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.
You Can't Hurry Love
Four Tops Lyrics
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I need to find, find someone to call mine,
But mama said you can't hurry love,
No you just have to wait,
She said love don't come easy,
It's a game of give and take.
You can't hurry love,
No, you just have to wait,
No matter how long it takes;
But how many heartaches must I stand
Before I find a love to let me live again.
Right now the only thing that keeps me hanging on,
When I feel my strength, yeah, it's almost gone,
I remember mama said,
You can't hurry love,
No you just have to wait,
She said love don't come easy,
It's a game of give and take.
How long must I wait how much more can I take,
Before loneliness will 'cause my heart, heart to break?
No, I can't bear to live my life alone.
I grow impatient for a love to call my own,
But when I feel that I, I can't go on,
These precious words keeps me hanging on,
I remember mama said,
Can't hurry love,
No you just have to wait,
She said love don't come easy,
it's a game of give and take.
You can't hurry love,
No you just have to wait,
She said love don't come easy,
It's a game of give and take
No matter how long it takes.
No love, love don't come easy,
But I keep on waiting, anticipating for that
Soft voice to talk to me at night,
For some tender arms to hold me tight.
I keep waiting; I keep on waiting,
But it ain't easy, it ain't easy when mama said
You can't hurry love no,
You just have to wait,
She said trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes.
You can't hurry love
You just have to wait,
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take.
The Four Tops' hit "You Can't Hurry Love" is a poignant reflection on the struggle to find love in a world where patience and perseverance are crucial. The song captures the singer's longing for love and companionship as he expresses his frustration with being alone. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency, as the singer implores his beloved to "ease his mind" and "call him his own." The singer's mother provides guidance in the form of a cautionary tale, advising him that true love cannot be rushed, but rather must be cultivated and nurtured over time.
Despite the song's melancholy subject matter, it has proved to be a popular anthem for lovers everywhere. The upbeat, Motown-inspired melody and catchy chorus make it a staple of wedding receptions and romantic comedies. Moreover, the song's inspirational message has inspired countless cover versions by artists from various genres.
Line by Line Meaning
I need love, love to ease my mind,
I am looking for someone to love me so that I can feel better about things.
I need to find, find someone to call mine,
I am searching for a person to be with exclusively.
But mama said you can't hurry love,
My mother taught me that love takes time and cannot be rushed.
No you just have to wait,
You need to be patient and wait for the right person to come along.
She said love don't come easy,
My mother explained that love is not simple or effortless to find.
It's a game of give and take.
Love involves both giving and receiving, and is like a game with rules.
But how many heartaches must I stand
I wonder how many disappointments or painful experiences I must endure.
Before I find a love to let me live again.
Before I can find a person to love me and make me feel alive and happy.
Right now the only thing that keeps me hanging on,
At the moment, the only thing that motivates me to continue is hope for love.
When I feel my strength, yeah, it's almost gone,
Sometimes I feel like giving up because I am so tired of waiting for love.
You can't hurry love,
Love cannot be rushed or forced.
No, you just have to wait,
It is necessary to be patient and have faith in the process of finding love.
You gotta trust, give it time,
It is important to trust that love will come, and to give it the necessary time to develop.
No matter how long it takes;
Regardless of how much time it takes, trusting and waiting for love is worth it.
How long must I wait how much more can I take,
I wonder how much longer I will have to wait or what else I will have to endure.
Before loneliness will 'cause my heart, heart to break?
Before the pain and loneliness becomes too much for me to bear and leads to heartbreak.
No, I can't bear to live my life alone.
I am afraid of living the rest of my life without a partner and being alone.
I grow impatient for a love to call my own,
I am becoming increasingly restless and impatient in my search for a committed relationship.
But when I feel that I, I can't go on,
When I reach my breaking point and feel like giving up.
These precious words keeps me hanging on,
I hold onto the wise words that my mother taught me about being patient and trusting in the process of finding love.
No love, love don't come easy,
It is difficult to find and develop a loving relationship.
But I keep on waiting, anticipating for that
Despite the difficulties, I continue to wait and hope for that special someone.
Soft voice to talk to me at night,
I long for a loving partner who will comfort me and talk with me at night.
For some tender arms to hold me tight.
I wish for the embrace of someone who loves and cares for me deeply.
I keep waiting; I keep on waiting,
I remain patient and continue to wait for the right person to come along.
But it ain't easy, it ain't easy when mama said
However, it is not easy to wait and continue to hope for love, even though my mother taught me to be patient.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
leomcdev
The Four Tops Live at the Roostertail in Detroit. One of the first records I bought back in the 1960's. I bought this record in a Rexall Drug Store in Bolton Ontario in 1966. The price was $3.98.
Ujima Jame
Great remake of a great song - just as good as the original!
Onkel Ebert
i really like a lot of stuff from the four tops, but this version is just crap.
Jane Wolfe
the wonderful four tops