Born Agatha Nathalia Weston in Detroit, Michigan, she was signed to Motown Records in 1961, scoring a minor hit with "Love Me All the Way" (R&B #24, Pop #88). Weston's biggest solo hits with Motown were "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" (R&B #4, Pop #50, 1965, later covered by The Isley Brothers, Blood, Sweat & Tears and The Doobie Brothers, and "Helpless" (R&B #13, Pop #56, 1966, previously recorded by The Four Tops on their Second Album LP). Her biggest claim to fame was singing the classic hit "It Takes Two" with Marvin Gaye in 1966 and her later recording of the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing". It was the success of "It Takes Two" that caused Motown to partner Gaye with Tammi Terrell, spawning even more success for the label.
Weston left Motown in 1967 and later sued the label over disputes about royalties. She and her then-husband William "Mickey" Stevenson (former A&R head at Motown) both went to MGM Records. Weston cut a couple of singles for MGM, "I Got What You Need," and "Nobody," which went largely unnoticed due to lack of airplay and promotion. She made an album for the label, This Is America, which included her popular version of the Black National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." This was released as a single and featured in the movie Wattstax. All the money from the single was donated to the United Negro College Fund.
She recorded several more albums for various labels, Stax/Volt among them, and also made an album of duets with Johnny Nash. None of these recordings charted, and Weston reportedly relocated to Israel, where she worked with young singers.
Weston made a guest appearance on The Bill Cosby Show (1969–1971), in episode #50 in March 1971.
Along with many former Motown artists, she signed with Ian Levine's Motorcity Records in the 1980s, releasing the single "Signal Your Intention", which peaked at #1 in the UK Hi-NRG charts. It was followed by the album Investigate (1990), which included some re-recordings of her Motown hits as well as new material. A second album for the label, Talking Loud (1992), was never released, although all the songs were included on the compilation The Best Of Kim Weston (1996).
Today Weston is a disc jockey on a local Detroit radio station, where she sponsors the summer events at Hart Plaza. She also tours sporadically, often alongside former Motown colleagues Mary Wilson, Martha Reeves and Brenda Holloway. She is also featured on the 2006 four-CD release of the Motortown Revue series. In Cleveland, Ohio On August 17, 2013 Kim Weston was the 1st women to be inducted into The Official R&B Music Hall of Fame.
Take Me In Your Arms
Kim Weston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm seein' you, darlin', for the very last time
Show a little tenderness before you go
Please let me feel your embrace once more
Take me in your arms and rock me; rock me a little while
We all must feel heartache sometimes
Right now, right now I'm feelin' mine
I've tried my best to be strong, but I'm not able
I'm like a helpless child left in a cradle
Before you leave me behind, let me feel happy one more time
I'm losin' you and my happiness
My life is do dark I must confess
I'll never, never see your smiling face no more
I'll never, never hear your knock upon my door
Before you leave me, leave me behind
Let me feel happy one more time
Kim Weston's "Take Me In Your Arms" is a soulful and heartbreaking song about love lost. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and longing as the singer pleads with her lover to show her tenderness before he leaves for good. She admits her own weaknesses and her inability to stay strong without him. The repetition of the refrain "Take me in your arms and rock me; rock me a little while" reinforces the sense of vulnerability and neediness in the singer's plea. She knows that she is about to lose the person she loves and is asking for one last moment of happiness before the inevitable heartache.
The imagery in the lyrics is powerful and evocative. The metaphor of a helpless child left in a cradle conveys the singer's sense of powerlessness and dependence on her lover. The lines "I'll never, never see your smiling face no more/I'll never, never hear your knock upon my door" emphasize the finality of the breakup and the singer's sense of loss.
Overall, "Take Me In Your Arms" is a moving and emotional song that captures the pain of heartbreak and the longing for one more moment of happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you're leavin' me behind
I'm aware that you're leaving me.
I'm seein' you, darlin', for the very last time
This is the final time that I’ll get to see you, my love.
Show a little tenderness before you go
Please be gentle with me as you leave.
Please let me feel your embrace once more
Can you hold me tight again, just once more?
Take me in your arms and rock me; rock me a little while
Enfold me in your arms and comfort me for a brief moment.
We all must feel heartache sometimes
Everyone will experience pain in their life.
Right now, right now I'm feelin' mine
Currently, I am experiencing my own sorrow.
I've tried my best to be strong, but I'm not able
I did my best to be tough, but I can't do it anymore.
I'm like a helpless child left in a cradle
I now feel as vulnerable as an infant in a crib.
Before you leave me behind, let me feel happy one more time
Can you please give me one last moment of happiness before you depart and leave me alone?
I'm losin' you and my happiness
I am losing both you, my love, and my happiness with you.
My life is do dark I must confess
I must admit that my life has become very bleak.
I'll never, never see your smiling face no more
I will never again be able to see your happy, smiling face.
I'll never, never hear your knock upon my door
I will never again hear you knocking at my door.
Before you leave me, leave me behind
Before you depart and abandon me, my love,
Let me feel happy one more time
please provide me with one last moment of joy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWARD JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, BRIAN HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
loveyouall66
one of best female voices at motown. woman could sing her ass off.
Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox
You know what's really fantastic? Kim is such a powerhouse and so great a singer, she's easily gaining more fans these days as she had when this first came out. Quality never grows old, just keeps being discovered generation after generation!
fannycraddock99
Motown dropped the ball with every wonderful female singer from Mary, to Brenda, to Kim, to Blinky!!!!!
Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox
Hi robb- you make a good point. I love this because it's such a revealing alternate take. When I heard the original version, I thought Kim was really hitting some incredible notes, but then this alternate just surprised me at how powerful that voice of hers is. Interesting to speculate that either Kim was still working with how best to perform the vocals or this was a take where she just decided to go all the way.
Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox
@ELLADOGZ Yeah, Kim has a real powerhouse voice. Do a search for "Thrill A Moment" and there are a couple of spots where her voice cuts through so powerfully, she nearly overtakes everything else on the record!
Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox
Kim was just amazing- I can't think of enough great words for the lady!
Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox
Hello Mark! When I heard this alternate version, it blew my ears off. I like how you phrase it because it does rock! I'm so glad you like this recording as well as the visuals- thank you very much! But when you're working with a singer as dynamic as Kim Weston, you can't go wrong!
Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox
So right on the button you are on all of that! "Talent overflows..." I like that! I was really surprised when I heard the Dobbie Brothers' version. They put their stamp on it, but you get the feeling there was a lot of respect and love for the original as well- one of those rare covers that's as enjoyable as the original.
Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox
Back in 1982 when I heard about 10 seconds of this song on the radio, I was sold. I special ordered it and when I got it some weeks later, I played it non-stop for an entire afternoon, then again that evening. I thought, am I the only one digging this tune, because I had never heard it on the radio. How fantastic that years later, I read comments like yours- I wasn't alone after all in loving this dynamic song and Kim Weston.
R. Mark Desjardins
Absolutely rockin' alternative version to the one we fans know and love. I also dig the visual you posted to accompany this. Thanks so much for posting this gem!