You Can't Hurry Love
KITCHEN - The Supremes Lyrics

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I need love, love to ease my mind
I need to find, find someone to call mine
But mama said you can't hurry love
No you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take
You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait

You gotta trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes
But how many heartaches must I stand
Before I find a love to let me live again
Right now the only thing that keeps me hanging on
When I feel my strength, yeah, it's almost gone
I remember mama said

You can't hurry love
No you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take
How long must I wait how much more can I take
Before loneliness will 'cause my heart, heart to break?
No, I can't bear to live my life alone
I grow impatient for a love to call my own
But when I feel that I, I can't go on
These precious words keeps me hanging on
I remember mama said

Can't hurry love
No you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take

You can't hurry love
No you just have to wait
She said trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes

No love, love don't come easy
But I keep on waiting, anticipating for that
Soft voice to talk to me at night
For some tender arms to hold me tight
I keep waiting, I keep on waiting
But it ain't easy, it ain't easy when mama said

You can't hurry love no
You just have to wait
She said trust, give it time
No matter how long it takes

You can't hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don't come easy
It's a game of give and take

You can't hurry love
No, you can't

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Supremes' song "You Can't Hurry Love" explore the theme of patience and resilience in the search for love. The singer expresses a deep longing for love to ease their mind and find someone to call their own. However, the wisdom imparted by their mother is a central message in the song - that love cannot be rushed and requires time and trust. The repetitive refrain of "You can't hurry love, no you just have to wait" underscores this central message throughout the song.

The lyrics highlight the challenges and heartaches the singer experiences in their quest for love. They question how many heartaches they must endure before finding a love that truly allows them to feel alive again. Despite feeling their strength waning, the memory of their mother's advice serves as a reminder to remain patient and wait for love to come at its own pace.

As the song progresses, the singer continues to grapple with feelings of impatience and loneliness, yearning for a love to call their own. They acknowledge the difficulty of waiting but also emphasize the importance of trusting in the process and giving love the time it needs to flourish. The vulnerability and longing in the lyrics are palpable, as the singer struggles with the fear of living their life alone and the desire for a connection that brings them solace and comfort.

The final verses of the song reinforce the message of patience and resilience in the face of longing for love. The singer expresses their continued anticipation for that special connection, longing for a soft voice to talk to them at night and tender arms to hold them tight. Despite the challenges and uncertainties in their search for love, the singer resolves to keep waiting, acknowledging that while it may not be easy, they must trust in the process and give love the time it requires. The song ultimately serves as a poignant reminder that love, with all its complexities of give and take, cannot be hurried but must be allowed to unfold naturally.

Line by Line Meaning

I need love, love to ease my mind
I require the feeling of love to bring me peace and comfort

I need to find, find someone to call mine
I am searching for a person to be my own

But mama said you can't hurry love
My mother warned me that love cannot be rushed

No you just have to wait
Patience is necessary in matters of the heart

She said love don't come easy
Love is not always easily attained

It's a game of give and take
Love requires mutual effort and compromise

You gotta trust, give it time
Believe in the process and be patient

No matter how long it takes
Time should not deter you from seeking love

But how many heartaches must I stand
How much pain must I endure

Before I find a love to let me live again
Before I discover a love that revitalizes me

Right now the only thing that keeps me hanging on
Currently, the only thing that motivates me to persevere