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).
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Jimmy Ruffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Maria don't you hear me calling Maria
Maria girl you know you were the only one
Hey hey eh eh hey Maria
Maria don't you miss me a little
Maria after all you were the only one
Come on back to me Maria
Maria come on back to me girl
Maria it's been long so long oh
Maria since you've been gone
Eh eh eh eh eh Maria
Maria don't you need me just a little
Maria 'cause honest girl you were the only one
Come on back to me Maria
Oh come on back to me girl
Oh Maria oh baby I need you mmm mmm
Maria why why d'you keep a-running away
Oh baby you keep a-running away
Oh baby yeah Maria
I need you honey
Oh Maria you sweet little sunflower
Oh hear my plea for sympathy
I just-a want you here with me Maria
Ooh yeah yeah
Empty on the lonely nights
That's my life without you girl
I'm so lonely I'm so blue
Without you darling my life is through
Come on back
You keep running away
Come back come back
Ooh baby I need you gotta have you
ooh baby ooh baby
Maria ooh baby
Gotta have ya aw
Come back come back
Maria ooh baby
I need ya
Gotta have ya gotta have ya
Maria come back come back
Ooh Baby Oh
Come back come back
Maria I gotta have ya
I gotta have ya
The lyrics of Jimmy Ruffin’s hit song “Maria (You Were the Only One)” convey a heartbroken plea for a lost love to return. Ruffin sings to Maria, calling out her name and asking her to come back to him because she was the only one for him. He expresses his loneliness without her and his need for her to fill the emptiness in his life.
The repetition of Maria’s name throughout the song highlights the significance and importance she held in Ruffin’s life. He longs for her return and tries to convince her that she needs him just as much as he needs her. The emotional tone of the song further adds to the message conveyed in the lyrics.
Overall, the lyrics of “Maria (You Were the Only One)” speak to the universal experience of lost love and the longing to have that person back in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria hey hey eh eh hey Maria
The singer is calling out to Maria and trying to catch her attention
Maria don't you hear me calling Maria
The singer is asking if Maria hears his call and if she is still listening to him
Maria girl you know you were the only one
The singer is reminding Maria that she was the only person he truly loved
Hey hey eh eh hey Maria
The singer continues to call out to Maria and get her attention
Maria don't you miss me a little
The singer is asking if Maria still has any feelings of longing for him
Maria after all you were the only one
The singer reminds Maria that she was the only person who truly mattered to him
Come on back to me Maria
The singer pleads with Maria to come back to him
Maria come on back to me girl
The singer is urging Maria to return to him and be close to him once again
Hey hey hey eh hey Maria
The singer persists in calling out to Maria and trying to catch her attention
Maria it's been long so long oh
The singer notes that it has been a long time since he and Maria were together
Maria since you've been gone
The singer remarks how different life has been since Maria has been away from him
Eh eh eh eh eh Maria
The singer is still calling out and trying to get Maria's attention
Maria don't you need me just a little
The singer is asking if Maria still has any need for him in her life
Maria 'cause honest girl you were the only one
The singer reiterates how Maria was the only person who mattered to him and how important she was in his life
Come on back to me Maria
Once again, the singer pleads for Maria to return to him
Oh come on back to me girl
The singer repeats his plea, urging Maria to come back to him
Oh Maria oh baby I need you mmm mmm
The singer expresses how much he needs Maria and how important she is to him
Maria why why d'you keep a-running away
The singer is asking why Maria keeps running away from him and their relationship
Oh baby you keep a-running away
The singer expresses his frustration with Maria's behavior in leaving him
Oh baby yeah Maria
The singer continues to call out to Maria
I need you honey
The singer makes it clear how much he really needs Maria in his life
Oh Maria you sweet little sunflower
The singer uses a term of endearment to describe Maria and how special she is to him
Oh hear my plea for sympathy
The singer is asking Maria to listen to his pleas and try to understand his point of view
I just-a want you here with me Maria
The singer wants Maria to be by his side and be close to him once again
Ooh yeah yeah
The singer expresses his eagerness and desire for Maria
Empty on the lonely nights
The singer is emphasizing how empty his life feels without Maria
That's my life without you girl
The singer is acknowledging that his life is incomplete without Maria in it
I'm so lonely I'm so blue
The singer is expressing how lonely and sad he feels without Maria in his life
Without you darling my life is through
The singer is saying that his life has no meaning or direction without Maria in it
You keep running away
The singer notes how Maria keeps running away from him and their relationship
Come back come back
The singer implores Maria to come back to him and be close to him
Ooh baby I need you gotta have you
The singer emphasizes how much he needs and desires Maria in his life
ooh baby ooh baby
The singer is expressing his eagerness and desire for Maria once again
Maria ooh baby
The singer is calling out to Maria and expressing his affection for her
Gotta have ya aw
The singer is emphasizing how important Maria is to him and how much he needs her
I gotta have ya gotta have ya
The singer is repeating how much he truly needs Maria in his life
Maria come back come back
Once again, the singer pleads for Maria to come back to him and be close to him
Ooh Baby Oh
The singer repeats his plea to Maria, urging her to return to him
Maria I gotta have ya
The singer reiterates how much he really needs Maria and how important she is to him
I gotta have ya
The singer emphasizes how important Maria is to him and how much he needs her
Lyrics © IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@annegriffin4088
Lyrics
As I walk this land of broken dreams
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion
What becomes of the broken-hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe
… The roots of love grow all around
But for me they come a-tumblin' down
Every day heartaches grow a little stronger
I can't stand this pain much longer
I walk in shadows searching for light
Cold and alone, no comfort in sight
Hoping and praying for someone to care
Always moving and goin' nowhere
What becomes of the broken-hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Help me
… I'm searching, though I don't succeed
But someone look, there's a growing need
Oh, he is lost, there's no place for beginning
All that's left is an unhappy ending
Now, what becomes of the broken-hearted
Who had love that's now departed?
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
… I'll be searching everywhere
Just to find someone to care
I'll be looking everyday, I know I'm gonna find a way
Nothing's gonna stop me now
I'll find a way somehow
And I'll be searching everywhere
I know I gotta find a way
I'll be looking
@colinbarnette0
When I posted this 9 years ago, I never imagined it would have 10 million views. I see just about every comment that gets posted on this video. The years have been filled with happy nostalgia, musical appreciation, and the depths of pain we humans experience separately, yet together. I hope this coming decade will bring us all happiness, fulfillment, and a more connected human spirit. Thanks for being here, and here's to you and yours. Cheers!
@CTEBIKEFOODDELIVERY
Amen!
@theultimatemale6820
THANK YOU MR. BARNETTE FOR THE SONG AND THE KIND WORDS. YOU ARE AWESOME. HAPPINESS AND GOD BLESS MANKIND.
@eyesglow1295
Thank you for sharing some good songs ! I’m able to listen to some good songs to start the year right :) 13 and in love with the sixties
@estimator8670
And mega props for the image of Mr. Ruffin that you chose to illustrate this video with.
@31Alden
Colin Barnette Thank YOU for posting one of my all-time of favorite songs that continues to resonate in 2020 every bit as much as it did in 1966. Thank you as well, Colin, for your eloquence.
@senseuniverse151
How many people are listening this song in 2023❤
@lylemings7412
In 2024 and on!!!
@RishonNavarro
@@lylemings7412YES SIR, THIS SONG DESCRIBES ME!
@jgcalc
2024