"As rhythm & blues innovators with an exquisite vocal blend, the Moonglows … Read Full Bio ↴"As rhythm & blues innovators with an exquisite vocal blend, the Moonglows were among the finest black harmony groups of the Fifties. They served to bridge the smoother approach of groups like the Ink Spots and the Mills Brothers with the earthier sounds of rock and roll. The Moonglows, at least part of whose career found them in league with deejay Alan Freed, heralded the revolution that was to come on the strength of such doo-wop singles as “Sincerely,” “Most of All,” and “See Saw,” which were all sizable hits on both the pop and R&B charts in the mid-Fifties.

The Moonglows came together in Cleveland in the early Fifties from an alliance between Harvey Fuqua and Bobby Lester, who’d previously sung together in their hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. They called their jazzy vocal group the Crazy Sounds, but Alan Freed renamed them the Moonglows. They recorded one single for Freed’s Champagne label and five for Chicago-based Chance Records before Phil Chess brought them over to his Chess label, where they remained from 1954 to 1961. The Moonglows’ productive stay on Chess ranged from the vocally innovative “Sincerely,” their biggest hit (#1 R&B, #20 pop), to the Platters-influenced “Ten Commandments of Love” (#9 R&B, #22 pop). When the group reshuffled its lineup in 1959, a young Marvin Gaye became one of the new members. Subsequently, Gaye became a star at Motown while Moonglows founder Harvey Fuqua, who’d already been writing songs with Motown founder Berry Gordy, served as an in-house producer and songwriter.

Ten Commandments of Love
Harvey & The Moonglows Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(One) Thou shalt never love another
Thou shalt never love another
(Two) And stand by me all the while
And stand by me all the while
(Three) Take happiness with the heartaches
Take happiness with the heartaches
(Four) And go through life wearing a smile
And go through life wearing a smile

And oh how happy we will be
If we keep the ten commandments of love of love

(Five) Thou should always have faith in me
Thou should always have faith in me
In everything I say and do
In everything I say and do
(Six) Love me with all your heart and soul
Love with all your heart and soul
Until our life on earth is through
Until our life on earth is through

Oh how happy we will be
If we keep the ten commandments of love

Love oh sweet love it's oh oh so grand
You will find since the beginning of time
It has rooted in all the land

(Seven) Come to me when I am lonely
Come to me when I am lonely
(Eight) Kiss me when you hold me tight
Kiss me when you hold me tight
(Nine) Treat me sweet and gentle
Treat me sweet and gentle

(Ten) When we say goodnight

An' oh how happy we will be
If we keep the ten commandments of love
Oh how happy we will be
If we keep the ten commandments of
Woo-woo-woo ah-ah-ah woo-hoo-hoo
The ten commandments of love

Overall Meaning

The Ten Commandments of Love is a song by Harvey & The Moonglows, which is a doo-wop group that was prominent in the late 1950s. The song's lyrics are a set of ten instructions or commandments that serve as a guide to a successful and happy relationship. The first four are about the commitment to each other, taking happiness with the heartaches, and being happy, while the next three are more about having faith, a lifetime commitment, and the importance of intimacy. Finally, the last three deal with communication and how to say goodbye at night.

The song portrays love as a thing of beauty, a force that one should treasure and cultivate. It emphasizes the importance of loyalty, trust, and open communication in a relationship. The singer suggests that if the couple follows these tenets or commandments, they will be happy and contented in their relationship. The song's refrain is upbeat and optimistic, indicating that following the Ten Commandments of Love will lead to a fulfilling and joyful relationship.

Line by Line Meaning

Thou shalt never love another
Do not love anyone else.

And stand by me all the while
Always be by my side.

Take happiness with the heartaches
Accept both joy and pain.

And go through life wearing a smile
Face life with a positive outlook.

Thou should always have faith in me
Believe in me and trust me.

In everything I say and do
Have faith in my words and actions.

Love with all your heart and soul
Give your complete love and devotion.

Until our life on earth is through
Until we die.

Come to me when I am lonely
Be there for me when I am alone.

Kiss me when you hold me tight
Show affection when we embrace.

Treat me sweet and gentle
Be kind and courteous to me.