Gladys Knight, born on May 28, 1944, developed her singing style while singing with her family at Baptist church functions. Though the group first released recordings in 1958, their career really got started when Motown founder Berry Gordy witnessed them perform at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in 1966 and felt very impressed. With a career following spanning decade after decade, featuring many hits, the group has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.
Don't Let Her Take Your Love From Me
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics
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You don't have to tell me you've gone to found someone new.
'Cause I can feel his presence, whenever I'm-a-kissing you.
How can you ask me to try, try and understand
Well, just put yourself in my place.
Go on, just see if you can.
I'm-a begging you. (Don't, don't you let him)
Baby, please. (Don't let him, don't let him take your love from me)
Oh no. (Don't let him, don't let him take your love from me)
So what if he whispers how much he loves you in your ear.
But pay no mind 'cause I love you much more my dear
My love are like mountains.
That's how strong it is for you.
If you ever walk away in to his arms
Which will surely break my heart in two.
I'm begging you. (Don't, don't you let him)
Oh no. (Don't let him, don't let him take your love from me)
Baby, baby, I'm begging. (Don't, don't you let him)
No, no, no, no. (Don't let him, don't let him take your love from me)
Oh, I couldn't stand it, baby.
If you leave me for him you would truly be unfair.
Now, just ask yourself, whenever you needed me, wasn't I always there
Now, I'm begging you, baby, baby, down on my bended knees.
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, please stay here with me.
Baby, please. (Don't, don't you let him)
Oh no. (Don't let him, don't let him take your love from me)
Baby, baby, please. (Don't, don't you let him)
I couldn't stand it. (Don't let him, don't let him take your love from
me)
I ain't too proud to beg. (Don't, don't you let him)
In this song, Gladys Knight is singing to her lover and begging him not to leave her for someone else. She's telling him that she can feel his presence whenever they're together and she understands that he's found someone new, but she loves him too much to let him go. She pleads with him not to give his love away so easily and to think about how much she has always been there for him.
The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and heartbreak as Knight pleads with her lover to stay with her. The use of repetition in the "baby, baby, baby" and "don't let him" lines emphasize the urgency of her message. The metaphor of her love being like mountains shows just how strong her feelings are, and how devastating it would be if he were to leave her.
Overall, the song is a powerful expression of the fear of losing someone you love and the lengths you would go to keep them by your side.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Repetition of 'baby' conveys the plea and emotional intensity behind the song
You don't have to tell me you've gone to found someone new.
Speaker realizes the partner has moved on
'Cause I can feel his presence, whenever I'm-a-kissing you.
Speaker can sense partner's infidelity through subtle clues
How can you ask me to try, try and understand
Partner's request for understanding is difficult to comply with
Well, just put yourself in my place.
Asks partner to imagine how they would feel if roles were reversed
Go on, just see if you can.
Challenges partner to empathize with speaker's situation
I'm-a begging you. (Don't, don't you let him)
Desperate plea to partner to stay faithful
Baby, please. (Don't let him, don't let him take your love from me)
Reasserts plea and fear of losing partner to someone else
So what if he whispers how much he loves you in your ear.
Dismisses partner's new lover's words as insignificant
But pay no mind 'cause I love you much more my dear
Speaker's love for partner supersedes new lover's declarations of love
My love are like mountains.
Emphasizes the strength and endurance of speaker's love
That's how strong it is for you.
Clarifies that the strength of speaker's love is specifically for the partner
If you ever walk away in to his arms
Expresses fear of partner leaving for new lover
Which will surely break my heart in two.
Describes the devastating emotional impact of partner leaving
Now, just ask yourself, whenever you needed me, wasn't I always there
Reminds partner of speaker's devotion and availability
Now, I'm begging you, baby, baby, down on my bended knees.
Speaker demonstrates the depth of their desperation by pleading on their knees
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, please stay here with me.
Final plea for partner to stay with speaker
I ain't too proud to beg. (Don't, don't you let him)
Acknowledges speaker's vulnerability and willingness to beg for partner's love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind