After the success of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", the intended follow-up, "East Side West Side", was released only in Australia due to an argument with Motown head Berry Gordy. The song was written by Ron Welser and Flamingos' member Terry Johnson.
With his brother David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin released a popular cover version of "Stand By Me" (by Ben E. King), taken from The Ruffin Brothers' album, I Am My Brother's Keeper.
Jimmy Ruffin's other hits include "I've Passed This Way Before", "Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got", "Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby", "I'll Say Forever My Love", "It's Wonderful To Be Loved By You" and "Tell Me What You Want".
In 1980 he collaborated with the Bee Gees' musician Robin Gibb, who produced his album Sunrise. From it came the single which would be his last Top 10 UK and U.S. hit: "Hold On To My Love". In 1986 Jimmy Ruffin collaborated with the British pop group Heaven 17, singing "A Foolish Thing To Do" and "My Sensitivity" on a 12" EP record.
In the 1980s, Ruffin moved to live in Britain, where he continued to perform successfully. In December 1984 he collaborated with Paul Weller of The Style Council for his benefit single "Soul Deep." This went under the name of The Council Collective.
Following the 2010 release of his album I Am My Brother's Keeper, Ruffin began writing and recording songs for a new album that was never issued.
In 2012, a compilation album entitled, "There Will Never Be Another You", including his hit songs "What Becomes of The Broken Hearted", and "Hold On To My Love" had been released.
In addition to his brother David Ruffin (deceased), Jimmy Ruffin had three other siblings: Quincy, Rita Mae (deceased) and Rosa (deceased).
Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby
Jimmy Ruffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you're glad I'm gone
Do you tell them how you cried
Whenever you were all alone?
We both know for us
There'll never, never be another
So forget about your foolish pride
Listen
Who cares who was right or wrong? (Right or wrong)
I just know I need you
And by your side is where I belong
Don't you miss me a little bit, baby?
'Cause I'm missing you
Say you miss me a little bit, baby
You think if you take me back
People will call you a fool
Deep down inside you know you need me
As much as I need you
Because of your pride
You're letting two hearts suffer
Baby, can't you see
You're only making things tougher?
Who cares who was right or wrong? (Right or wrong)
Please take me back, baby
'Cause by your side is where I belong
Don't you miss me a little bit, baby?
Please tell me that you do
Say you miss me a little bit, baby
Girl, I walk these streets day and night
Alone and downhearted
Every doggone day, baby
Since we've been parted
Aimlessly with no sense of direction
Baby I'm trying to tell you
I need your sweet love and affection
Yes, I do (Yes, I do)
Can't make it without you (I need you)
Oh, yeah (Yes, I do)
Uh, this loneliness and separation
Makes too high a price to pay
When two people love each other the way we do
Should nothing stand in their way
You're making a mountain out of a molehill
Because of your pride
You're letting a little misunderstanding
Push true love aside
Who cares who was right or wrong? (Right or wrong)
Just say you want me back, baby
And I'll come running, running back home
Don't you miss me a little bit, baby?
Please tell me that you do
Life ain't worth living without you, baby
Girl, just take me back, forget your pride
I need you, baby, by my side
Can't stand this being away from you
Can't you see what I'm going through?
Please say you miss me, baby
Say you miss me, baby
The lyrics to "Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit, Baby" by Jimmy Ruffin are about a couple that recently broke up due to foolish pride and a misunderstanding. Jimmy sings about how each of them needs the other but is too proud to admit it. He pleads with his former partner to forget the past, put aside their pride, and take him back so they can be together again. He asks if they miss him at all, and if so, to say it out loud and acknowledge that they still care for each other.
The lyrics depict a situation that many can relate to, the idea that both parties involved in a relationship break-up experience pain and are often too proud to admit it. It is common for people to pretend they have moved on or that they are better off without their ex, but deep down, they miss them. The lyrics also express that pride can get in the way of love and that sometimes it's necessary to let go of it and reconcile with the one who is missed.
Overall, the song's message is that love is worth fighting for, and people should not let their pride get in the way of reconnecting with someone they care about.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear you're telling everybody
I am aware you’re telling everyone
That you're glad I'm gone
You're telling everyone that you're happy I'm not around
Do you tell them how you cried
Have you let them know about your sorrow
Whenever you were all alone?
Did you weep when you were by yourself?
We both know for us
It's evident to both of us
There'll never, never be another
No other person will match up to us
So forget about your foolish pride
Ignore your irrational ego
And let's get back together
And reconcile with me
Who cares who was right or wrong? (Right or wrong)
It doesn't matter who was correct or mistaken
I just know I need you
All I'm certain of is that I require you
And by your side is where I belong
My place is by your side
Don't you miss me a little bit, baby?
Don't you long for me even just a little, my love?
'Cause I'm missing you
Because I'm intensely yearning for you
Say you miss me a little bit, baby
Please tell me you also long for me a bit, my love
You think if you take me back
You believe that if you give us another chance
People will call you a fool
Society will mock you and think you're foolish
Deep down inside you know you need me
You're aware that you also require me deeply
As much as I need you
Just like how much I need you
Because of your pride
Your ego is the root cause
You're letting two hearts suffer
You're causing two hearts to ache
Baby, can't you see
My love, don't you realise
You're only making things tougher?
That you're only creating more hardships and making it difficult?
Girl, I walk these streets day and night
Darling, I roam these roads night and day
Alone and downhearted
Lonesome and disheartened
Every doggone day, baby
Every darn day, my love
Since we've been parted
Since our separation
Aimlessly with no sense of direction
Without a clear goal or direction
Baby I'm trying to tell you
My love, I'm attempting to let you know
I need your sweet love and affection
I yearn for your tender love and fondness
Yes, I do (Yes, I do)
Indeed I do, my love
Can't make it without you (I need you)
I can't live without you (I require you)
Uh, this loneliness and separation
This feeling of aloneness and distance
Makes too high a price to pay
Is too expensive to bear
When two people love each other the way we do
When two people love each other like us
Should nothing stand in their way
There should be nothing that blocks their love
You're making a mountain out of a molehill
You're exaggerating a minor problem
Just say you want me back, baby
Simply express your desire to have me back, my love
And I'll come running, running back home
And I'll hurry, running back to you
Life ain't worth living without you, baby
Life isn't worth living if you're not around, my love
Girl, just take me back, forget your pride
Darling, take me back and let go of your ego
I need you, baby, by my side
I require you, my love, by my side
Can't stand this being away from you
I can't endure being apart from you
Can't you see what I'm going through?
Can't you see how I'm suffering?
Please say you miss me, baby
Kindly say you long for me, my love
Say you miss me, baby
Say you long for me, my love
Contributed by Colton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ivyc3500
David & Jimmy Ruffin are two of the Greatest soul singers ever. Voices of Angels .
@jonathanclary3992
RIP Jimmy Ruffin (1936-2014)❤🎵
The UK'S Greatest Singer of all time
@larosabradley2745
Love ❤️ this song ❤️❤️
@sweetlatina53
The three brothers had singing talents they sang to us the greatest music ever made,now there bodies are gone but they there trades in the music world there legacies and name forever in our mines and hearts may the souls rips💐🎤❤️🥀
@kingward8426
Very underrated tune by an under-appreciated artist.
@corrynthiaiam9205
Yes It is...Just like "Dont look back by The Temptations".
@jonathanclary3992
@Corrynthia I AM Mmm No Not Really Jimmy Ruffin Sung This Song Around (1967) Paul Williams Sung Don't Look Back Around (1965) Same Year David Ruffin Sung My Girl. Their's A Different Change In The Music Year By Year From The 60's To The 80's Especially In All Of David's Songs Released And Unreleased It's Too Bad Paul Died So Early Especially From his Drinking Habit Cause He'd Make A Great Solo Artist Next To David and Eddie.
@danielburns987
this song went to #27 on the R&B charts in 1967!!!
@corrynthiaiam9205
And the B-Side was I Want Her Love..😅
@jonathanclary3992
Jimmy Ruffin sang a Duet with Singer Maxine Nightingale in (1982) the is called Turn to Me 🎼🎶🎵 the Song became a Phenomenal Hit the song reached number 17# in R&B Charts in (1983) Plus Jimmy had Other Hits Like Hold on to my love, There will never be another you, It's a Foolish thing to do, Tell me what you want, Farewell is a lonely sound, It's Wonderful to be loved by you, I'll say forever my love, I'm Gonna love you Forever, Don't you miss me a little bit baby, Gonna give you all the Love I got, I've passed this way before, and His First Hit What Becomes of the the Brokenhearted, Ruffin's Daughter Philicia said that her Father was a rare type of man who lefted his mark on the Music industry she also said that her family in it's entirely is extremely upset over his death he will be missed his family also said that we will treasure the many fond and wonderful memories we all have with him. And as for Berry Gordy he said that Jimmy Ruffin's first for Motown What Becomes of the Brokenhearted is one of his Personal favorite songs Plus he also Said that Ruffin was A Phenomenal Singer. To be honest I Berry liked Jimmy better than David.