I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Gladys Knight Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
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 heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
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)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Gladys Knight & The Pips present a situation where the singer had to find out from someone else that their partner was planning to break up with them. The first verse talks about the singer's surprise at finding out, but also hints at a feeling of suspicion or intuition that something was off in the relationship. The second verse is more emotional, with the singer expressing their love for their partner and the devastation they would feel if they were to lose them.


The chorus is the most memorable part of the song, as it repeats the phrase "I heard it through the grapevine" multiple times, emphasizing the fact that the singer did not hear about the breakup directly from their partner. The bridge section features a call-and-response between the lead vocalist and the backup singers, who urge the singer to let go and move on from the relationship.


Overall, the song is a classic example of the Motown sound, with its catchy melody and memorable lyrics. It also taps into a universal theme of heartbreak and betrayal that has resonated with listeners for decades.


Line by Line Meaning

I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
I know you're curious about how I found out


Baby, baby, baby 'bout your plans to make me blue
You were trying to make me upset with your plans, oh baby


With some other girl you knew before (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
You're with another girl that you knew from before, and it hurts me


Between the two of us girls you know I loved you more
I loved you much more than the other girl did, you know that it's true


It took me by surprise I must say (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
I was shocked when I found out, I didn't see it coming


When I found out yesterday (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
I just found out yesterday, it's still fresh in my mind


Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
I heard the rumor from somewhere else and it's spreading like wildfire


Not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
I know you're leaving me soon


Oh I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
I heard it from unreliable sources


Oh I'm just about, just about, just about to lose my mind
I'm at my wit's end and about to lose it


Baby won't you listen to me
Please listen to me, my love


Boy take a good look at these tears of mine
Take a good look at my tears, you're the reason why


Baby, baby these tears I can't hold inside
These tears can't be contained, they're falling like rain


Losin' you would end my life you see (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Losing you would destroy my life, don't you see?


Because you mean that much to me
You're extremely important to me


You could've told me yourself (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
You should've told me yourself that you didn't love me anymore


That you love somebody else (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
That you're in love with someone else


Instead I heard it through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
I found out through rumors and gossip


Oh, not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
I know you're leaving me soon


Oh, I heard it, yes, I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
I heard it, no need to deny it


Oh, just about, just about, just about, to lose my mind
I'm about to completely lose it


Go, go
I need to leave


Go, I gotta go
I have to leave right now


Go, go
I need to leave


You gotta let me go
You have to let me leave


Go, go, go
I'm leaving, leaving, leaving


I gotta go whoa, whoa, whoa
I really have to leave now before I break down


Say believe half of what you see
Only believe half of what you see with your own eyes


Oh, ho, and none of what you hear
Don't believe anything you hear, especially if it's gossip


Baby baby, but I just can't help bein' confused
I'm confused about this whole situation, baby


If it's true please baby, won't ya tell me dear
If it's true, please tell me the truth, my dear


Oh, do you plan to let me go (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Do you plan on breaking up with me?


For the other girl you loved before? (ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
For a girl you loved before me?


Don't ya know that I heard through the grapevine (oh, I heard it through the grapevine)
You don't realize that I heard about it through gossip?


Not much longer would you be mine (not much longer would you be mine)
You won't be mine for much longer


Don't ya know that I heard it, yes I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
Yes, I heard it and there's nothing you can do to deny it


I heard it, I heard it (heard it through the grapevine)
I heard the rumors, and it's spreading like wildfire




Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@user-jl5td1uk8p

This version is pure gospel ❤love it ❤love it ❤love it

@deloresvaughan7058

The Best!

@yvonnefreeman5264

The band and the vocals is dynamite, Gladys won a Grammy for her version.

@NOV123

The Funk Brothers!!

@charlesselix203

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.
Mark 1:15

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR RIGHT NOW. REPENT OF ALL YOUR SINS TODAY, AND GIVE ALL YOUR LIFE TO HIM, WHOSOEVER READS THIS MESSAGE.

@shannonvanderhoof4810

We are "the children"
WWG1WGA
🌿🖤💦

@Gwen3344

Sing Gladys, sing! Her version of I Heard It Through The Grapevine screams to the mountaintops the outrage of betrayal and lies. This is a woman demanding her right to the truth.

Marvin Gaye's version was more commercially successful, and I do enjoy it, but when I hear Gladys' version, I always have to play it again. It delivers on so many levels, honestly resonating the emotions of betrayal. Every element of the song matches the lyrics. Vocally, there's the defiant, take no nonsense lead and the exuberantly supportive backgrounds in a call-and-shout arrangement -- all suggesting a tight-knit network of emotional support standing in the wings. Musically, the taunting, mocking bass, the unrelenting piano and the crazy-mad saxophone deliver a measure of vengeance, slamming the scoundrel with the contempt he has earned.

All that emoting going on to foot-tapping, body-shaking rhythms. Great stuff!

@deloresvaughan7058

Your speaking nothing but the truth.
I love my Queen. She is my favorite artist

@Gwen3344

@@deloresvaughan7058 👍Gladys could straight out sing! Aretha Franklin was given that title the Queen of Soul, but I always disputed that. I have always preferred Gladys' vocal tone. I appreciate your appreciation of Gladys' talent. 😘

@sheilapalmer224

You kill this jam

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