Lee was born in Chicago, but as a child relocated to Detroit with her mother. After a few years, she was adopted by Rev. E. Allan Rundless, who had previously been a member of the Soul Stirrers, and his wife Ernestine, who led a gospel group, The Meditation Singers. Featuring Della Reese, they were the first Detroit gospel group to perform with instrumental backing. The group recorded on the Specialty label in the mid 1950s, appeared on the LP Della Reese Presents The Meditation Singers in 1958, and in the early 1960s recorded for Checker Records.
As Laura Lee Rundless, she replaced Reese in The Meditation Singers in 1956, and over the next few years toured widely around the country. In 1965, as Laura Lee, she launched her secular solo career as an R&B singer in clubs in Detroit, although she also continued to record occasionally with The Meditation Singers. She first recorded solo for Ric-Tic Records in 1966, with "To Win Your Heart".
The following year, she signed with Chess Records and, after initially recording in-house with the label's producers in Chicago, it was decided to send her to Rick Hall’s FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals to record "Dirty Man". This became her first hit, reaching #13 R&B and #68 pop. She stayed with Chess until 1969, also recording "Up Tight Good Man" (#16 R&B) and "As Long As I Got You" (#31 R&B)).
A short spell with Atlantic subsidiary, Cotillion resulted in two singles and then in 1970, Lee moved to former Motown producers, Holland, Dozier and Holland’s newly established Hot Wax label in Detroit. One of her first recordings for Hot Wax, "Women’s Love Rights", became one of her biggest hits, reaching #11 on the R&B chart in 1971 and #36 pop. In 1972, "Rip Off" became her biggest R&B hit at #3 but only climbed to #68 on the Billboard Hot 100. She also recorded an album, Two Sides of Laura Lee, while in a relationship with singer Al Green. Most of her material on Hot Wax was produced by William Weatherspoon, formerly with Motown.
Lee left Invictus / Hot Wax in 1975 and signed with Ariola Records, but became seriously ill shortly afterwards and retired from the music industry for several years. She returned in 1983 with a gospel album, Jesus Is The Light Of My Life, on which she worked with Al Green. By 1990 she was recovered from her illness, and had been ordained as a minister. She has continued recording music, mostly gospel.
A Swedish garage rock band did an unexpected homage to Lee by baptizing themselves as Division of Laura Lee.
She made an appearance in the 1973 Blaxploitation film Detroit 9000, as a singer in the opening scenes.
Since I Fell For You
Laura Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'dbetter let love depart.
I know it's so, and yet I know,
I can't get you out of my heart.
You made me leave my happy home.
You took my love, and now youve gone,
Love brings such misery and pain.
I guess I'll never be the same,
Since I fell for you...
Well it's too bad, and it's too sad,
But I'm in love with you...
You love me, then you snub me.
But what can I do, I'm still in love with you.
Well, I guess I'll never see the light.
I get the blues most every night,
Since I fell for you...
Since I fell for you.
Laura Lee's song "Since I Fell For You" is a classic love ballad that delves deep into the emotions of a person who is deeply in love. The lyrics of the song examine the feelings of vulnerability, rejection, and heartbreak that often accompany love, especially when it's not reciprocated. The first verse talks about how if you give love without getting any back in return, it's better to let love go. It's a painful realization, but it's also true. And yet, despite knowing this, the singer can't seem to get the person she loves out of her heart.
The second verse focuses on the consequences of falling in love. The singer states that love brings misery and pain, and that she will never be the same after falling for this person. The chorus repeats the central message of the song- that the singer fell for this person and it's too bad and too sad, but she's still in love with them. The third verse is about the singer's experience of being snubbed by the person she loves. Despite being treated poorly, she can't help but still love them. In the final line of the song, the singer declares that she's lost her way since falling for this person, effectively conveying the sense of disorientation and loss of self that comes with the intense emotional experience of falling in love.
Overall, "Since I Fell For You" is a poignant and relatable exploration of the complexities of love and heartbreak. It speaks to anyone who has ever experienced the joy and pain of loving someone deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
When you just give love, and never get love,
If you give someone your love without ever receiving love in return, it's better to let that person go.
I know it's so, and yet I know,
I understand that my love for you is not being reciprocated, but I still can't help it.
I can't get you out of my heart.
Even though I know I should move on, I can't stop loving you.
You made me leave my happy home.
I had a happy life before getting involved with you, but you caused me to leave it all behind.
You took my love, and now youve gone,
You accepted my love but then left me, causing me emotional pain.
Since I fell for you...
Ever since I fell in love with you, my life has been turned upside down.
Love brings such misery and pain.
Being in love can be a source of great emotional pain and suffering.
I guess I'll never be the same,
My life has changed so much since falling in love with you that I don't think I'll ever be the same person again.
Well it's too bad, and it's too sad,
It's unfortunate and distressing, but I can't help my feelings for you.
But I'm in love with you...
Despite everything, I am still deeply in love with you.
You love me, then you snub me.
You show affection for me at times but then reject me at others, causing me confusion and heartache.
But what can I do, I'm still in love with you.
Even though your actions are hurting me, I can't seem to stop loving you.
Well, I guess I'll never see the light.
I don't think I'll ever be able to get over you or find happiness again.
I get the blues most every night,
I feel sad and miserable almost every night because of my unrequited love for you.
Since I fell for you...
My life has been filled with pain and heartache ever since I fell in love with you.
Contributed by William P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sweetuc
There is testimony here . Love it Laura Lee
@KRxN11
One of The Greatest Performances Of All Time. The Definition Of Soul. A Torch-Carrying Unrequieted Lover. One Who Loves More Than The Other. One Of The Timeless Great Voices Of The Ages.
@michaelochido3244
I first listened to this song in school 45 years ago....and still listening....we used some words from the song to help us boys during dating..
@robertford2112
The raspines of her voice & the conviction she sang with SOLD this song. No other voice could 've done this song justice.I still have this LP. Glad I kept it. That type voice is gone👋🌷🍸
@mtoval1722
I remember this from high school and could deeply relate. It happened to me💯
@sheilapalmer224
I love your voice
@frankwhitted110
This is a pretty good song 😍😍❤️
@RichieALevy
I dig this dynamite version of a great song that I loved by Lenny Welch!!!
@sheilapalmer224
You are the greatest
@staxoffunk1863
I believe She was the first female rap artist - followed by Millie Jackson