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.
What Good Am I Without You
Kim Weston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Woah ohh, woah ohh
What good would a rose be if the raindrops didn't fall?
What good is a telephone if there's no one to call?
What good is a wedding if no one says, "I do"?
Tell me, baby what good am I without you?
Woah ohh, woah ohh
Oh, what good is a flier if he don't have a plane?
What good is a doctor if he can't cure the pain?
Tell me, what good is a sweetheart who proves to be untrue?
What good, baby, am I without you?
I'm no good without you, and there's one thing I know
I just got to have you, Marvin, 'cause I love you so (tell me, tell me)
What good is living without the one you love?
And what good is the heavens without the stars above?
Tell me, what good is a true heart that proves to be broken in two? (What good?)
Hey, what good, baby, am I without you?
Woah oh, woah ohh
Woah oh, woah ohh
What good, baby, am I without you?
I wanna know baby (woah ohh)
What good, baby, am I without you?
I wanna know, yeah
What good, baby, am I without you?
The lyrics to Kim Weston's song What Good Am I Without You examine the value of different things in life and conclude that without love, life is meaningless. The song starts by questioning the purpose of things that are incomplete without their counterparts. For example, a rose needs raindrops on it to bloom, and a telephone needs someone to call. Similarly, a wedding is not complete without the exchange of vows. This line of questioning leads up to the central question of the song: What good am I without you?
The second half of the song delves deeper into this idea of the value of love. The lyrics highlight how many other aspects of life are incomplete without love. For instance, it questions the value of a doctor who can't cure pain or a sweetheart who is unfaithful. It seems that without true love and companionship, everything else in life is rather pointless. The song concludes with an admission of the singer’s love for Marvin, declaring that without him, life is essentially “no good.”
In summary, this song is a compelling argument for the existence of true love and its worth. Without love, the things we may desire can be easily dismissed as unimportant as they only attain meaning and significance within the context of meaningful and loving relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
What good would a rose be if the raindrops didn't fall?
What is the use of a rose without the rain to nourish it?
What good is a telephone if there's no one to call?
What use is a phone if there is no one available to talk to?
What good is a wedding if no one says, "I do"?
What use is a wedding if the couple do not commit to each other?
Tell me, baby what good am I without you?
I am worthless without you, tell me what use am I without you?
Oh, what good is a flier if he don't have a plane?
What use is a pilot without a plane to fly?
What good is a doctor if he can't cure the pain?
What use is a doctor who cannot cure pain?
Tell me, what good is a sweetheart who proves to be untrue?
What use is a partner who is dishonest and unfaithful?
What good, baby, am I without you?
I am worthless without you, tell me what use am I without you?
I'm no good without you, and there's one thing I know
I am useless without you, and this is something I am certain of
I just got to have you, Marvin, 'cause I love you so (tell me, tell me)
I need you, Marvin, because I love you so much (please confirm my feelings)
What good is living without the one you love?
What is the point of living without the person you love?
And what good is the heavens without the stars above?
What is the point of the sky without stars shining above?
Tell me, what good is a true heart that proves to be broken in two? (What good?)
What use is a loyal heart that has been shattered into two?
Hey, what good, baby, am I without you?
I am worthless without you, hey baby, what use am I without you?
I wanna know baby (woah ohh)
I want to know, baby (singing)
What good, baby, am I without you?
I am worthless without you, tell me what use am I without you?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Alphonso Higdon, William Stevenson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toyahill4151
You betta sang Kim!!!
@rubymcnair4206
Tammi Terrell was the one four Marvin Gaye wish the two of them were here today rest in peace
@malcolmmarshall5946
Kim Weston was a belter!
@rubymcnair4206
I used to love this song When I was a teenager growing up Marvin Gaye sing with so many great ladies this was one of my favorites I just found it a minute ago
@rubymcnair4206
Tammi Terrell was always the number one woman in Marvin Gaye's life may they both rest in peace still listen to them to this day
@tonyrussi7777
They were NEVER romantically involved, LOL
@rubymcnair4206
Kim had a beautiful voice to Marvin Gaye sing with a lot of females you would think out of all the females he have seen with he could have had any of them that he wanted to but when Tammi Terrell came into his life that was the happiest he had ever been until she passed
@davidmoore6112
One of the all-time duets Marvin Gaye and Kim Wesson and a lot of people mistaken the two Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye but it's all good that's just how close they were together both females Marvin Gaye had both of them in the groove and I love it God bless both families the western family and the Terrell family we miss both of y'all we miss all y'all Motown we love you we miss you come on back Motown we miss you we love you God bless you
@russellyoung1262
One of my favorite duo's
@rubymcnair4206
✌🏾✌🏾