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).
Maria
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 song "Maria" was recorded by Jimmy Ruffin in 1969, and peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song is a soulful and emotional plea for a lost love to return, with Jimmy Ruffin crooning out to Maria to come back to him. The lyrics express the desolation and loneliness he feels without her, conveying the desperation of a man who has lost the love of his life. Throughout the song, he repeatedly begs her to come back to him and tells her that she is the only one for him.
The repetition of Maria's name throughout the song suggests that she is constantly on Jimmy's mind and that he is consumed with thoughts of her. The "hey hey eh eh hey Maria" refrain creates a hook that catches the listener and draws them into the song's story. As the song progresses, Jimmy's pleas become more urgent, and he begs Maria to have sympathy for him and his loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Maria hey hey eh eh hey Maria
The singer calls out Maria's name in a cheerful tone, expressing his longing for her.
Maria don't you hear me calling Maria
The singer appeals to Maria to listen to him, suggesting that she may be ignoring his calls for attention.
Maria girl you know you were the only one
The singer reminds Maria of her unique significance in his life as his one true love.
Hey hey eh eh hey Maria
The singer continues to call out Maria's name in the same cheerful tone, seeking to capture her attention.
Maria don't you miss me a little
The singer questions Maria's feelings about him, implying that he believes she must have some level of longing for him.
Maria after all you were the only one
The singer emphasizes Maria's importance to him and how she was the only one who truly mattered in his life.
Come on back to me Maria
The singer asks Maria to return to him, indicating his eagerness to be reunited with her.
Maria come on back to me girl
The singer reiterates his desire for Maria to come back to him, emphasizing her femininity with the word 'girl'.
Hey hey hey eh hey Maria
The singer repeats his cheerful call for Maria's attention, conveying his upbeat mood and hopeful outlook.
Maria it's been long so long oh
The singer laments the amount of time that has passed since he last saw Maria, suggesting that it has been a painful period for him.
Maria since you've been gone
The singer reflects on how his life has changed since Maria left him, inferring that it has not been for the better.
Eh eh eh eh eh Maria
The singer repeats his call for Maria's attention in a more uncertain and hesitant tone, possibly suggesting some doubt or desperation on his part.
Maria don't you need me just a little
The singer appeals to Maria's emotions, asking if she still has some need or affection for him despite their separation.
Maria 'cause honest girl you were the only one
The singer reaffirms Maria's importance to him and his belief that she was his soulmate and no one else could replace her.
Come on back to me Maria
The singer reiterates his invitation for Maria to come back to him, expressing his urgency and sincerity.
Oh come on back to me girl
The singer implores Maria to return to him in a more affectionate and endearing tone, using the word 'girl' as a term of affection.
Oh Maria oh baby I need you mmm mmm
The singer expresses his deep longing and desire for Maria, indicating that he needs her like a baby needs its mother.
Maria why why d'you keep a-running away
The singer questions Maria's motives for leaving him, suggesting that he does not understand why she would willingly distance herself from him.
Oh baby you keep a-running away
The singer laments Maria's continued absence and how it is hurting him, perhaps appealing to her sense of empathy and compassion.
Oh baby yeah Maria
The singer continues to express his love and affection for Maria, using her name as an endearment.
I need you honey
The singer asserts his need for Maria, using the term 'honey' as a term of affection and endearment.
Oh Maria you sweet little sunflower
The singer compliments Maria's beauty and charm, likening her to a sunflower - a symbol of warmth, happiness, and optimism.
Oh hear my plea for sympathy
The singer appeals to Maria's sense of compassion and empathy, implying that he is suffering and seeks her help and understanding.
I just-a want you here with me Maria
The singer states his desire to be with Maria, indicating that he misses her deeply and wants to be reunited with her as soon as possible.
Ooh yeah yeah
The singer expresses his enthusiasm and excitement at the prospect of being with Maria again, using a vocalization rather than words to convey his emotion.
Empty on the lonely nights
The singer describes the loneliness and emptiness he feels when he is without Maria, implying that she is the source of his happiness and fulfillment in life.
That's my life without you girl
The singer emphasizes how central Maria is to his life, suggesting that his existence is incomplete and unfulfilling without her.
I'm so lonely I'm so blue
The singer repeats the core message of the previous two lines, underscoring how much he needs Maria and how much he is suffering in her absence.
Without you darling my life is through
The singer expresses the belief that his life would be over if he cannot be with Maria again, indicating that she is the reason for his continued existence.
Come on back
The singer reiterates his invitation for Maria to come back to him, indicating that he will wait for her as long as it takes.
You keep running away
The singer repeats his perplexity and frustration at Maria's decision to leave him, suggesting that he is struggling to comprehend her actions.
Come back come back
The singer implores Maria to come back to him with increasing urgency, using repetition of the phrase 'come back' to emphasize his desperation.
Ooh baby I need you gotta have you
The singer repeats his assertion of his need and desire for Maria, implying that he cannot live without her.
ooh baby ooh baby
The singer repeats the phrase 'ooh baby' as a vocalization of his strong emotions and longing for Maria.
Maria ooh baby
The singer raises the emotional intensity of his plea for Maria to come back to him, using her name as an endearment and expression of his love for her.
Gotta have ya aw
The singer emphasizes the immediacy and necessity of his desire for Maria with the phrase 'gotta have ya', using 'aw' to signal a mix of emotions ranging from desperation to tenderness.
Come back come back
The singer repeats his invitation for Maria to come back to him, reiterating his eagerness to be reunited with her.
Maria ooh baby
The singer returns to his central refrain - calling out Maria's name with a mix of desperation, longing, and affection.
I need ya
The singer reiterates the importance of Maria to his life, underscoring that he needs her just as much as he loves her.
Gotta have ya gotta have ya
The singer repeats his assertion of his immediate and intense need for Maria, using repetition to emphasize the urgency of his appeal.
Maria come back come back
The singer repeats his plea for Maria to come back to him, using her name as a way of expressing his love and connection to her.
Ooh Baby Oh
The singer uses a vocalization to underscore his emotional state, indicating his desperation, hopelessness, affection, and sadness all at once.
Come back come back
The singer repeats his refrain for the last time, emphasizing his resolution to wait for Maria and his unwavering belief that she will return to him eventually.
Maria I gotta have ya
The singer concludes the song by reiterating his central message - that he needs Maria more than anything in the world and cannot live without her.
I gotta have ya
The singer repeats his assertion of his need for Maria, underscoring how important she is to him and his life.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Richard Rodgers, Oscars Hammerstein II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind