Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma and raised in Newark, New Jersey. In school, she studied classical music, and her father began teaching her piano when she was eight years old. By the early 1970s, she had joined vocal groups such as the Ebonettes and the Matchmakers, meanwhile working as an elementary school teacher. When a backup singer scheduled to sing on Aretha Franklin's 1974 single "I'm in Love" fell ill, Guthrie took the vocalist's place beside Cissy Houston; thus Guthrie would happily state that her career on record began "at the top".
Guthrie soon began moonlighting as a singer of commercial jingles, sometimes with her friend Valerie Simpson (of Ashford & Simpson fame). A songwriting partnership with Patrick Grant resulted in Ben E. King's comeback single, "Supernatural Thing", and "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", covered by numerous artists. Together they wrote seven tracks on the Sister Sledge's 1975 album Circle Of Love: Cross My Heart, Protect Our Love, Love Don't You Go Through No Changes On Me, Don't You Miss Him Now, Pain Reliever, You're Much Better Off Loving Me, and Fireman. She was also the writer of Roberta Flack's "God Don't Like Ugly".
As Guthrie's solo career developed, she worked extensively with Sly and Robbie on dub-influenced club cuts, and began racking up dance hits. She was dubbed "The First Lady of the Paradise Garage" as several of her songs became anthems at the venue, helped by the frequent and dynamic performances she gave there. She soon teamed musically with famed Paradise Garage DJ Larry Levan.
Guthrie is probably best known for her 1986 dance anthem "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent", a self-written and -produced track which garnered some controversy for lyrics such as: "No romance without finance/You've got to have a j-o-b if you want to be with me". (and "...Rent" was later sampled by numerous dance and hip hop artists, notably by Foxy Brown in 1998 "Job").
She also had a hit with a cover of "(They Long to Be) Close to You", which reached #25 in the UK charts the same year.
Her single "Can't Love You Tonight" boldly addressed AIDS at a time when the disease was a taboo subject, and she was an ally to the gay community, and people with AIDS long before the masses caught up. Proceeds from the single went to the AIDS Coalition.
Other club hits of hers include "Padlock", "Peanut Butter", and "Peek-a-Boo".
Padlock
Gwen Guthrie Lyrics
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Padlock
Padlock
Padlock
Padlock
Padlock
Padlock, uh huh
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up, yeah (I'm lockin' up)
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up (I don't want you no more)
Lockin' up
Lockin' up now
Lockin' up (I'm lockin' up)
Lockin' up
I've done enough complainin' to my girlfriends
My Romeo, you'll never ever change
You're all my love, but tonight releases
'Cause my heart has no room in it for pain
Don't you think, tomorrow we will make up
Can't believe this ain't a bluff
You blew it, you blew it, you blew it
So I'm padlockin' my heart
You and I are finished
Padlockin' my heart
Love has been evicted
Padlockin' my heart
You ain't nothin' here
No more
I'm lockin' up
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up, yeah (I'm lockin' up the door)
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up (I don't want you no more)
Lockin' up
Lockin' up now
Lockin' up
I'm lockin' up
I packed your things and left them in the hallway
And my telephone number has been changed
Pondering and use the chance to celebrate
Of being alone so get the stupid ring
I'm happy free and ready for some new love
Not for me I never was
You blew it, you blew it, you blew it
So I'm padlockin' my heart
You and I are finished
Padlockin' my heart
Love has been evicted
Padlockin' my heart
You ain't nothin' here
No more
I'm lockin' up the door
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up, yeah (I'm lockin' up the door)
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up (I don't want you no more)
Lockin' up
Lockin' up now
Lockin' up (lockin' up)
Lockin' up
Go on hit the road jack and I'll help you up (lockin' up, lockin' up now)
If you leave right away it would make my day (lockin' up, lockin' up)
(Padlock) don't wanna see you
(Padlock) 'cause I don't need you
(Padlock)
(Padlock)
I don't love you know more (padlock)
(Padlock)
(Padlock)
(My heart)
I don't love you know more (padlock)
(Padlock)
(Padlock)
(Padlock)
I've done enough complainin' to my girlfriends
Romeo, you'll never ever change
You're all my love, but tonight releases
'Cause my heart has no room in it for pain
Don't you think, tomorrow we will make up
Can't believe this ain't a bluff
You blew it, you blew it, you blew it
So I'm padlockin' my heart
You and I are finished
Padlockin' my heart
Love has been evicted
Padlockin' my heart
You ain't nothin' here
No more
I'm lockin' up
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up, yeah (I'm lockin' up the door)
I'm lockin' up
Lockin' up (I don't love you no more)
Lockin' up
Lockin' up now
Lockin' up (I'm lockin' up)
I'm lockin' up
(Padlock) I don't wanna see you
(Padlock) 'cause I don't need you
(Padlock) no, no, no
(Padlock) I don't wanna see you
"Padlock" by Gwen Guthrie is a break-up song about a woman who has had enough of her partner's behavior and is ready to move on. In the opening verse, she declares that she is locking up her heart to protect herself from further pain. She has complained to her girlfriends about her partner, whom she refers to as her Romeo, but knows that he will never change. She decides to end the relationship and is determined to move on to a new chapter in her life.
In the chorus, Gwen sings that she is padlocking her heart and that love has been evicted. She has packed her partner's things and changed her phone number as a sign that the relationship is truly over. She is now happy and free and ready for new love. The final verse is a reiteration of the chorus, with Gwen emphasizing that she doesn't want to see her ex-partner anymore and that she has moved on.
Overall, the lyrics of "Padlock" illustrate a strong and independent woman who knows when it's time to let go of a toxic relationship and move on to better things. The song is a message of empowerment for anyone who has been hurt in a relationship and needs to take control of their own life.
Line by Line Meaning
Padlock
The singer announces that she is going to padlock her heart.
Padlock
The singer repeats her previous announcement.
Padlock
The singer repeats her previous announcement once again.
Padlock
The artist repeats her previous announcement for the fourth time.
I'm lockin' up
The artist confirms that she is indeed locking up her heart.
Lockin' up, yeah (I'm lockin' up)
The singer reiterates that she is locking up her heart.
I'm lockin' up
The singer repeats her confirmation about locking up her heart.
Lockin' up (I don't want you no more)
The artist explains that she is locking up her heart because she no longer wants the person she's addressing.
Lockin' up now
The artist emphasizes that she is in the process of locking up her heart.
Lockin' up (I'm lockin' up)
The artist repeats that she is locking up her heart to ensure the message is clear.
Lockin' up
The singer repeats her emphasis on locking up her heart.
I've done enough complainin' to my girlfriends
The artist had complained enough about the person she's addressing to her friends.
My Romeo, you'll never ever change
The singer is addressing her lover, telling him he won't ever change.
You're all my love, but tonight releases
Though the person she's addressing is all her love, she is releasing him from her heart and life tonight.
'Cause my heart has no room in it for pain
The singer is locking up her heart to avoid further pain as her heart cannot take any more.
Don't you think, tomorrow we will make up
The person she's addressing might think that they'll make up the next day.
Can't believe this ain't a bluff
The artist is serious and not bluffing.
You blew it, you blew it, you blew it
The person she's addressing made a mistake and ruined things. The repetition suggests that the mistake was significant and unforgivable.
So I'm padlockin' my heart
The singer is padlocking her heart as previously announced.
You and I are finished
The relationship between the artist and the person she's addressing is over.
Padlockin' my heart
The artist repeats that she is padlocking her heart.
Love has been evicted
The artist has evicted love from her heart, and there's no room for it anymore.
Padlockin' my heart
The singer repeats that she is padlocking her heart yet again.
You ain't nothin' here
The person she's addressing doesn't have any place in her life or heart anymore.
No more
The singer affirms that the person she's addressing is not in her life anymore.
I'm lockin' up
The singer repeats that she is locking up, perhaps to reassure herself.
Lockin' up, yeah (I'm lockin' up the door)
The singer is locking up and is now specifying that she is locking up the door, suggesting that she is locking up for good this time.
I'm lockin' up
The artist repeats that she is locking up in case it wasn't clear.
Lockin' up (I don't want you no more)
The artist repeats her reason for locking up, stating that she no longer wants the person she's addressing.
Lockin' up now
The singer reiterates that she is in the process of locking up for good.
Lockin' up (lockin' up)
The singer reminds herself and the person she's addressing that she is locking up her heart and door.
Lockin' up
The artist repeats her emphasis on locking up.
Go on hit the road jack and I'll help you up
The artist is telling the person she's addressing to leave and she'll help him leave.
If you leave right away it would make my day
If the person she's addressing left immediately, it would make the artist's day much better.
(Padlock) don't wanna see you
The singer does not want to see the person she's addressing anymore and is reminding herself with the word 'padlock.'
(Padlock) 'cause I don't need you
The artist is stressing that she no longer needs the person she's addressing and is reminding herself with the word 'padlock.'
(Padlock)
The singer repeats the word padlock to remind herself not to get back with the person she's addressing.
(Padlock)
Another repetition of the word padlock to reinforce the singer's resolve.
I don't love you know more (padlock)
The singer does not love the person she's addressing anymore and reiterates her resolve with the word 'padlock.'
(Padlock)
The artist repeats the word padlock, possibly in anger or frustration.
(Padlock)
One more repetition of the word padlock to emphasize the artist's resolve.
(Padlock)
The last repetition of the word padlock to emphasize the singer's resolve.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TAMY LESTER SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind