Elbert was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but when aged three his family relocated to Buffalo, New York. He learned to play guitar and piano as a child, and in 1955 formed a doo-wop group, the Vibraharps, with friend Danny Cannon. Elbert acted as the group's guitarist, songwriter, arranger, and background vocalist, making his recording debut on their single "Walk Beside Me". He left the group in 1957 for a solo career, and recorded a demonstration record that earned him a recording contract with the King label's DeLuxe subsidiary. His solo debut "What Can I Do?" reached #12 in the U.S. R&B chart, and he followed it up with the less successful "Believe It or Not" and "Have I Sinned?", which became a regional hit in Pittsburgh.
He continued to release singles on DeLuxe, but with little commercial success, and also played New York's Apollo Theater and toured the chitlin' circuit of African-American owned nightclubs. After completing an album, The Sensational Donnie Elbert Sings, he left DeLuxe in 1959, joining first Red Top Records, where in 1960 he recorded "Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)", and then Vee-Jay Records, where he had another regional hit with "Will You Ever Be Mine?," which reportedly sold 250,000 copies in the Philadelphia area but failed to take off nationwide. His career was also interrupted by a spell in the US Army, from which he was discharged in 1961. He then recorded singles for several labels, including Parkway, Cub and Checker, but with little success. However, although the 1965 Gateway label release of "A Little Piece of Leather" failed to chart in the US, the record became a #27 pop hit when released on the London label in the UK several years later in 1972, and remains a Northern soul favorite.
Elbert relocated to the UK in 1966, where he married. There, he recorded "In Between The Heartaches" for the Polydor label in 1968, a cover version of The Supremes' hit "Where Did Our Love Go?". and an album of Otis Redding cover versions, Tribute To A King. His 1969 Deram release "Without You" had a rocksteady rhythm, and went to the top of the Jamaican charts. He returned to the US the same year, and had his first US chart hit in over a decade with the Rare Bullet label release "Can't Get Over Losing You," which reached #26 on the Billboard R&B chart. Following the success of that record, "Where Did Our Love Go?" was released on the All Platinum label, and became his biggest hit, reaching #15 on the US pop charts, #6 on the R&B charts, and (in 1972) #8 in the UK. Its follow-up "Sweet Baby" reached #30 on the R&B chart in early 1972.
Elbert then signed with Avco-Embassy, where he entered the recording studio with the successful production team of Hugo & Luigi. Although his cover of The Four Tops' "I Can't Help Myself" reached #14 on the R&B chart, Elbert balked at the label's insistence that he record material associated with Motown. He returned to All Platinum and had a run of minor R&B hits, but left after he claimed authorship of Shirley & Company's R&B chart-topper "Shame Shame Shame" which was credited to label owner Sylvia Robinson. For 1975's "You Keep Me Crying (With Your Lying)," Elbert finally formed his own label, and "I Got to Get Myself Together," appeared on an imprint bearing his surname, but it was among his final recordings.
By the mid-1980s Elbert had retired from performing, and became director of A&R for Polygram's Canadian division. He suffered a massive stroke and died in 1989, at the age of 52.
Have I Sinned
Donnie Elbert Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What did I do to make you cry.
Somebody help me to get home again.
Give more chance to renew our romance.
This love divines me tighter than chains.
Will always live this memory in my heart.
We live in a world that knows no shame.
That why our love will not be in vain.
Well, tell me, tell me.
Have I sinned was I to blame.
If try could things be the same.
Please say the word. that you will forgive.
For without your love. I don't want to live.
This love that binds me tighter than chains.
Will always be a memory in my heart.
We live in a world. that know no shame.
That's why our love will no be in vain.
Baby, tell me, tell me,
Have I sinned was I to blame.
If try could things be the same.
Please say the word. that you will forgive.
For without your love I don't want to live.
The lyrics of Donnie Elbert's "Have I Sinned" expresses deep regret and sorrow for hurting a loved one. The singer of the song is questioning whether or not he has done something wrong to cause his partner to feel hurt and upset. He acknowledges that he might have told her lies, and pleads for forgiveness. The lyrics convey his desperation to make things right and to renew their romance. This love is depicted as being stronger than chains, and he vows to always cherish the memory of it in his heart. Despite living in a world that knows no shame and is often cruel, he believes that their love will not be in vain. The repetition of the phrase "have I sinned" emphasizes the main theme of the song, which is the singer's desire for redemption and forgiveness.
Overall, "Have I Sinned" is a somber and introspective tune that touches on the universal experience of feeling regret and wanting to make amends. Donnie Elbert's soulful voice lends an emotional weight to the lyrics, making it a beloved classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Have I sinned have. I told her lies.
I am questioning myself if I have committed a sin since I have told lies to my lover.
What did I do to make you cry.
I am asking my lover what I have done to make you cry.
Somebody help me to get home again.
I am seeking someone's help to get back to my lover.
Give more chance to renew our romance.
I am pleading for another opportunity to rekindle our relationship.
This love divines me tighter than chains.
My love for my lover is so strong that it feels like chains that bind me.
Will always live this memory in my heart.
I will always cherish the memory of our love in my heart.
We live in a world that knows no shame.
Our world is now shameless and morally corrupt.
That why our love will not be in vain.
That's why our love will not be a waste, and it will withstand everything.
Well, tell me, tell me.
Please, give me an answer.
Have I sinned was I to blame.
I want to know if I have failed, so I can fix it.
If try could things be the same.
If I try, can our relationship be the way it was before?
Please say the word. that you will forgive.
Please assure me that you forgive me for my mistakes.
For without your love. I don't want to live.
I don't want to live if I don't have your love.
This love that binds me tighter than chains.
This love that I have for you is so strong that it feels like chains that bind me.
Will always be a memory in my heart.
I will always remember our love in my heart.
We live in a world. that know no shame.
Our world is now shameless and morally corrupt.
That's why our love will no be in vain.
That's why our love will not be a waste, and it will withstand everything.
Baby, tell me, tell me,
My love for you is so strong that I can't imagine losing you. Please tell me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DONNIE ELBERT, FRED MENDELSOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Hernandez
Have I sinned have. I told her lies.
What did I do to make you cry.
Somebody help me to get home again.
Give more chance to renew our romance.
This love divines me tighter than chains.
Will always live this memory in my heart.
We live in a world that knows no shame.
That why our love will not be in vain.
Well, tell me, tell me.
Have I sinned was I to blame.
If try could things be the same.
Please say the word. that you will forgive.
For without your love. I don't want to live.
This love that binds me tighter than chains.
Will always be a memory in my heart.
We live in a world. that know no shame.
That's why our love will no be in vain.
Baby, tell me, tell me,
Have I sinned was I to blame.
If try could things be the same.
Please say the word. that you will forgive.
For without your love I don't want to live.
El Sucio de Sucios1991
weird thing happens when i listen to oldies i sing and start having tears coming down my cheeks...oldies are forever!
Lalo Perez
I do too crazy huh
Olivia Bernal
Thank you very much
Hector Murua
Me 3
videojuegos3d locuras extremas
The irihsman! Por cierto eres español como yo xdd.
Alexander Rosas
Frfr
Richard Trinidad
My pops got me into oldies since I was a little boy. Thanks Dad love you Rest In piece 🙏🙏🙏
Drew
Yup 😭🙏
Daniel Barrera
^^peace
Paul Mora
that saxophone 😎👌 I could never get tired of these classic jams