Just Ain't Enough Love
Eddie Holland Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ohhhh, just ain't enough love
Ohhhh, oohhh, just ain't enough love

These are the words
My baby spoke
As she bid her last goodbye
With tears in my eyes
As she walked from my side
I sadly asked her why
And she said, ohhh, ohhh, just ain't enough love
(Just ain't enough love)
And she said, ohhh, ohhh, just ain't enough love
(Just ain't enough love)

Now I was too busy
But that girl of mine
I'd buy her gifts from time to time
So sure, this would satisfy
'Til she up and left me, with this reply
And she said, ohhh, ohhh, just ain't enough love
(Just ain't enough love)
I gotta leave you, because
Ohhh, ohhh, just ain't enough love
(Just ain't enough love)
And she said, ohhh, ohhh
That's what she told me
(Just ain't enough love)
And she said, ohhh, ohhh, ain't enough love
(Just ain't enough love)

I said, sweet thing, sweet thing
Please don't leave
I'm so sorry I made you grieve
So confident pretty words
Would make her stay
But this is what she said
As she turned and walked away
She said, ohhh, ohhh, just ain't enough love
(Just ain't enough love)
She said, ohhh, ohhh, just ain't enough love
(Just ain't enough love)
Ain't enough love, baby
That's what she told me
(Ain't enough love)
Ain't enough love baby




That's what she said
(Just ain't enough love)

Overall Meaning

The song "Just Ain't Enough Love" by Eddie Holland is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man who loses his girlfriend due to his neglect and lack of affection. The song opens with the woman bid goodbye to the man with tears in his eyes, and he asked her why she left him. Her response was "just ain't enough love." Later in the song, the man acknowledges that he was too busy and would buy her gifts from time to time, but it wasn't enough to satisfy her.


The song is a cautionary tale about the importance of love and affection in a relationship. The woman in the song felt neglected and unloved even though the man was providing for her materially. The song highlights how important it is to express love and affection in a relationship, not just in gifts but also in words and actions.


Overall, "Just Ain't Enough Love" is a timeless song that teaches us the importance of expressing love and affection in a relationship. It reminds us that material gifts are not enough to make someone feel loved and wanted, and that neglect can lead to heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

Ohhhh, just ain't enough love
The love in our relationship is insufficient and not enough to continue.


Ohhhh, oohhh, just ain't enough love
Reinforcement of the initial statement that the quantity of love is insufficient.


These are the words
The singer sets the stage for his narrative.


My baby spoke
The singer's partner is the one who initiates the conversation.


As she bid her last goodbye
The partner was saying goodbye for the last time.


With tears in my eyes
The singer was emotional at the time of this event.


As she walked from my side
The partner was physically leaving.


I sadly asked her why
The singer wanted an explanation for the breakup.


And she said, ohhh, ohhh, just ain't enough love
The partner's response was the same as the initial statement that love was insufficient.


(Just ain't enough love)
Repetition of the fact that the love was insufficient.


Now I was too busy
The singer acknowledges his role in the relationship's failure.


But that girl of mine
The partner was always on the singer's mind.


I'd buy her gifts from time to time
The singer attempted to express his love through material possessions.


So sure, this would satisfy
The singer was convinced that gifts would be enough to satisfy his partner.


Til she up and left me, with this reply
The partner's response was unexpected.


I gotta leave you, because
The partner's explanation for leaving was given.


That's what she told me
Reiteration of the partner's words.


And she said, ohhh, ohhh
The partner reiterated that the love was insufficient.


I said, sweet thing, sweet thing
The singer attempted to keep his partner from leaving.


Please don't leave
The singer begged his partner not to leave.


I'm so sorry I made you grieve
The singer acknowledged his mistakes and apologized.


So confident pretty words
The singer was once confident in his ability to express his love through words.


Would make her stay
The singer believed that his words would be enough to keep his partner from leaving.


But this is what she said
The partner's response once again dashed the singer's hopes.


As she turned and walked away
The partner was physically leaving the relationship.


Ain't enough love, baby
Reiteration of the fact that the love in the relationship was insufficient.


That's what she told me
The partner reiterated that love was the cause of the relationship's failure.


Ain't enough love baby
Once again, the singer repeats that love was insufficient.


That's what she said
The singer's partner had made their feelings clear.


(Just ain't enough love)
Repetition of the fact that the love was insufficient.




Contributed by Mila O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@darrylelkins681

One of the greatest writters of all times, the great Eddie Holland

@suzyflorida1193

Eddie, Brian and Lamont changed the face of music and the face of the 60's. 3 geniuses!

@eugenealpert9574

A forgotten classic you didn't forget. This was the Motown Sound. Thanks.

@mosogotam

Thanks to YOU, Eugene!!

@veronicapalmer7844

As always you are point! Love it!
Man your skills for making the music of my youth sound even better is awesome!

@mosogotam

Veronica...much appreciated!!!

@genettalacey2627

Wow! memories dancing all over the joint. Thanks for taking me back.

@mosogotam

Thanks, Genetta!!

@828cali

I had the fortune to meet Mr. Holland a few years ago at a Motown function and I told him that this song is what introduced him to me and how much I loved this song when it came out in ‘64 and that I knew every word and background part.

@derekdauchan2741

I knew about the Isleys version, but didn't know about this.
Appreciate this one !

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