Walk Away From Love
David Ruffin Lyrics


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I'm gonna walk away from love
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away
I'm gonna walk away from love
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away

It's not that I don't love you
You know how much I do
And it's not that I've found someone
To take the place of you
It's just a fear that builds within me
Every time you touch my hand
And a dread that shakes my body
That even I don't understand

So I'm leaving (I'm leaving, yes, I am)
This time I'm playing it smart (I'm leaving, yes, I am)
I'm gonna walk away from love (walk away from love)
Before love breaks my heart

I'm gonna walk away from love
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away

Ooh, you're clinging to me tighter
Than you ever have before, I don't understand it
But I know it's gonna take everything I've got
To keep walking out the door
But those arms you've got around me
Will let me go someday
And I'd rather leave you holding on
Than pushing me away

So I'm leaving, yes, I am(I'm leaving, yes, I am)
This time I'm playing it smart (I'm leaving, yes, I am)
I'm gonna walk away from love (walk away from love)
Before love breaks my heart

I'm gonna walk away from love
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away

So I'm leaving, yes, I am (I'm leaving, yes, I am)
This time I'm playing it smart (I'm leaving, yes, I am)
I'm gonna walk away from love (walk away from love)
Before love breaks my heart

I'm gonna walk away from love
Gonna walk away, gonna walk away
Ooh, baby
It's not that I don't love you (I'm gonna walk away from love)
You know how much I do (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
Oh, baby (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
I'm leaving, baby
This time I'm playing it smart (I'm gonna walk away from love)
Oh, don't break my heart (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
I'm walkin' away, baby
(I'm gonna walk away from love)
Ooh, will you let me go someday, baby? (Gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
(Gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
I'd rather have you holdin' on, holdin' on' (I'm gonna walk away from love)
Oh, than pushin' me away, woo (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
Ooh-wee, baby, yeah
So I'm leavin' (I'm gonna walk away from love)
I know you know, playin' it smart (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
Don't you break my heart, baby (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
I'm leavin' baby, yeah (I'm gonna walk away from love)
I don't wanna be the one to cry, no, baby (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
And it's not that I've found someone new (I'm gonna walk away from love)
Oh, just to take the place of you (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
I've got to (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
I'm leavin', baby, woo (I'm gonna walk away from love)
Oh, baby, don't wanna do it, no (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
But I'm leavin'
This time I'm playin' it smart (I'm gonna walk away from love)
I'm gonna walk away from love (gonna walk away, gonna walk away)
Before love breaks my heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to David Ruffin's song "Walk Away From Love" speak to the conflicted feelings that arise when we know we need to let go of a love that is no longer serving us. Ruffin sings about his love for his partner and the fear that arises when they touch, a fear that he cannot even understand himself. This fear drives him to make the difficult decision to leave, to "walk away from love."


The next verse speaks to the difficulty of actually walking away. His partner is clinging to him tighter than ever before, making it hard for him to leave. Ruffin knows that he needs to let go, and that his partner's arms will eventually let him go too. He'd rather leave while they're still holding on, rather than wait until they've started to push him away.


Overall, the lyrics of "Walk Away From Love" convey the complexity of love and relationships, and the hard decisions we sometimes have to make in order to protect ourselves.


Line by Line Meaning

It's not that I don't love you,you know how much I do.
I do love you, but there is something that is keeping me from staying with you.


And it's not that I've found someone to take the place of you.
There is no one else in my life that is replacing you.


It's just a fear that builds within me everytime you touch my hand.
I have this fear that I cannot explain whenever you touch me.


And a dread that shakes my body,that even I don't understand,so I'm leaving.
That fear is so intense that it makes me feel dread and I cannot understand it, so I feel the need to leave.


This time I'm playing it smart.
I have learned from my previous experiences and will make a smart decision.


I'm gonna walk away from love before love breaks my heart.
I am going to leave this relationship before it hurts me further.


Oh you're clenging to me tighter than you ever have before.
You are holding on to me tighter than you usually do.


I don't understand it.
I cannot comprehend the reason behind you holding onto me tighter.


But I know it's gonna take everything I've got to keep walking out the door.
Leaving you will not be easy for me and it will take a lot of effort.


But those arms you've got around me will let me go someday.
Eventually, you will have to let me go.


And I'd rather leave you holding on,than pushing me away,so I'm leaving yes I am.
I would rather you hold on to me than push me away, but I am still leaving.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Charles Kipps

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@mahonrimartins1767

Respect. What a great song. This ain't no dude singing... this is a MAN.

@riverbilly64

An anthem for emotionally avoidant men. I love you and all but I just gotta walk away, just because you could maybe, possibly hurt me. So I’m leaving while you’re still attached. 😂😢

@goldenpandaboy1421

​@@riverbilly64Sometimes you must do what's better for you as a man and put yourself in a better environment and emotionally state alone especially when you know it's nothing but problems in the future with a woman

@AlexWilliams-qf3rp

Gosh, I miss this Era of fabulous music. So sad the way he died.😢😢

@azmike3572

@@AlexWilliams-qf3rp It's okay. He still lives in our memories.

@latonyabaker365

Yes, we here!!!🥰😍🥰

@voodoochild8697

I’m 64 with so many memories. This is raw talent with no computer enhancements. These are the bygone days that can never be replaced by anyone. I wish I could go back in time. Thank You Mr. Ruffin. You are missed❤️👍 2024

@antheajones3529

Yes.! I'm 74 and I will listen until I take my last breath. But David Ruffin keeps me young, and alive.!

@queenximora1097

Yes David Ruffin is one of the greatest. What a VOICE🎉🎉🎉🎉RIP LEGEND ❤❤❤❤

@tamikaw.5560

Yes 50 yrs old here!

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