Growing up with a Pentecostal minister father, the Wilson brothers formed the Greenwood, Archer, and Pine Street Band in 1967, with Tuck Andress (later of Tuck and Patti). The name was chosen to honor the tragic but affirming memory of the streets (Greenwood Ave., Archer St., Pine St.) that formed the thriving African American business district of Tulsa, Oklahoma also called Black Wall Street.[1] The Greenwood district was the site of one of the most violent racially motivated attacks in United States history. The complete destruction of the community was the result of the Tulsa Race Riot.
The band released their first record on an indie label in 1974 to little success. At the time, the group had up to twelve musicians, including drummer Ronnie Smith. Condensing to the three brothers and with producer Leon Russell at the helm, the group began to find success in 1978 with songs such as "I'm in Love" and "Shake", the latter becoming a Top 10 R&B hit.
By 1979, the group had changed its name to The Gap Band, and found success with the groundbreaking single "I Don't Believe You Wanna Get Up and Dance (Oops Upside Your Head)". But it was in the 1980s that the group found their biggest success, with songs like "Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)", "Humpin' ", "Yearning For Your Love", "Outstanding", "You Dropped a Bomb on Me", "I Found My Baby", "Early In the Morning", and "Party Train" further establishing the group as icons.
Four of the band's albums, The Gap Band II, The Gap Band III, The Gap Band IV, and Gap Band V - Jammin, achieved platinum selling status, and four of their singles ("All Of My Love", "Outstanding", "Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)", and "Early in the Morning") reached the #1 spot on the Billboard R&B charts.
Their success dwindled at the end of 1984, although they have continued to record albums and are constantly on tour. Brother Charlie ventured into a solo career during a break from the group in the mid-1980s, being featured on the 1985 hit with funk group Zapp titled "Computer Love". Wilson's powerful vocals would be credited in part for establishing the careers of Guy's Aaron Hall (singer), Keith Sweat, and R. Kelly. The band reunited in 1996, and issued The Gap Band: Live and Well, a live greatest hits album.
Ever since the 1990s, the Gap Band's most famous hits have been sampled and covered by the likes of Snoop Dogg, Warren G., Blackstreet, Shaquille O'Neal, Mia X, and Mary J. Blige. "Outstanding" was even sampled for a famous 1990s commercial for malt liquor. While they missed the time that black musicians recorded soundtracks for action films by a decade, they produced and recorded some songs for Keenan Ivory Wayans' 1988 hit movie, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. Among the musicians they have inspired are R. Kelly, Keith Sweat, Ruff Endz, Guy, Blackstreet, Mint Condition, Jagged Edge, and Aaron Hall (singer). Recently, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me" was featured in the hit videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on funk radio station Bounce FM.
YEARNING FOR YOUR LOVE
Gap Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause don't you know that I like havin' you around
In my life
Oh, baby
So many times I want to hold you, oh, so near
I want to say I love you softly in your ear
Oh, baby
My heart is yearning for your love
'Cause my heart is yearning for your love
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
I need to have you as my lover and my wife
Oh, baby
Be my lover
So many times I need to have you by my side
To be my friend, my lover and my guide
Oh, baby
Don't keep runnin'
My heart is yearning for your love
My heart is yearning for your love
My heart is yearning for you
Let me inside your love
Whoa...my heart is yearning for you
Let me inside your love
Your only
(Keep runnin')
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep on runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
Oh, girl
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep on runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep on runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep on runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep on runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
(Keep runnin')
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
The lyrics to Gap Band's song "Yearning for your love" express a plea for the singer's love interest to stop playing games and commit to a relationship with him. The singer expresses his love for her and the desire to have her in his life as his lover and wife. The chorus repeats the phrase "my heart is yearning for your love," emphasizing the strength of his feelings for her and his desire for a committed relationship.
The lyrics also touch on the singer's need for emotional and physical intimacy with his love interest. He wants to hold her close, express his love to her softly, and have her by his side as his friend, lover, and guide. The repetition of "let me inside your love" reinforces this desire for intimacy and connection.
Overall, the lyrics to "Yearning for your love" convey a longing for a deep, meaningful relationship with someone the singer loves and wants to be with. The repeated pleas for the love interest to stop running in and out of his life and be his lover and wife reflect the singer's frustration and desire for commitment.
Line by Line Meaning
The time has come for us to stop messin' around
It's time for us to take our relationship more seriously and stop playing games.
'Cause don't you know that I like havin' you around
I enjoy spending time with you and want you in my life.
In my life
I want you to be a permanent part of my life and stay with me.
So many times I want to hold you, oh, so near
I crave physical intimacy with you and want to hold you tightly in my arms.
I want to say I love you softly in your ear
I want to express my love for you in a gentle and intimate way.
Don't keep running
Please don't keep avoiding commitment and running away from me.
My heart is yearning for your love
I have a strong desire and longing for your love and affection.
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
I need you to be a constant presence in my life and can't handle you leaving me repeatedly.
I need to have you as my lover and my wife
I want to commit to a long-term relationship with you and make you my partner for life.
Be my lover
I want us to take our relationship to the next level and become romantically involved.
To be my friend, my lover and my guide
I want you to be my companion, my intimate partner, and my mentor in life.
My heart is yearning for you
I have a deep longing and need for you in my life.
Let me inside your love
I want to be intimately connected with you and experience your love and affection.
Your only
I want to be the only person you give your love and affection to.
You can't keep runnin' in and out of my life
I am tired of you constantly leaving and returning to my life.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: OLIVER AUGUSTA SCOTT, RONNIE WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind