As a teenager, she attended the Institute of Musical Arts; she soon began singing radio commercial jingles and took part in (and won many of) local TV and radio talent shows. In 1963, she moved to New York City and worked with many different singers including Quincy Jones, Pearl Bailey, and Bill Cosby. During that same year, her debut album (of jazz), After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!!, was released on the Impulse! label. Three years later, she released her second album of jazz, How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore, for MGM Records.
In 1969, her old friends back home in Detroit, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr., persuaded her to sign with their newly-formed record label Invictus. During that same year, her first Invictus single, "Unhooked Generation" (a minor R&B hit), was released. Shortly thereafter, songwriters Edythe Wayne and Ron Dunbar offered her a song entitled "Band of Gold". Almost immediately, in early 1970, the song became an instant pop smash reaching #3 in the US and #1 in the UK; it also gave Payne her first gold record. An album of the same name proved to be fairly successful as well. Other Invictus singles included "Deeper and Deeper", "You Brought the Joy", and the Vietnam protest song "Bring the Boys Home" (#12, 1971; her second gold record). Her other Invictus albums were Contact (1971), The Best of Freda Payne (1972, a compilation which included four new, unissued songs), and her last Invictus album Reaching Out (1973).
In 1973, being dissatisfied with her royalties (which were very low to begin with), she left Invictus and recorded albums for ABC/Dunhill and Capitol, but she never found the commercial success she had with Invictus.
Memories And Souvenirs
Freda Payne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How a life that's got so bad
Leaves you hurt and feeling sad
Only memories of our tainted love
Night and day
You just lie there in your sleep
With a pain you don't want to keep
And you left me
Memories and souvenirs
Bitter thoughts and bitter tears
And how do you keep yourself
From falling apart
Memories ands souvenirs
And the sadness they've given you through the years
Tell me how do you mend
Your broken heart
Just when you think the pain is through
That's when it all comes back to you
You find a letter
Or a photograph
You hear the special song from somewhere
You hear a voice in the air
Bringing it all back
So crystal clear
When you listen to those
Memories and souvenirs
Bitter thoughts and bitter tears
And how do you stop
From falling apart
Memories and souvenirs
And the sadness they've given you through the years
Tell me how do you mend
Your broken heart
Oh I wish I could forget you
For all the pain you put me through
But I just want you to know
I don't ever want to see you no more
You left me with
Memories and souvenirs
Bitter thoughts and bitter tears
And how do you keep yourself
From falling apart
Listen to those
Memories ands souvenirs
And the sadness they've given you through the years
Tell me how do you mend
A broken heart
The lyrics to Freda Payne's song "Memories And Souvenirs" touch on the theme of heartbreak and the lingering pain that comes with it. The opening lines highlight the irony of a life that has turned sour, leaving the person feeling hurt and sad, with only memories of a tainted love. The verse goes on to describe a sleepless night, where the singer lies awake with a pain they wish to let go of, stemming from the loneliness in their heart. The person who once shared their life with them has left, and they are left to navigate the aftermath.
The chorus delves deeper into the emotional turmoil caused by the memories and souvenirs associated with the broken relationship. Bitter thoughts and tears become a constant companion, and the singer questions how one can prevent themselves from completely falling apart. The years have been filled with sadness, and the singer seeks answers on how to mend their broken heart.
The second verse describes the unpredictability of pain resurfacing just when one thinks they have moved on. Discovering a letter or photograph, or hearing a special song, triggers a flood of memories that feel as crystal clear as when they were first experienced. The pain is vividly felt again, and the singer wonders how to protect themselves from this emotional turmoil.
In the final verse, there is an expression of the desire to forget the pain inflicted by the person who left, along with the declaration of never wanting to see them again. However, the memories and souvenirs they left behind continue to haunt the singer, causing bitter thoughts and tears. The unanswered question remains â how does one mend a broken heart?
Overall, "Memories And Souvenirs" explores the aftermath of a failed relationship and the emotional baggage that remains. It delves into the struggles of trying to heal from heartbreak and the difficulties of letting go of the memories and souvenirs associated with the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't it funny
Isn't it ironic
How a life that's got so bad
Incredibly negative experiences in life
Leaves you hurt and feeling sad
Causes emotional pain and sadness
Only memories of our tainted love
Only memories of a love that turned sour
Night and day
All the time
You just lie there in your sleep
You remain restless even when sleeping
With a pain you don't want to keep
With a pain you wish to let go of
From the loneliness in your heart
Caused by deep feelings of isolation
And you left me
And you abandoned me
Memories and souvenirs
Recollections and mementos
Bitter thoughts and bitter tears
Negative thoughts and sorrowful tears
And how do you keep yourself
And how do you prevent
From falling apart
From completely losing composure
Just when you think the pain is through
Exactly when you believe the agony is over
That's when it all comes back to you
That's when it resurfaces in your mind
You find a letter
You discover a written message
Or a photograph
Or a picture
You hear the special song from somewhere
You hear the meaningful song unexpectedly
You hear a voice in the air
You perceive a voice around you
Bringing it all back
Reviving all the memories
So crystal clear
So vivid and distinct
When you listen to those
When you pay attention to those
Oh I wish I could forget you
Oh, how I wish I could erase you from my memory
For all the pain you put me through
Because of all the suffering you caused me
But I just want you to know
However, I want you to understand
I don't ever want to see you no more
I don't ever want to see you again
You left me with
You abandoned me with
Tell me how do you mend
Please explain how you repair
A broken heart
An emotionally shattered heart
Lyrics Š Peermusic Publishing
Written by: EDWIN STARR, IAN GEOFFREY LEVINE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
nightowlaus
Superb soul at its finest!
IanLevine
My masterpiece. Natalie Harrison has single handedly turned my Freda Payne single into a floor filling blockbuster. Last week on her podcast she burst into tears when she played it, saying that it was the most wonderful record she had ever heard in her life. Discogs has a few very cheap copies - snap them up - you'll thank me. Enjoy a true classic.
Metropolitan Soul @MetropolitanSoul
It's been up here for five years.....đ
IanLevine
@Metropolitan Soul @MetropolitanSoul I know it has but it has suddenly had a thousand plays overnight
Metropolitan Soul @MetropolitanSoul
@IanLevine Cream always rises to the top. Mistaking My Kindness ~ Gina Foster (The Sensationelles) next then.
Metropolitan Soul @MetropolitanSoul
@IanLevine 867