Among a number of groups who helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960s, including The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Temptations and The Supremes, Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. The group was the main male vocal group for the songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who crafted for the group a stream of popular hit singles, including two #1 hits: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There". After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson. When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to Los Angeles, California, the Tops stayed in Detroit and moved over to ABC Records, where they continued to have charting singles into the late-1970s. Since the 1980s, Four Tops have recorded for, at various times, Motown, Casablanca Records, and Arista Records.
I Can't Help Myself
Four Tops Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sugar pie, honey bunch
You know that I love you
I can't help myself
I love you and nobody else
In and out my life (in and out my life)
You come and you go (you come and you go)
Leaving just your picture behind
When you snap your finger or wink your eye
I come a-running to you
I'm tied to your apron strings
And there's nothing that I can do (ooh)
Can't help myself (no)
No, I can't help myself (ooh)
'Cause sugar pie, honey bunch (sugar pie, honey bunch)
I'm weaker than a man should be
I can't help myself
I'm a fool in love, you see
Wanna tell you I don't love you
Tell you that we're through and I try
But every time I see your face (can't help myself)
I get all choked up inside
When I call your name
Girl, it starts to flame (burning in my heart, tearing it all apart)
No matter how I try
My love I cannot hide
'Cause sugar pie, honey bunch (sugar pie, honey bunch)
You know that I'm waiting for you (waiting for you)
I can't help myself
I love you and nobody else, ooh
Sugar pie, honey bunch (sugar pie, honey bunch)
I'd do anything you ask me to (ask me to)
I can't help myself
I want you and nobody else, ooh
Sugar pie, honey bunch (sugar pie, honey bunch)
You know that I love you (love you)
I can't help myself
No, I can't help myself, ooh
Sugar pie, honey bunch (sugar pie, honey bunch)
You know that I love you
The Four Tops' song "I Can't Help Myself" is a classic love song that expresses an unconditional adoration for someone, even though the relationship is far from perfect. The repetitive use of "sugar pie, honey bunch" throughout the song conveys an intense feeling of love and affection that the singer has for the subject of the song. The song portrays a longing for someone that is stronger than any other desire, even though this longing can lead to pain and heartbreak.
The lines "When you snap your finger or wink your eye, I come a-running to you" suggest that the singer is totally under the control of the person they love. This dependence is also conveyed in the line "I'm tied to your apron strings and there's nothing that I can do". The singer is unable to resist the pull of their love for this person, no matter how hard they try.
The final lines of the song, "You know that I love you, I can't help myself", express the unconditional nature of the singer's love. The repetition of these lines helps to emphasize the intense emotions that the singer feels for their subject, emphasizing the power that love can have over a person.
Overall, "I Can't Help Myself" is a classic love song that captures the struggles and passions of a deeply emotional relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh
expression of emotional attachment
Sugar pie, honey bunch
pet name for a loved one
You know that I love you
declaration of love
I can't help myself
lack of control over feelings
I love you and nobody else
exclusive love
In and out my life (in and out my life)
intermittent presence in life
You come and you go (you come and you go)
frequent entries and exits in life
Leaving just your picture behind
reminder of absence
And I kissed it a thousand times
expression of longing
When you snap your finger or wink your eye
calling for attention
I come a-running to you
immediate response to partner
I'm tied to your apron strings
submission to partner
And there's nothing that I can do (ooh)
helplessness against feelings
Can't help myself (no)
affirmation of lack of control
No, I can't help myself (ooh)
repeated affirmation of lack of control
I'm weaker than a man should be
vulnerability to love
I'm a fool in love, you see
acceptance of foolishness for love
Wanna tell you I don't love you
attempt to resist feelings
Tell you that we're through and I try
intent to end relationship
But every time I see your face (can't help myself)
impossibility of resisting love
I get all choked up inside
overwhelming emotional response
When I call your name
expression of affection
Girl, it starts to flame (burning in my heart, tearing it all apart)
overwhelming passion and emotional turmoil
No matter how I try
in spite of effort to resist
My love I cannot hide
inability to conceal feelings
You know that I'm waiting for you (waiting for you)
longing for partner
I'd do anything you ask me to (ask me to)
willingness to please partner
I want you and nobody else, ooh
exclusive desire for partner
You know that I love you (love you)
repeat declaration of love
No, I can't help myself, ooh
final assertion of lack of control
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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