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've Been Good To You
Brenda Holloway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who thought love was true & found out that you
Were just having fun
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
Oh yes I have
For a long long time, you needed someone & I made you mine
You needed a friend, so I took you in
& I treated you kind
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
I have always been around
& I have never, I've never let you down
So now you're telling me that you must go
You know that it's hurting me so, yeah
But there'll come a time, one day, one day you'll wake up & find
You'll come back to me on bended knees
You're gonna be cryin'
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
I've been good to you, oh yes I have
I've been good to you, yes I have
...& fade
In Brenda Holloway's song "I've Been Good to You," the lyrics tell the story of a woman who has given her all to a man who just used her for fun. She is hurt and confused about why he would want to make her blue when she has been good to him for a long time. The woman explains that she took him in when he needed someone and treated him with kindness. However, he has now decided to leave her, even though she has always been there for him and never let him down.
The lyrics suggest that the woman is heartbroken but still has hope that the man will return to her. She tells him that he will one day realize his mistake and come back to her on bended knees, crying. The song highlights the pain of betrayal and the struggle to move on from a relationship that was not reciprocal.
Overall, the lyrics of "I've Been Good to You" convey the pain and disappointment of being in a one-sided relationship. They also emphasize the importance of treating others with kindness and respect, even when they do not reciprocate those feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Look what you've done; you've made a fool out of someone
You've humiliated me and made me feel foolish for believing our love was genuine.
Who thought love was true & found out that you
I believed in the sincerity of your love, but now I know it was all an act.
Were just having fun
You were just using me for your own entertainment.
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
Why are you intentionally causing me to feel sad and upset?
After all, I've been good to you
Despite everything, I have always been kind and loyal to you.
For a long long time, you needed someone & I made you mine
You sought companionship for an extended period, and I chose to be with you.
You needed a friend, so I took you in & I treated you kind
I recognized that you needed a companion and I welcomed you into my life, treating you with kindness.
I have always been around
I have been a constant presence in your life.
& I have never, I've never let you down
I have always been dependable and never let you down when you needed me.
So now you're telling me that you must go
You are informing me that you must leave me.
You know that it's hurting me so, yeah
You are aware that your departure is causing me immense pain and sadness.
But there'll come a time, one day, one day you'll wake up & find
At some point in the future, you will realize the mistake you made and regret leaving me.
You'll come back to me on bended knees
You will return to me and express your remorse and regret.
You're gonna be cryin'
You will be overcome with emotion and likely cry when you realize what you lost.
I've been good to you, oh yes I have
I have treated you with love, kindness and respect.
I've been good to you, yes I have
I have always been there for you, and gone above and beyond to make you happy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Wave Collective
Look what you've done; you've made a fool out of someone
Who thought love was true & found out that you
Were just having fun
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
Oh yes I have
For a long long time, you needed someone & I made you mine
You needed a friend, so I took you in
& I treated you kind
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
I have always been around
& I have never, I've never let you down
So now you're telling me that you must go
You know that it's hurting me so, yeah
But there'll come a time, one day, one day you'll wake up & find
You'll come back to me on bended knees
You're gonna be cryin'
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
I've been good to you, oh yes I have
I've been good to you, yes I have
...& fade
Gail Bohannon Starke
She’s so lovely and so talented.
SHA LA LA LA LA, BABY IT'S YOU CLARE ONIONS
She's just the BEST and so BEAUTIFUL, with a voice to die for 'Yeah" ❤️ xxx
SouLoveReal _
I have this on one of ther "best of" collection CDs. This version sounds like an "alternate take." Or maybe the one that I HAVE is an alternate. I LOVE both versions. And I just LOVE ME some BRENDA HOLLOWAY !!! One of many of the Motown voices that just plain got away.
MaeKae
Good 🎤 voice! Motown had so much talent! 🎵🎶
Vanessa Padilla
This song always lifts my Spirits..
Cal Waite
This woman makes me melt....MELT! The only other voice I know even remotely close to hers was Mel'isa Morgan's....go check out her "Do You Still Love Me," and really listen to it -- Brenda could have sung it just as well, maybe.
The Wave Collective
Look what you've done; you've made a fool out of someone
Who thought love was true & found out that you
Were just having fun
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
Oh yes I have
For a long long time, you needed someone & I made you mine
You needed a friend, so I took you in
& I treated you kind
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
I have always been around
& I have never, I've never let you down
So now you're telling me that you must go
You know that it's hurting me so, yeah
But there'll come a time, one day, one day you'll wake up & find
You'll come back to me on bended knees
You're gonna be cryin'
Oh why do you wanna make me blue?
After all, I've been good to you
I've been good to you, oh yes I have
I've been good to you, yes I have
...& fade
TheFridgechucker
love it!
DIANE GARCIA
Bad ass jam, BAD ASS
SANDY CLAWS
Lovely💞👌💯