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.
But Not for Me
Gladys Knight Lyrics
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Never tell me dreams come true
Just try it and I'll start a riot
Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
Ever tell me he will care
I'm certain it's the final curtain
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
They're writing songs of love but not for me
A lucky star's above but not for me
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
Than any Russian play could guarantee
I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
I guess he's not for me
I was a fool to fall and get that way
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
Gladys Knight's song "But Not For Me" is a powerful and emotional song about unrequited love. The lyrics explore the feelings of heartbreak and despair when someone you love doesn't love you back. The song begins with the singer rejecting the idea that dreams come true and that fate will supply them with a mate. They believe it's all nonsense and the final curtain has been drawn on their love life. They go on to express their frustration with optimistic people like Beatrice Fairfax, who try to convince them that their luck will change. The singer knows better and is sure that love is not in the cards for them.
The song then moves into a melancholic reflection on the singer's romantic failures. They lament that while others have found love, they have not been so lucky. The imagery of the lucky star above, representing the hope of finding love, only serves to emphasize the pain of their own situation. The singer describes how their attempts to find love have led to disappointment and an endless sea of "clouds of gray". The reference to a "Russian play" speaks to the weight of the sorrow they feel, as Russian literature and theatre are known for their dark and profound depictions of sadness.
The final verses acknowledge the singer's own foolishness in falling for someone who doesn't love them back. They realize that they must move on, but cannot dismiss the memory of the person's kiss. The longing and sadness present throughout the song make it an emotionally charged exploration of the pain of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Old man sunshine listen you
The singer addresses the concept of hope in life
Never tell me dreams come true
The singer rejects the notion that aspirations actually become reality
Just try it and I'll start a riot
The singer uses hyperbole to emphasize their skepticism
Beatrice Fairfax don't you dare
The artist warns against trusting another person's claims about relationships
Ever tell me he will care
The artist doubts the possibility of finding genuine affection
I'm certain it's the final curtain
The singer speaks with conviction that their love life is over
I never want to hear from any cheerful Pollyannas
The singer rejects the optimism of those who insist on brighter days ahead
Who tell you fate supplies a mate
The artist dismisses the idea of fate determining their romantic future
It's all bananas
The artist finds all romantic claims absurd and illogical
They're writing songs of love but not for me
The artist bemoans the absence of love songs that apply to their life
A lucky star's above but not for me
The singer acknowledges that fortune does not favor them
With love to lead the way I've found more clouds of gray
The artist notices that love has brought more sadness than happiness
Than any Russian play could guarantee
The singer uses hyperbole to emphasize the extent of their heartache
I was a fool to fall and get that way
The singer criticizes themselves for falling in love and getting hurt
Hi-ho, alas, and also lack-a-day
The singer uses old-fashioned, melancholic expressions to describe their emotional state
Although I can't dismiss the memory of his kiss
The artist admits that they can't completely forget the positive moments of the past relationship
I guess he's not for me
The artist concludes that the person they fell in love with is not meant for them
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ginger Williams
on Mr. Love
I'm 84 years old and I've never heard this beautiful message. My daughter introduced it to me and I'm gonna keep listening. I love it