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.
It's Not Unusual
Four Tops Lyrics
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It's not unusual to have fun with anyone
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
It's not unusual to see me cry,
Oh I wanna' die
It's not unusual to go out at any time
But when I see you out and about it's such a crime
If you should ever want to be loved by anyone,
You find it happens all the time
Love will never do what you want it to
Why can't this crazy love be mine
It's not unusual, to be mad with anyone
It's not unusual, to be sad with anyone
But if I ever find that you've changed at anytime
It's not unusual to find out that I'm in love with you
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
The Four Tops' "It's Not Unusual" is a song about unrequited love. The singer speaks to someone they have feelings for but who doesn't reciprocate. Loving someone is not unusual, having fun with anyone is not unusual, but it hurts the singer to see this person hanging out with others. Their love is so intense that they cry when they see the person with someone else, and they even say they want to die because of their unrequited feelings.
The singer acknowledges that it's not unusual to go out and have a good time, but when they see the person they love out and about, it feels like a crime. The singer knows that this person may someday want to be loved by someone, and it's not unusual for that to happen. Ironically, love never does what you want it to do, and the singer wonders why they can't have this crazy, uncontrollable love that they want so badly. In the end, the singer admits that it wouldn't be unusual for them to be mad or sad with anyone, but if they ever find out that the person they love has changed, it wouldn't be unusual for them to fall in love with that person.
The song's lyrics touch on universal themes of love and heartbreak. Many people can relate to the singer's feelings of intense love for someone who doesn't feel the same way, and the pain that comes with seeing that person with others. The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody are a stark contrast to the emotionally charged lyrics, making it an anthem for unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not unusual to be loved by anyone
It's normal for anyone to be loved by someone.
It's not unusual to have fun with anyone
It's usual to have fun with anyone.
But when I see you hanging about with anyone
But when I see you hanging out with someone other than me,
It's not unusual to see me cry,
Oh I wanna' die
It's usual to see me cry and feel like dying when I see you with someone else.
It's not unusual to go out at any time
It's usual to go out at any time.
But when I see you out and about it's such a crime
But it's painful for me to see you out and having fun with someone else.
If you should ever want to be loved by anyone,
It's not unusual it happens every day no matter what you say
If you ever feel the need to be loved, it's not unusual because it happens every day to everyone despite any contrary statements you make.
You find it happens all the time
You will always find that it happens all the time.
Love will never do what you want it to
Why can't this crazy love be mine
Love always does what it wants and can never be controlled, and I wish this strong feeling I have for you could be reciprocated.
It's not unusual, to be mad with anyone
It's not unusual, to be sad with anyone
It's usual to feel mad or sad with anyone.
But if I ever find that you've changed at anytime
But if I ever find out that you've changed in a way that I can be with you,
It's not unusual to find out that I'm in love with you
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
It's usual for me to realize that I'm in love with you because you are always on my mind.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GORDON MILLS, LES (GB) REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind