There are multiple artists called Jerry Butler:

1) Jerry Butler, Jr… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists called Jerry Butler:

1) Jerry Butler, Jr. (born December 8, 1939 in Sunflower, Mississippi) is an American soul singer also known as "The Ice Man" because of his cool demeanour while singing often intensely emotional lyrics.

Butler was dubbed the "Iceman" by a Philadelphia disc jockey while performing in a Philadelphia theater. However, Butler achieved what eluded many earlier Doo Wop groups during the 1950s and 1960s — longevity. Butler’s solo career had a string of hits, including "He Will Break Your Heart," "Moon River," "Make It Easy On Yourself," "Let It Be Me" (the Everly Brothers classic re-done as a duet with Betty Everett), "Brand New Me," "Ain’t Understanding Mellow," (duet with Brenda Lee Eager), and "Never Gonna Give You Up," followed by two hugely successful albums The Iceman Cometh in 1968 and Ice On Ice in 1970. The Iceman Cometh garnered Butler three Grammy nominations. Jerry Butler further made recordings for Philadelphia International Records in the 80's. His most noted song for the label was "Cooling Out"

Love me
Jerry Butler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dearest (want me), oh my darling
Please love me (want me) as I love you (want me)
For I need your love more than anything (ooh)
And in every word of every song I sing (ooh)
I'll offer you all that I possess (ooh)
My heart, my soul, and happiness (ooh)

If you'll tell me that you (want me)

And ooh, when you smiled at me (want me)
Oh, Heaven seemed to come down to me (want me)
And tell me that she loves you (ooh)

And if I fail to prove my love (ooh)
Heaven knows that I have tried my love (ooh)
For every moment of every day (ooh)
I was doing something to make you look my way (ooh)

And tell me that you (want me)
And ooh, when you smiled at me (want me)
Oh, Heaven seemed to come down to me (want me)
And tell me that she loves you (ooh)

And if I, oh, if I fail to prove my love (ooh)

Heaven knows that I have tried my love (ooh)
So tell me that she loves me (ooh)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jerry Butler's song "Love in 2-3" express the singer's deep longing for reciprocated love from their beloved. The singer addresses their "Dearest" and pleads for them to love them as much as they love their beloved. They emphasize their need for love, declaring that they require their beloved's love more than anything else. The singer further expresses their commitment to their beloved by offering everything they possess, including their heart, soul, and happiness.

The lyrics convey the singer's sense of desperation and vulnerability as they confess that every word of every song they sing is dedicated to their beloved. They believe that when their beloved smiles at them, it feels like heaven has descended upon them. The singer is aware of their constant efforts to make themselves noticed by their beloved, stating that every moment of every day, they are doing something to catch their attention.

Despite their relentless attempts to prove their love, the singer acknowledges the possibility of failure. They admit that they have already tried everything in their power to show their love, and if they still fall short, they implore their beloved to tell them that they are loved by someone else.

Overall, the lyrics of "Love in 2-3" encapsulate the singer's intense yearning for love and the lengths they are willing to go to win the heart of their beloved. It illustrates the vulnerability and desperation that can come with unrequited love.

Line by Line Meaning

Dearest (want me), oh my darling
My beloved, please desire my affection, oh my beloved

Please love me (want me) as I love you (want me)
Please have the same level of love for me as I have for you

For I need your love more than anything (ooh)
Because I crave your love above all else

And in every word of every song I sing (ooh)
In each lyric of my songs, I express my love for you

I'll offer you all that I possess (ooh)
I will give you everything I have

My heart, my soul, and happiness (ooh)
Including my deepest emotions, my essence, and my joy

If you'll tell me that you (want me)
If you confess that you desire me

And ooh, when you smiled at me (want me)
And oh, when you smiled at me, wanting me

Oh, Heaven seemed to come down to me (want me)
It felt like paradise descended upon me, desiring me

And tell me that she loves you (ooh)
And inform me that she also loves you

And if I fail to prove my love (ooh)
And if I am unsuccessful in demonstrating my love