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).
I've Passed This Way Before
Jimmy Ruffin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of "I've Passed This Way Before" by Jimmy Ruffin convey a sense of melancholy and emotional pain experienced as a result of lost love. The song begins with the acknowledgment that life can be cruel, and that heartbreak is a recurring experience. Ruffin talks about the familiarity of the pain he feels, the hurt being so long to end that it has returned into his heart once again. The lyrics suggest that the singer has experienced this pain before, which adds to his sense that history is repeating itself.
As the song progresses, Ruffin reveals that he has watched love walk away from him, bringing back old memories and rekindling familiar heartache. The imagery he uses, the dark cloud covering his heart, is a powerful metaphor for the intensity of his feelings. He also acknowledges the inevitability of feeling weakened by the loss of love, emphasizing the importance of love in a man's life. Despite the pain and loneliness, Ruffin expresses that he knows the way, having passed this way before, and he will walk forward bravely, albeit with a broken heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Life lands a freshing blow.
Life has delivered a sudden, painful event.
And once again our heart is broken.
Our emotions are deeply hurt again, as they were in the past.
And as history repeats itself.
Similar misfortunes are happening again, just like in the past.
These few words are sadly spoken.
Only a few words are needed to express this sadness, as the situation is all too familiar.
I've passed this way before.
I've been in this painful situation before.
I've felt this pain before.
I've experienced this same emotional pain before.
A hurt that took so long to end.
The previous pain lasted for a long time.
Has found my poor heart again.
The same pain has come back and affected my heart once more.
As I watch love walking away.
I see love leaving me behind.
It brings back old memories.
This reminds me of similar situations in the past.
But a familiar pain still feels the same.
The same painful emotion is felt again, even though it is familiar.
Once again, heartache has found me.
I am experiencing heartache again.
A dark cloud covered my heart.
My emotions are overwhelmed by sadness.
Oh, when she told me goodbye.
She said farewell, and it hurt me deeply.
Now there's nothing left but emptiness.
There is a feeling of emptiness and loss.
And the tears that filled my crying eyes.
I am shedding tears because of my sadness.
No matter how strong a man is.
Even someone who is strong and resilient will be affected by this situation.
Without a love he walks in the dark, baby.
Without love, one can feel lost and directionless.
If love deserts him it would surely hurt him.
Losing love would be a painful experience for anyone.
'Cause his weakness is his heart.
The heart is the source of vulnerability for many people.
A lonely journey now stands before me.
I am facing a lonely path.
The endless pain has started.
Pain that seems like it will never end has begun.
But this time I know the way.
I am familiar with the way forward because I have experienced this before.
Walking alone and broken hearted.
I am walking in sadness and pain, with nobody else by my side.
Because I've passed this way before.
I am familiar with this feeling because I have experienced it before.
And I've felt this pain before.
I have experienced this exact same pain before.
A hurt that took so long to end.
The previous pain lasted for a long time.
Has found my poor heart again.
The same pain has come back and affected my heart once more.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES DEAN, WILLIAM WEATHERSPOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
zack op
lyrics
Life lends a crushing blow
And once again a heart is broken
And as history repeats itself
These few words are sadly spoken
I've passed this way before
And I've felt this pain before
A hurt that took so long to end
Has found my poor heart again
As I watch love walking away
It brings back old memories
A familiar pain still feels the same
Once again heartache has found me
A dark cloud covered my heart
Oh, when she told me goodbye
Now there's nothing left but emptiness
And the tears that fill my crying eyes
I've passed this way before
And I've felt this pain before
A hurt that took so long to end
Has found my poor heart again
No matter how strong a man is
Without love he walks in the dark
If love deserts him it will surely hurt him
Cos his weakness is his heart
A lonely journey now stands before me
The endless pain has started
But this time I know the way
Walking alone and broken hearted
It so hard to face reality
Knowing loneliness is my destiny
Because I've passed this way before
And I've felt this pain before
A hurt that took so long to end
Has found my poor heart again
William
As an older black man I miss these days so much.Β So sad that the younger black artists do not go back to the 60s and 70s Motown to use as their inspiration.Β Temps, Four Tops, Supremes and many many more. Instead on techno rap that will disappear.
Kelly B
I grew up listening to motown my dad loved it and me to.always do my hours listening to this.rest in peace dad π’
tazman572
I'm a 60 year old white man and I couldn't agree with you more. Peace to you.
Dave Jay
Brother you Re so right. Now the young guys think being a husler or a bad boy is cool. They don t know what a real man is.
bob c
as an older white man i agree with you.
Ian Stewart
As a old white man I agree.
Ashleigh Grace
We had the best tunes back in our day. Thank God, great music doesn't have a expiration date.
Sharon D
Ashleigh Grace We sure did best music ever stands the test of time just Beautiful X
Margaret Hughes
Fantastic music. Great singer.
zack op
lyrics
Life lends a crushing blow
And once again a heart is broken
And as history repeats itself
These few words are sadly spoken
I've passed this way before
And I've felt this pain before
A hurt that took so long to end
Has found my poor heart again
As I watch love walking away
It brings back old memories
A familiar pain still feels the same
Once again heartache has found me
A dark cloud covered my heart
Oh, when she told me goodbye
Now there's nothing left but emptiness
And the tears that fill my crying eyes
I've passed this way before
And I've felt this pain before
A hurt that took so long to end
Has found my poor heart again
No matter how strong a man is
Without love he walks in the dark
If love deserts him it will surely hurt him
Cos his weakness is his heart
A lonely journey now stands before me
The endless pain has started
But this time I know the way
Walking alone and broken hearted
It so hard to face reality
Knowing loneliness is my destiny
Because I've passed this way before
And I've felt this pain before
A hurt that took so long to end
Has found my poor heart again