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.

Thank You
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics

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Lookin' at the devil
Grinnin' at his gun
Fingers start shakin'
I begin to run
Bullets start chasin'
I begin to stop
We begin to wrestle
I was on the top

I want to thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
Thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin

Stiff all in the collar
Fluffy in the face
Chit chat chatter tryin'
Stuffy in the place
Thank you for the party
But I could never stay
Many thangs is on my mind
Words in the way

I want to thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
Thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
Dance to the music
All nite long
Everyday people
Sing a simple song
Mama's so happy
Mama start to cry
Papa still singin'
You can make it if you try

I want to thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
(Different strokes for different folks, yeah)
Thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
Flamin' eyes of people fear
Burnin' into you
Many men are missin' much
Hatin' what they do
Youth and truth are makin' love
Dig it for a starter, now
Dyin' young is hard to take
Sellin' out is harder

Thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
I want to thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
Thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin
Thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin

I want to thank you falettinme
Be mice elf agin

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" by Gladys Knight & The Pips seem to be a cryptic yet powerful appreciation message to someone who has helped the singer or someone close to them to regain their true self or identity, and to do so, the lyrics use metaphors that may be difficult to interpret.

The opening verse suggests that something scary or dangerous was happening, and the singer had to run and fight to avoid getting shot. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the challenges and difficulties one faces when trying to leave a harmful or oppressive situation. The chorus then follows, thanking the person who has helped the singer to "be mice elf agin" - or to regain their true, authentic self. This phrase is believed to be a corruption of "for letting me be myself again" or "for letting me be Michael again," referring to the popular entertainer and the struggle of Black Americans to assert their identities in white-dominated society. The song then moves on to thank the person for a party or opportunity presented to them, but notes that the singer can't stay because they have too much on their mind, and "words [are] in the way."

The second verse continues this theme of parties and conversations, but introduces the idea of people being afraid or held back by the "flamin' eyes of people fear." The singer notes that many people are unhappy with their lives or jobs, indicating that these people have lost their sense of self or identity. The song ultimately concludes with a repetition of the chorus, making it clear that the message of the song is all about thanking someone for helping the singer to "be mice elf agin."

Line by Line Meaning

Lookin' at the devil
I was in a dangerous or scary situation

Grinnin' at his gun
Seeing the weapon made me nervous

Fingers start shakin'
I felt anxious and scared

I begin to run
I started to flee from the situation

Bullets start chasin'
I was being shot at and had to avoid getting hit

I begin to stop
I realized running wasn't getting me anywhere and halted

We begin to wrestle
I had to fight or struggle to survive

I was on the top
I came out on top or won the fight

I want to thank you falettinme
I am grateful to you for

Be mice elf agin
allowing me to be my genuine self again

Stiff all in the collar
I was uncomfortable or nervous

Fluffy in the face
My face looked puffy, possibly from crying or stress

Chit chat chatter tryin'
Small talk wasn't helping me forget my problems

Stuffy in the place
Being in that location was making me feel claustrophobic

Thank you for the party
I appreciate the gesture or event

But I could never stay
But I couldn't remain in that situation or place

Many thangs is on my mind
I have a lot of things to think about and process

Words in the way
But sometimes it's hard to express myself

Dance to the music
Enjoy the music

All nite long
For the entire night

Everyday people
People are just ordinary, no matter their background

Sing a simple song
Find joy in the simple things in life

Mama's so happy
My mother was elated

Mama start to cry
But that made her emotional

Papa still singin'
My father remained positive and sang

You can make it if you try
We can overcome our struggles with effort and determination

Flamin' eyes of people fear
People's fearful expressions are intense or intimidating

Burnin' into you
They're staring and making you feel uncomfortable

Many men are missin' much
Men are missing out on a lot in life

Hatin' what they do
They're unhappy with their lives or jobs

Youth and truth are makin' love
Being honest and true to ourselves leads to a fulfilling life

Dig it for a starter, now
Understand it and embrace it as a starting point

Dyin' young is hard to take
It's difficult to accept the death of someone young

Sellin' out is harder
It's much harder to compromise your values than it is to die young

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Sentric Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Sylvester Stewart

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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