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.
Good Lovin' Ain't Easy To Come By
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics
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Good lovin' ain't easy
Good lovin' ain't easy to come by
Oh, darlin', that's the kind you offer me
It's just the love to be found
'Cause we're workin' on a buildin' nobody can tear down
Look what we've got, ho-ho-ho-honey
Good lovin' ain't easy, darlin'
Good lovin' ain't easy to come by, oh no no
I've tried the good life and I know
It's a playground where no one cares
But at last you'll find out that don't compare
To what we've got, ho-ho-ho-honey
It takes more than just a song and dance
You've got to work and fight to give it a chance
If the rain comes down on us
And there ain't no place to run
We'll just cover ourselves with a blanket of love
And wait till the mornin' comes
Oh baby, let's do it today
Inflection
Give us protection
Good lovin' ain't easy to come by
Some think it's a plaything
You can toss away when it's old
But when love's valued in pieces
It's worth more than gold
That's what we've got
In this song, Gladys Knight & The Pips sing about the challenges of finding good love, and the importance of valuing and fighting for it once it's found. The repeated refrain of "Good lovin' ain't easy" emphasizes the difficulty of finding a true, lasting love. The singer acknowledges that she has tried the "good life" and found it lacking in comparison to the love she has with her partner. She contrasts this with the transience of other kinds of love, which can be treated like a "plaything" and thrown away once they lose their novelty.
The second half of the song focuses on the effort and commitment required to maintain a loving relationship. The singer emphasizes that it takes more than just a "song and dance" to make a relationship work, but dedication and perseverance. The metaphorical "blanket of love" suggests that even when times are tough, love can provide a sense of safety and security. The song ends by emphasizing the value of love, which is "worth more than gold."
Line by Line Meaning
Good lovin' ain't easy
Finding true love is difficult and requires effort
Good lovin' ain't easy
Reiterating that finding true love is difficult
Good lovin' ain't easy to come by
Emphasizing that finding true love is rare
Oh, darlin', that's the kind you offer me
Acknowledging that the artist has found true love with their partner
It's just the love to be found
The search for true love is worthwhile and fulfilling
'Cause we're workin' on a buildin' nobody can tear down
The singer and their partner are building a strong, unbreakable relationship together
Look what we've got, ho-ho-ho-honey
Celebrating the love and bond shared between the singer and their partner
I've tried the good life and I know
The artist has experienced a life of luxury and material possessions
It's a playground where no one cares
This life of luxury is shallow and lacks true emotional connections
But at last you'll find out that don't compare
The artist has realized that material possessions cannot compare to the love they have found with their partner
To what we've got, ho-ho-ho-honey
Confirming that the love shared with their partner is more valuable than any material possession
It takes more than just a song and dance
Building a strong relationship takes more effort than just romantic gestures
You've got to work and fight to give it a chance
A strong relationship requires both partners to invest time and effort into it
If the rain comes down on us
If things get difficult or challenging
And there ain't no place to run
If there are no easy solutions to the problem
We'll just cover ourselves with a blanket of love
The artist and their partner will rely on their love and bond for comfort and support during tough times
And wait till the mornin' comes
They will wait patiently for the situation to improve
Oh baby, let's do it today
Encouraging the partner to invest time and effort into their relationship now
Inflection
Unclear - this may be a reference to musical inflection, or possibly a mistake in the lyrics
Give us protection
Asking for protection and support for their relationship
Good lovin' ain't easy to come by
Reiterating the difficulty of finding true love
Some think it's a plaything
Some people view love as a disposable or temporary item
You can toss away when it's old
They believe that love can be discarded when it is no longer new or exciting
But when love's valued in pieces
However, when love is deeply appreciated and valued
It's worth more than gold
It is more valuable than any material possession
That's what we've got
Celebrating the deep and valuable love shared between the singer and their partner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOBBY BROWN, TEDDY RILEY, AQIL DAVIDSON, DEMETRIUS ANTOINNE SHIPP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Siobhan Quinn
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