Gladys Knight & The Pips were a soul and rnb family musical act from Atlant… Read Full Bio ↴Gladys Knight & The Pips were a soul and rnb family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, active from 1953 to 1989. The group is best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's 'Soul' record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including the songs "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (1967) and "Midnight Train to Georgia" (1973). The longest-lived incarnation of the act featured Gladys Knight on lead vocals alongside backup singers 'The Pips', which included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight as well as their cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.

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.

It's a Better Than Good Time
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
for making up your mind to stay
it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
now you're here with me, this way
'cause i've changed a lot, from how I was then
tell me that you're ready to try again

it's a better than good time
for making up your mind about love

it's taken half of my life to see
maybe the best thing that ever happened to me
i just let slip through my fingers
like he was nothing at all (nothing at all)
nothing at all

all over and out of touch
and my own company doesn't thrill me too much
right now it's hard to imagine
i used to believe, it couldn't happen to me
it shouldn't happen to me

ohh!
it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
for making up your mind to stay
it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
now you're here with me, this way
'cause i've changed a lot, from how I was then
tell me that you're ready to try again
it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
for making up your mind about love

you could say i'm the classic case
my own thoughtlessness thrown back in my face
till that part of my life
i'd learned nothing at all (nothing at all)
nothing at all

when midnight holds no more
than a worn out movie that you've seen before
that's when you start realizing
what life could be
it couldn't happen to me
it shouldn't happen to me

it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
for making up your mind to stay
it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
now you're here with me, this way
'cause i've changed a lot, from how I was then
tell me that you're ready to try again
it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
for making up your mind about love

it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
for making up your mind to stay
it's a better than good time
it's a better than good time
now you're here with me, this way
'cause i've changed a lot, from how I was then
tell me that you're ready to try again
it's a better than good time

it's a better than good time
for making up your mind about love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gladys Knight's song "It's Better Than a Good Time" tell a story of realization and regret. The singer of the song has come to a point in her life where she has finally seen the error of her ways and the value of the love that she had taken for granted. She sings about the changes she has made and her hope that her lover is willing to try again. The chorus "it's a better than good time for making up your mind about love" speaks to the importance of taking action and making a commitment to love when you have the chance.

The second verse of the song describes the singer's realization that she had let her love slip away because of her own thoughtlessness. It is clear that she has learned from her mistakes, but it is also clear that she is feeling regretful about what she has lost. She paints the picture of a life without love - a life where even the things that used to bring joy are now dull and meaningless. The final lines of the song are a plea for a second chance - a hope that her newfound perspective on love will be enough to win back the one that got away.

Line by Line Meaning

it's a better than good time
This is a truly wonderful moment

for making up your mind to stay
This moment is perfect to decide to commit

it's a better than good time
This is a truly wonderful moment

now you're here with me, this way
Having you here with me like this is perfect

'cause i've changed a lot, from how I was then
I'm different now from before, let me show you

tell me that you're ready to try again
Let's give this another chance

it's a better than good time
This is a truly wonderful moment

for making up your mind about love
This is the perfect time to decide on love

it's taken half of my life to see
It's taken me so long to realize

maybe the best thing that ever happened to me
You're the best thing that's ever happened to me

i just let slip through my fingers
I let you go so easily