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.
I'll Be Alright
Brenda Holloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For my answer you don't have to wait now; let me give you mine
(I'll be available) every day
(I'll be available) whenever you say
When every ship in the sea has become unsailable
You can call on me; I'll be available
You can date every girl in the town now, every girl you see
(I'll be available) when you're all alone
(I'll be available) just ring my phone
When you need a love that is unfailable
You can call on me; I'll be available
I don't care if you neglect me, just as long as I have my turn
& whatever I'm doing when you call me
I have to drop it, I have to stop it
You can write every girl in the whole wide world sweet love letters
When they hurt your pride & you decide you can't do no better
(I'll be available) & it's no lie
(I'll be available) I'm your old stand-by
When US Mail is no longer mailable
You can call on me; I'll be available, oh yeah
(instrumental)
Well now, when US Mail is no longer mailable
You can call on me
(I'll be available) when everyone else puts you down
(I'll be available) whenever you want me around
(I'll be available) when everyone else leaves you behind
(I'll be available) whenever you make up your mind
...& fade
The lyrics to Brenda Holloway's song "I'll be allright" convey a message of unwavering availability and dedication from the singer to the person they're addressing. The lyrics suggest that the singer is willing to be patient, waiting for the person they're addressing to eventually come around and choose them. They convey the message that the singer will always be accessible, even when everyone else has abandoned the other person.
The opening lines of the first verse suggest that the person addressed can ask the singer for a date any time that they want. The singer responds, telling them that they don't have to wait for a response; they are always available. The line "when every ship in the sea has become unsailable" is a metaphor for the idea that every other option has been exhausted or is unavailable, and the singer is the last resort, but they're always there.
In the chorus, the singer reiterates their availability and willingness to be the person addressed's constant support. The line "I don't care if you neglect me, just as long as I have my turn" is telling; the singer is willing to wait for the person addressed to come around.
Line by Line Meaning
In case you wanna ask me for a date now, any day, any time
I am open to dating you whenever you wish to ask me out.
For my answer you don't have to wait now; let me give you mine
You don't have to wait for my response as my answer is positive.
(I'll be available) every day
I will be available for you every day.
(I'll be available) whenever you say
I will be available for you whenever you say.
When every ship in the sea has become unsailable
You can count on me even in difficult situations.
You can call on me; I'll be available
I am always here for you and will be available whenever you need me.
You can date every girl in the town now, every girl you see
You are free to date other girls before you date me.
I don't mind, I'm the patient kind; when you get around to me
I understand and am willing to wait for my turn with you.
(I'll be available) when you're all alone
I will be available for you to talk to when you are feeling lonely.
(I'll be available) just ring my phone
Just give me a call, and I will be there for you.
When you need a love that is unfailable
Whenever you need a love that never fails, I am here for you.
I don't care if you neglect me, just as long as I have my turn
I'm okay with being neglected as long as I get my turn with you.
& whatever I'm doing when you call me
Whenever you call me, I will drop what I'm doing to be there for you.
You can write every girl in the whole wide world sweet love letters
You can write love letters to any girl, and I won't mind.
When they hurt your pride & you decide you can't do no better
When your pride is hurt, and you think you can't do better, I am here for you.
(I'll be available) & it's no lie
I am sincere in saying that I will be available for you.
(I'll be available) I'm your old stand-by
I am your reliable and dependable support system.
When US Mail is no longer mailable
Even when traditional ways of communication are disrupted, you can still count on me.
Oh yeah
An expression of confirmation or agreement.
When everyone else puts you down
I will be there for you when others put you down.
(I'll be available) whenever you want me around
I will always be there for you when you need me.
When everyone else leaves you behind
Even when others abandon you, I will be there for you.
(I'll be available) whenever you make up your mind
Whenever you decide that you want me around, I'll be here.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cheekyblindersnorthernsoul9746
ALWAYS LOVED BRENDA LOVERLY STRONG AND POLISHED THANKS FOR POSTING
@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles
You're very welcome! It's great to know Brenda has so many loyal fans and she's out there performing as strong today as ever!
@MrPeclo
Fabulous The Motown Sound ++++++
@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles
Thank goodness for sites like you tube though- more and more people are finding out about so many great artists that before were so overlooked.
@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles
@TheMotownjunkie Wow, "I've Got to Find It"! That is a powerful song, one of my favorites too. Glad you got the CD, cuz there is so much that woman did at Motown that needs to be heard by everyone!
@djcannon3430
This record definitely would have charted, and charted very well
@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles
I thought the same thing too. This just sound as if it was engineered to be a hit. But Brenda also had "Just Look What You've Done", arguably her best record ever at Motown, and yet for whatever reason, it didn't scale to hit status. The record business is such a brutal business. Lately, I've been getting into the music of a woman named Evie Sands. Interestingly, she had a similar situation as Brenda- lot's of really good music in the sixties and seventies yet the records just couldn't gain the traction to make her a bigger name.
@andreageorge2251
Well I heard this for the first time in the UK at a garden party June 2023 on cd now if i was a collector of cds I would buy it but I am a dedicated vinyl junkie why on earth this was never released on vinyl is beyond me would go down an absolute storm.on the UK Northerm Soul scene I run my own soul club and gig and we NEED this tune ❤️❤️❤️💃🎶🕺🎵
@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles
Brenda's career at Motown was decidedly odd. Not odd because there was anything lacking in Brenda's talent, but odd because Motown seemed almost intent on hiding all of her best material deep in their tape library. You have to wonder when a song as staggeringly good as "Just Look What You've Done" didn't make much of an impact chart-wise. But then you hear something like "I'll Be Alright" which just seems to exemplify everything that makes up a Motown Classic- and knowing it never, EVER got a proper release...this one had me scratching my head as to why Motown was content to let Brenda just remain a second, even a third-tier artist.
@andreageorge2251
@@Tomovox_PAMS_Radio_JIngles absolutely how on earth they shelved her 2nd LP hurtin and cryin is also beyond me only for it to be released on cd years later 🤔 The Motown stable almost certainly had their favourites yet Brenda far exceeds them with her voice I regularly play look what you've done fills the floor - there were so many underplayed and underated groups / single artistes that Motown just didn't promote yet here in the UK the monitors - the contours etc are played out up and down the country to an audience of 50+ years old all dancing with a younger generation coming through also enjoying the sounds of yesteryear