Knight started to record solo material due to legal issues that forced her and The Pips to record separately. Her solo debut "Miss Gladys Knight" was released in 1978 followed by "Gladys Knight" on Colombia Records. Knight recorded the title track for the James Bond movie "Licence To Kill." It became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6. Knight's third solo album, "Good Woman" was released in 1991 on MCA Records (now Geffen Records). The album quickly climbed the charts to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the lead single, "Men" (#2 R&B). Her fourth album, "Just For You" followed in 1995. The album went Gold. Knight most recent album is her critically acclaimed ninth studio album, "Before Me", released in 2006.
Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing
Gladys Knight Lyrics
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Ain't nothing like the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
I got your picture hangin' on the wall
But it can't see or come to me when I call your name
I realize it's just a picture inside a frame
I read your letters when you're not near me
But they don't move me, and they don't groove me
Like when I hear your sweet voice whispering in my ear
I play the game, a fantasy
I pretend I'm not in reality
I need the shelter of your arms to comfort me
I got some memories to look back on
And though they help me when you're gone
I'm well aware nothin' can take the place of you being there
No other sound is quite the same as your name
No touch can do half as much to make me feel better
So let's get together
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
Ain't nothing like the real thing
The song "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" by Gladys Knight expresses the idea that nothing can substitute for the real thing in love. The lyrics describe the longing for a loved one who is not physically there, but whose presence is deeply missed. The picture on the wall and the letters in hand are mere representations of the real thing, unable to fulfill the desire for the actual person. The singer recognizes the importance of the person's touch, voice, and name, which cannot be replaced by anything else.
The lyrics utilize vivid imagery to convey the singer's emotions, making the listener empathize with her longing. The absence of the loved one is felt throughout the song, yet the singer does not give up hope for their reunion, asking to "get together" in the end. The repetition of the phrase "Ain't nothing like the real thing" emphasizes the sentiment that nothing can replace the true connection between two people in love.
Overall, the song captures the essence of what many people have experienced in love - the yearning for a physical and emotional connection that cannot be replicated by anything else. The lyrics are relatable, touching, and timeless, making the song a classic in the world of love songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby
There is no substitute for the real thing, my love
Ain't nothing like the real thing
Nothing compares to the genuine article
I got your picture hangin' on the wall
I have your photo displayed on my wall
But it can't see or come to me when I call your name
But it cannot respond when I call out to you
I realize it's just a picture inside a frame
I understand that it's only an image in a frame
I read your letters when you're not near me
I peruse your letters when we're not together
But they don't move me, and they don't groove me
But they don't stir or excite me
Like when I hear your sweet voice whispering in my ear
As much as when I hear your soft voice speaking to me
I play the game, a fantasy
I engage in a game of make-believe
I pretend I'm not in reality
I imagine that I'm not experiencing reality
I need the shelter of your arms to comfort me
I crave the embrace of your arms to soothe me
I got some memories to look back on
I have some memories to reminisce about
And though they help me when you're gone
And although they provide some solace when you're away
I'm well aware nothin' can take the place of you being there
I fully acknowledge that nothing can replace your presence
No other sound is quite the same as your name
No other sound resonates quite like your name
No touch can do half as much to make me feel better
No physical touch can have the same effect on me
So let's get together
So let's reunite
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cherielee1090
I introduce this album to my mum, and there were times, once she owned a copy of her own, that she'd play this album on repeat, sometimes for hours and other times it was days.
I can't tell you how I alone burnt out a few CD's of my own.
I was listening to something else and it made me think of this album, something I haven't done in a long time , but I'm here now in the wee hours of the morning, shedding my fair share of tears, and thinking about my mum, who's been gone now since October 2007.
It's bittersweet really, and what I love the most about music.
It has a way of transforming us to places we have long forgotten, it make us think of happy times, not so happy times as well as the sad times.
Memories are the one thing not even death can take from us.
I'm SO happy I was able to come across this amazing collaboration yet again.🎵✌️💜
@lewisziroh8294
Ladies and gentlemen...the lovely queen....Mrs Gladys knight...beauty and class embodied in one👏👏👏👏👏🔥🔥🔥🔥
@antinettroll
I so love this rendition, and Vince Gill is so fine
@dianacrow7509
Ouch...hot!! Oh, yeeaahh!! Molasses & Honey...🔥 buttermilk biscuits. Wholesome, sacred & organic! Oooohh!!
@IMunlucky
Gladys is the real thing. Amazing.
@terrepowell7696
Thanks Psalm 48
@moog8008
Country and R&B are so interchangeable. Truly cousins. Love to see the musical soul of American music in these genres.
@vonwonmusicinc.4560
Like Ray Charles said in the movie Ray "It's all music baby."
@bruce1002003
Midnight Plane to Houston/Midnight Train to Georgia, I Will always Love you, just to name 2.
@Ronaldo-rt7hl
invented by the same people so makes sense
@charleswilliams8248
Gladys and Vince are real singers! Both of them are true legends in their own right! Beautiful duet!