I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Gladice Knight & The Pips Lyrics
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Baby, baby, baby 'bout your plans to make me blue
With some other girl you knew before (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Between the two of us girls you know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
When I found out yesterday (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
Not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
Oh I'm just about, just about, just about to lose my mind
Oh yes, I am, oh yes, I am, oh yes, I am
Baby won't you listen to me
Boy take a good look at these tears of mine
Baby, baby these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Because you mean that much to me
You could've told me yourself (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
That you love somebody else (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Instead I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
Oh, not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
Oh, I heard it, yes, I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
Oh, just about, just about, just about, to lose my mind
Oh yes, I am, oh yes, I am, oh yes, I am
Go, go
Go, I gotta go
Go, go
You gotta let me go
Go, go, go
I gotta go whoa, whoa, whoa
Say believe half of what you see
Oh, ho, and none of what you hear
Baby baby, but I just can't help bein' confused
If it's true please baby, won't ya tell me dear
Oh, do you plan to let me go (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
For the other girl you loved before? (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Don't ya know that I heard through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
Not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
Don't ya know that I heard it, yes I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
I heard it, I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
The song "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Gladys Knight & The Pips is a classic tale of a man who cheats on his partner and the devastating effect it has on her. The singer begins the song by acknowledging that she is aware of her partner's plans to leave her for another woman. She confesses that she had loved him more than the other girl ever could, and that the news was a shock to her when she found out the day before. She goes on to plead with him to listen to her, urging him to look at her tears and understand how much losing him would devastate her.
The chorus repeats the line "I heard it through the grapevine," which alludes to how news and gossip travel through a community. The singer laments that she heard the news from someone else instead of her partner telling her himself. She admits that the truth makes her feel like she is losing her mind and that it hurts knowing that their time together is coming to an end. The song ends with the singer questioning if her partner really plans to leave her for the other girl, and asking him to be truthful with her.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
You might be curious about why I know
Baby, baby, baby 'bout your plans to make me blue
Darling, you had intentions to make me sad
With some other girl you knew before (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
You are with another woman you were previously familiar with
Between the two of us girls you know I loved you more
Of the two women, you know that I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
I must admit that I was caught off guard
When I found out yesterday (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
I learned of this news just yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
Do you not realize that I heard this news through the grapevine?
Not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
I do not have much time left with you
Oh I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
I heard about this news through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about, just about, just about to lose my mind
I am nearly going crazy over this
Oh yes, I am, oh yes, I am, oh yes, I am
Indeed, that is how I feel
Baby won't you listen to me
Would you please listen to me, my love?
Boy take a good look at these tears of mine
Please examine these tears I am shedding, my love
Baby, baby these tears I can't hold inside
Beloved, I cannot contain these tears
Losin' you would end my life you see (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
If I lose you, my life would come to an end
Because you mean that much to me
This is how important you are to me
You could've told me yourself (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
You could have delivered the news yourself
That you love somebody else (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
That you are in love with someone else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
Rather, I heard the news through the grapevine
Oh, not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
We do not have much time left together
Oh, I heard it, yes, I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
Oh yes, I heard the news clearly
Oh, just about, just about, just about, to lose my mind
Oh, I feel like I am about to go insane
Go, go
Please go away
Go, I gotta go
I have to leave
You gotta let me go
You need to let me leave
Go, go, go
Please go away
I gotta go whoa, whoa, whoa
I really need to leave immediately
Say believe half of what you see
It is wise to only believe some of what you see
Oh, ho, and none of what you hear
And it is even wiser to disbelieve what you hear
Baby baby, but I just can't help bein' confused
My love, I cannot help but feel confused
If it's true please baby, won't ya tell me dear
If this news is true, please inform me, my love
Oh, do you plan to let me go (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Oh, are you intending to leave me?
For the other girl you loved before? (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
For the woman you were once in love with?
Don't ya know that I heard through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
Do you not realize that I found out through the grapevine?
Not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
We do not have much time together anymore
Don't ya know that I heard it, yes I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
Did you not know that I heard the news?
I heard it, I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
I heard the news, I heard the news
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind