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.

Sad Song
Brenda Holloway Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let that sad song play just one more time
There's nothing I could say that would help me find
The reason why I'm left behind
With no one to care, no one to share
The misery that I've brought upon myself
I'm so lonely & I'm so blue, yeah

So let that sad song play just one more time

There's nothing I could say that could ease my mind
I know I was wrong, but I wish he would come back home
I could still feel his touch, I need it so much
I'm so lonely & I'm so blue, yeah

Why don't you, why don't you, why don't you
Why don't you
Let that sad song play just one more time
There's nothing I could say that would ease my mind
I know I was wrong, but I wish he would come back home
I could still feel his touch, I need it so much
I'm so lonely & I'm so blue, yeah
Oh why don't you, why don't you, why don't you play that

Sad song one more time
& fade

Overall Meaning

In Brenda Holloway's song "Sad Song," the singer is consumed with loneliness and regret as she reflects on a failed relationship. She is asking for one more chance to hear the sad song that reminds her of the pain and sorrow that she has endured since her partner left. The lyrics suggest that the song is somewhat of a comfort to her, allowing her to wallow in her misery and perhaps even attempt to come to terms with the situation that has left her alone. However, she also knows that she needs to move past her pain and look towards the future, even if that means admitting her faults and accepting responsibility for the mistakes she has made.

The repetition of the phrase "I'm so lonely & I'm so blue" emphasizes the depth of the singer's despair. She seems to be resigned to her loneliness, accepting that it is a natural consequence of the actions she has taken. At the same time, she longs for the return of her partner, feeling incomplete without their touch and their presence. The sadness and melancholy conveyed in the song are universal themes that many listeners can relate to, making "Sad Song" a powerful and emotionally resonant track.

Line by Line Meaning

Let that sad song play just one more time
The person feels so blue and lonely, they want to hear that heartbreaking song one last time before moving on.

There's nothing I could say that would help me find
The person has no words of comfort to even help them comprehend their sadness.

The reason why I'm left behind
The person is feeling abandoned and left behind, with no one to support them through their emotional turmoil.

With no one to care, no one to share
The person feels completely alone in their suffering, without anyone to care for them or share their pain with them.

The misery that I've brought upon myself
The person understands that their own actions led them to this place of sadness and despair.

I'm so lonely & I'm so blue, yeah
The person is consumed by their loneliness and sadness.

I know I was wrong, but I wish he would come back home
The person acknowledges their wrongdoing, but still wishes for their loved one to return to them.

I could still feel his touch, I need it so much
The person longs for the physical affection and closeness of their lost love.

Why don't you, why don't you, why don't you
The person is pleading for someone to understand their pain and help them through it.

Let that sad song play just one more time
The person wants to hear that song again, as it captures the essence of their sadness.

I'm so lonely & I'm so blue, yeah
Once again, the person is consumed by their loneliness and sadness.

Oh why don't you, why don't you, why don't you play that
The person is desperate to hear the song that speaks to their heartache.

Sad song one more time
The person pleads for the song to be played one final time before the song fades away, perhaps symbolizing their acceptance of their sadness and their readiness to move forward.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANK EDWARD WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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