Throughout the 70s and 80s, the group remained up with the times and occasionally crept ahead of them, such that they became influences themselves upon younger generations of R&B and hip-hop acts. By the time the group's popularity started to fizzle in the late 80s, a series of hits were left in the band's wake, ranging from greasy, funky workouts to smooth ballads to swinging synthesized tracks and more. Further separating Cameo from their forebears was the fact that they didn't have a diaper-clad guitarist. Instead, they had a codpiece-wearing lead vocalist in Larry Blackmon.
Today, the group's iconic single "Word Up", released in 1986 from the album of the same time, remains a radio staple. The U.S. Hot Dance Singles and U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart topper has also been famously covered by artists such as the hard rock band Gun and the alternative metal group Korn. Other popular Cameo singles include "Attack Me With Your Love", "Candy", "Freaky Dancin'","I Just Want To Be", and "Sparkle".
Back And Forth
Cameo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes she's not all she seems
You only see what she wants you to see
And before you really know it always seems to go
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Our love goes
Take your chances if you will, those looks can kill
It'll make you go round and around, you got to know it by now
That the truth is you just can't win, loves funny like that
It'll make you blow your cap, sacrifice everything and money
Love has no guarantee's and always will it be
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Take stabs dip and dab, forever tryin' to find your way
It's a sellers lament for all the love you spent
You must have thought it was a bottomless pit
You can't do it like that, love will show you where it's at
What you put up you'll surely get back
'Cause there's no other way, if you play you'll pay
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Love has no guarantee's and always will it be
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
The lyrics to Cameo's "Back and Forth" speak of the complexities of love and the difficulty of truly knowing someone. The song talks about a person who may seem one way on the surface, but has hidden aspects to their personality that are not immediately apparent. The repetition of "back and forth" throughout the song emphasizes the idea that love can be a constant see-saw of emotions and actions.
The lyrics warn against taking chances with someone who may not be what they seem, as those looks can kill and lead to going round and round in circles. The truth is, love is unpredictable and can make you sacrifice everything, including money. There are no guarantees in love, and it can lead to a lot of back-and-forth emotionally.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a special kind of person
There exists a certain type of person
Sometimes she's not all she seems
At times, she is not what she appears
You only see what she wants you to see
You perceive only the image she chooses to project
And before you really know it always seems to go
Before long, everything seems to fall apart
Back & forth, back & forth, back & forth, back & forth
Going forward, then backward, and repeating the process multiple times
Our love goes
Our love follows this pattern
Take your chances if you will, those looks can kill
You may choose to proceed, but beware, appearance can be deceiving
It'll make you go round and around, you got to know it by now
You will be stuck in a cycle, and it should be evident by now
That the truth is you just can't win, loves funny like that
The reality is that you cannot be victorious, love is whimsical in this way
It'll make you blow your cap, sacrifice everything and money
It will drive you to the point of madness, causing you to give up all that you have
Love has no guarantee's and always will it be
Love is not a sure thing, and it will perpetually be this way
Take stabs dip and dab, forever tryin' to find your way
You will make attempts to navigate through, but always end up making mistakes
It's a sellers lament for all the love you spent
It is a tragedy that you have wasted your feelings on someone who does not deserve them
You must have thought it was a bottomless pit
You believed there would always be an endless supply of love
You can't do it like that, love will show you where it's at
Approaching it in that manner is incorrect; love will reveal its true nature
What you put up you'll surely get back
What you invest will be returned to you
'Cause there's no other way, if you play you'll pay
The truth is that there is no alternative, and you will suffer the consequences, if you engage in deceitful activities
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEVIN LLOYD KENDRICK, LARRY BLACKMON, NATHAN DAVID LEFTENANT, TOMI JENKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@SurvivalComedy
LYRICS
There's a special kind of person
Sometimes she's not all she seems
You only see what she wants you to see
And before you really know it always seems to go
Back and forth (Our love goes)
Take your chances if you will (those looks can kill)
It'll make you go round & around
You got to know it by now
That the truth is you just can't win
Loves funny like that
It'll make you blow your cap
Sacrifice everything and money
Love has no guarantee's
And always will it be
Back and forth
Take stabs dip and dab
Forever tryin' to find your way
It's a sellers lament
For all the love you spent
You must have thought it was a bottomless pit
You can't do it like that
Love will show you where it's at
What you put up you'll surely get back
Cause there's no other way
If you play you'll pay
Back and forth
Love has no guarantee's
And always will it be
Back and forth
@alanmorris7669
This song will never get old.
@kayshawnsimmons6822
Good music NEVER gets old 💃💃💃💃💃💃💯😷
@ajs41
That lush keyboard riff in the verse would make a great ringtone, the one at 1:07.
@NotfromDetroit
Never ever!
@living2liveagain1
Neither will the video…CLASSIC!!!!!!
@living2liveagain1
@@ajs41 YESSSSS!!!!! GOOD 👂🏽 👂🏽 👂🏽
@francisibok474
Who's listening to this in July, 2023. 1986 was a good year. Larry Blackmon and Cameo had it going on. Love this jam.
@T_Laughs
Me sir I am me and you are for sure July 8th too be exact this is a motherfuccin jam right here
@T_Laughs
And they telling the truth about how relationships go I've went through this plenty of times with woman
@jimbobstaggs4543
Try Jan 2024!