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.
Giving Up
Gladys Knight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you really love someone
Givin' up is hard to do
When you still depend upon
His warm and tender touch
His kiss and his caress
That used to mean so much
(Givin' up) Oh, Lord, is hard to do
I try, but it's just no use
(Givin' up) Whoa, Lord, it's hard to do
I tried, but I kept recluse
The light of hope burns dim
But in my heart I pray
My love, my love, my love and faith in him
Will bring him back someday
(Givin' up)
But it's just no use
(Givin' up)
No, I can't break loose
Whether he knows or not
He really needs me too
Oh, Lord, 1 oh, Lord, oh, Lord, he's all I've got
And giving up
Is so hard to do (Givin' up)
Oh, yes, it is (Givin' up)
Is so hard to do (Givin' up)
Oh, yes, it is (Givin' up)
I just can't break loose (Givin' up)
No, no, no (Givin' up)
I just can't break loose (Givin' up)
No, no, no, no (Givin' up), hey, hey, hey
The first line of Gladys Knight's song 'Giving Up' sets the tone for the whole song. She starts by saying 'giving up is hard to do when you really love someone.' The song is about the struggle of letting go of someone you genuinely care about, hoping that they will come back to you. The singer is reluctant to let go of the person she loves, and she finds it challenging to move on because she depends on him for her emotional well-being.
In the first verse, Knight talks about the things she misses about her lover. She misses his warm touch, his kiss and caress, which used to mean so much to her and gave her happiness, but now she's lost all that. This is what she struggles to give up - the memories of the happy times spent together. In the second verse, the singer talks about how she has tried to let go of her lover. She knows that she has to admit defeat and walk away but finds that she can't. She's still holding on to hope, even though it burns dimly, waiting for her love to come back to her.
It is a sad song filled with longing and heartbreak. We can feel the pain in Gladys Knight's voice as she sings about the difficulty of letting go. The song is relatable to those who have gone through disappointments in love, where they find it hard to give up the ones they love, even when it's obvious that it's time to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Givin' up is hard to do
It's difficult to give up on something or someone you really care about.
When you really love someone
When you have genuine feelings of love for another person.
When you still depend upon
Sometimes it's hard to give up on someone because you rely on them for certain things in your life.
His warm and tender touch
The physical affection and love that your partner used to show you.
His kiss and his caress
The intimacy and tenderness your partner used to give you that brought happiness to your life.
That used to mean so much
Those acts of love were very meaningful and important to you at one point in time.
And bring you happiness
They were a source of joy and contentment for you.
(Givin' up) Oh, Lord, is hard to do
It's really difficult to let go, even if you want to try.
I try, but it's just no use
You attempt to give up and move on, but the feelings and the attachment are too strong.
(Givin' up) Whoa, Lord, it's hard to do
It's so challenging to let go and move on from someone you love and care about.
I tried, but I kept recluse
You feel like you tried to move on, but you still find yourself feeling withdrawn and unable to move forward.
The light of hope burns dim
You still have a small glimmer of hope that things can work out.
But in my heart I pray
You hold onto hope that things will improve, even if the odds are against you.
My love, my love, my love and faith in him
Your love and trust in your partner is strong, even if things are difficult right now.
Will bring him back someday
You believe that things can be mended, and he might come back to you.
(Givin' up) But it's just no use
Despite your efforts, you feel like giving up is not an option.
No, I can't break loose
You cannot seem to break free even though you know you should.
Whether he knows or not
It doesn't matter if he realizes it or not; you know you need each other.
He really needs me too
You know your partner needs you as well, and this makes it even harder to let go.
Oh, Lord, 1 oh, Lord, oh, Lord, he's all I've got
Your partner is everything to you, and you don't want to let go of that.
And giving up
Letting go of this relationship.
Is so hard to do (Givin' up)
It's an incredibly challenging thing to do.
Oh, yes, it is (Givin' up)
It really is that hard to walk away, even if it's for the best.
I just can't break loose (Givin' up)
You can't seem to separate yourself from this person, no matter how much you try to move on.
No, no, no (Givin' up)
The feeling of being stuck in this cycle of heartache and hopelessness.
I just can't break loose (Givin' up)
It seems impossible to escape this situation and let go of the love and connection you still feel.
No, no, no, no (Givin' up), hey, hey, hey
It's a painful and frustrating cycle that you can't seem to break, no matter how hard you try.
Contributed by Gabriella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@taratova
This song has a sacred spirit of a love that should have been. It goes to the deep part of the soul . Gladys Knight's best song by far.
@michaelsmith9047
Absolutely nothing but the truth!!! Messiah💯♥️
@sapho71
This is one of my all time favourites and yet it is rarely (if ever) mentioned in her discographies. There is so much emotion conveyed in this song. Gladys gives it everything she's got.
@joyceturner7665
Yes i totally agree this is 1 of my favorites by Gladys and 1 of her best but she hardly get any recognition for it.
@stephaniechristopher4384
When I listened to this I said this is not the original I heard on the radio years before but the phone says that they introduced it and Van McCoy wrote it.
@sharonsnail2954
My first introduction to Gladys Knight in 1964.
When she sings "Lord he's all I've got" I was lost to the voice and captured forever.
My one regret is that I've never seen her live :0(
@lexieskeel
Class act! I was lucky enough to see her in London 2 years ago, the only diva who still has the voice, the power , the emotion 💕
@lexieskeel
@Sharon Snail
@michaelmarino3013
New to this version.also new to sharon jones version.both dripping with amazing soul..
@galegibbs3775
I agree with the other pollster. I saw her and the Pups back in the day. They were a class act indeed.