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.
I Don't Want To Do Wrong
Gladys Knight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you've been gone baby so long
And I hope I hope you'll understand
That it's really, it's really oh yes it is
It's out of my hands
But I don't want to do wrong, I don't want to do wrong
(But it's been so long), it's been so long
(No, no, no) um
Since you've been away (since you've been away)
I been prayin' everyday (I been prayin' everyday)
For God to make me strong till ya get back home
No, no, no, no I don't want to do it
But my heart keeps tellin' me to
I know I tried with all of my might
Ah ha I think I've lost this fight
(I don't want to do wrong) I don't want to do wrong
(But it's been so long) it's been so long
(I just can't help myself) I just can't, I just can't
(No, no, no)
Oh yeah
But then again my dear
Time passed and I didn't hear
A comforting word from you to make me see
That you were still in love with me
So if by chance you've found ya' another girl
Love her and I wish ya' all the happiness in the world
'Cause I've found a new love and I can't break loose
I hope I can find happiness too
(I don't want to do wrong) I don't want to do wrong
(But it's been so long) oh it's been so long
(I just can't help myself) no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no
I don't want to do wrong
(But it's been so long)
(I just can't help myself)
I just can't, I just can't, I just can't, I just can't, I just can't
I don't want to do wrong
(But it's been so long)
(I just can't help myself)
I just can't, I just can't
In "I Don't Want To Do Wrong," Gladys Knight croons about the difficulty of waiting for a lover who has been gone for a long time. She admits that she doesn't want to "do wrong," but can't help the way she feels. She has been praying for strength to resist temptation, but her heart is telling her to act on her feelings. Despite her best efforts, she feels she is losing the fight to stay faithful. However, as time passes without word from her lover, Knight realizes that she cannot wait forever. She acknowledges the possibility that her lover might have found someone else, and she must move on as well. In the end, Knight expresses hope that she can find happiness in a new love, just like her departing lover has.
The lyrics to "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" illustrate the complexities of remaining faithful while in a long-distance relationship. When someone you love is far away, the urge to seek companionship and comfort from others can be overwhelming. The song captures the struggle between wanting to stay true to your partner and succumbing to temptation. Knight's impassioned delivery adds an emotional depth to the lyrics, making the listener feel every ounce of her pain, confusion, and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Um I don't want to do wrong
I am hesitant to do something that may not be morally right
But you've been gone baby so long
But you have been away from me for a significant amount of time
And I hope I hope you'll understand
And I hope that you will be able to comprehend my situation
That it's really, it's really oh yes it is
That my predicament is genuine
It's out of my hands but (I don't want to do wrong)
However, the circumstances are beyond my control, but I am still reluctant to act indecently
Since you been away
Since you have been gone
I been prayin' everyday
I have been praying every day
For God to make me strong till ya get back home
For God to grant me inner strength until you return home
But my heart keeps tellin' me to
But my heart keeps urging me to do otherwise
I know I tried with all of my might
I know I have put in all my effort
Ah ha I think I've lost this fight
However, I think I have failed in this endeavor
No I didn't want to do it ooh, ooh, oh
No, I did not intend to do it
So if by chance you've found ya' another girl
So, if by chance, you have found another woman
Love her and I wish ya' all the happiness in the world
Love her, and I wish you all the joy and satisfaction in the world
'Cause I've found a new love and I can't break loose
Because I have discovered new love, and I cannot let go of it
I hope I can find happiness too
I hope that I will also find joy and contentment
Don't want to do wrong no
I do not want to act improperly
Baby, baby, baby (I just can't help myself)
My love, even though I cannot help myself
I just can't (no, no, no)
I simply cannot
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GLADYS KNIGHT, JOHNNY BRISTOL, KATHRINE SCHAFFNER, MERALD KNIGHT, WILLIAM GUEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sauquoit13456
On this day in 1971 {June 27th} Gladys Knight & the Pips' "I Don't Want To Do Wrong" peaked at #2 {for 4 weeks} on Billboard's Hot Black Singles* chart, for the four weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those four weeks was "Mr. Big Stuff" by Jean Knight...
It reached #17 on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Between 1961 and 1988 the Atlanta, Georgia group had fifty five records on the Hot Black Singles chart, thirty one made the Top 10 with ten reaching #1, plus they had another five peak at #2...
Gladys Maria Knight, aka The Empress of Soul, celebrated her 76th birthday last month on May 28th, 2020...
Sadly, two of the Pips have passed away, Edward Roy Patten at the age of 65 on February 25th, 2005 and William Guest on December 24th, 2015 at age 74...
May both Mr. Patten and Mr. Guest R.I.P.
* And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot Black Singles' Top 10 on June 27th, 1971:
At #3. "Don't Knock My Love" by Wilson Pickett
#4. "Bridge Over Troubled Water"/"Brand New Me" by Aretha Franklin
#5. "She's Not Just Another Woman" by The 8th Day
#6. "Bring The Boys Home" by Freda Payne
#7. "Escape-ism" by James Brown
#8. "Never Can Say Goodbye" by Isaac Hayes
#9. "Stop, Look and Listen (To Your Heart)" by The Stylistics
#10. "Want Ads" by The Honey Cone
@alejandrodiazcabrera4318
Um I don't wanna do wrong
But you've been gone baby so long
And I hope I hope you'll understand
That it's really, it's really oh yes it is
It's out of my hands but (I don't wanna do wrong)
I don't wanna do wrong
(But it's been so long) it's been so long
(I just can't help myself) no
(No, no, no) um
Since you been away
I been prayin' everyday
For God to make me strong till ya get back home
No, no, no, no I don't wanna do it
But my heart keeps tellin' me to
I know I tried with all of my might
Ah ha I think I've lost this fight
(I don't wanna do wrong) I don't wanna do wrong
(But it's been so long) it's been so long
(I just can't help myself)
I just can't (no, no, no)
Oh yeah, No I don't wanna
No I didn't wanna do it ooh, ooh, oh
But then again my dear
Time passed and I didn't hear
A comforting word from you to make me see
That you were still in love with me
So if by chance you've found ya' another girl
Love her and I wish ya' all the happiness in the world
'Cause I've found a new love and I can't break loose
I hope I can find happiness too
(I don't wanna do wrong)
I don't wanna do wrong
(But it's been so long) baby, baby, baby
(I just can't help myself) I just can't (no, no, no)
I just can't (I don't wanna do wrong)
Don't wanna do wrong no
(But it's been so long)
Baby, baby, baby (I just can't help myself)
I just can't (no, no, no)
@courtneybee8259
Who still listening in 2024?? The vocal ability in her voice is givinggg
@shoanscollections9106
She's my queen of rnb
@mauriceshaw963
Nobody can touch Ms knight
@angelalewis60
"But then again my dear, time passed and I didn't hear a comforting word from you to make me see, that you were still in love with me. " O-M-G.
@pearlenaalan5196
Yessss! Baby! That’s my part! 🥰🥰
@loveyouall66
guilty as charged.
@larrysimpson1908
@@loveyouall66 h
@williampoulos1847
Ohh my GOD is right! Tears me up every time!
@musathomas7685
So profound
@williampoulos1847
Listen to this song with your heart, mind and soul, and when you do that, you hear that the woman in this song is emotionally torn because of a lover who has been away from her and her wanting to love, be loved and wanting to find that love from a stranger rather than her lover. I am an old fashioned music lover, and when I listen to soulful and powerful songs like this, I become the person in the song. I often am powerfully moved to tears when I do that.