are possessive and keep me in this unhappy situation
Every little hurt does
Each small pain I experience from you builds up and compounds over time
To you I am a toy
You see me as a plaything to be used for your amusement or convenience
And you're the girl
You have the power in this relationship, and I am powerless to change it
Who has the say
You make all the decisions, and my needs and desires are ignored
Why I should play
I am unsure why you want me around, and feel like I am being used
Yeah you hurt me
You cause me emotional distress and pain
Desert me I just can't take
The thought of being abandoned by you is unbearable to me
The loneliness you give me
Your withholding nature leaves me feeling isolated and alone
I just can't go
I cannot continue in this relationship if it continues to cause me pain
Another night this way
Continuing on in this pattern of mistreatment will only lead to further pain and suffering for me
Come back to me
I am willing to forgive you and continue the relationship if you will change your ways
Darlin' you'll see
I am confident that if you give me a chance, I can prove my worth to you
I can give you all the things
I am capable of meeting your needs and providing for you in every way
That you wanted me for
The things that attracted you to me in the first place are still present and available
If you will stay with me
All of this is possible if you are willing to stay in this relationship and work with me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Iricom US Ltd
Written by: Ed Cobb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ahmad Zaelani
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
Every night I cry
Every night I sigh
Every night I wonder why
You treat me cold
Yet you won't let me go
Every little hurt counts
Every little hurt counts
You say you're coming home
Yet you never phone
Leave me all alone
My love is strong for you
I'd do wrong for you
I can't take this
Loneliness you've given me
I can't go on
Giving my life away
Oh, come back to me
Darling, you'll see
I can give you all the
Things that you wanted before
If you will stay with me, yeah
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
To you, I'm a toy
And you're the boy
Who has to say
When I should play
Yet you hurt me, desert me
Come back to me
Darling, you'll see
I can give you all the
Things that you wanted before
If you will stay with me, yeah
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
billeagle51
Most underrated singer ever out of Motown. She still gives me the hives with this song
DeVille Hall
She had a great voice ,wrote her own material as good as any of the men at Motown and she was beautiful !!! But Berry Gordy couldnt handle her.....
Joyce Richardson
I love Brenda Holloway...What a voice! Warm, soulful and such nuance. Always loved this song--great arrangement--gospel style piano. Recorded in California. I think she was one of Motown's greatest singers.
Michael Mariakis
What a voice and lyrics. A by gone era.!!!! Nothing compares to Motown.❤
Roderick Jackson
This is one of the best songs by a Motown artist ever released. Besides her magnificent vocals, the Instrumental arrangement is genius. The piano solo. The 🎻 violins/strings are marvelous. Perfection.
Roy Cobb
I can't get enough of hearing and listening to this song! And Brenda with that great voice! I probably can't think of enough words to describe how awesome it is! Berry Gordy should have really invested in her. She is dynamic! I had the 45 record that somebody in my family brought back in the'60's. It wasn't me, I was a little boy when this song was out. And probably didn't find out that some family member brought it until about the time before or after first becoming a teenager.
William Smith
I was ten years old when I first heRd this masterpiec, I'm now 68 and it still captivates me.
Travis Jazzman
I was 16 when this song came out
Colita Fairfax
She hangs on each note with superb emotion. Perfect.
denise boozer
Music of my youth ❤