I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Lee Ritenour Lyrics


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I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys
You know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby

I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you loved some one else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind

Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby

People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?

Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
I'm just about to love my mind
Honey, honey, yeah




I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah

Overall Meaning

The song, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine," recorded by Lee Ritenour, is a cover of a Motown classic, originally recorded by Marvin Gaye. The lyrics describe the singer's realization that his lover is planning to leave him for another man, and he has learned this news through the grapevine, meaning through rumors and gossip. The singer expresses his heartbreak, indicated by his tears, and his disbelief that his lover didn't tell him herself about her new love interest. The song implies that the singer still loves his lover and is devastated that she is leaving him.


Line by Line Meaning

I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
I'm sure you're curious about how I found out


'Bout your plans to make me blue
About your intentions to make me sad


With some other guy you knew before
You were seeing another guy that you knew before we met


Between the two of us guys
Between me and the other guy


You know I loved you more
You know that I loved you more than the other guy did


It took me by surprise I must say
I have to admit that it was unexpected


When I found out yesterday
When I heard the news yesterday


Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Don't you know that I heard about it indirectly


Not much longer would you be mine
Our relationship would soon come to an end


Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh, I heard about it through gossip/rumor


Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
Oh, I am becoming extremely upset


Honey, honey yeah.
A term of endearment, expressing fondness


I know a man ain't supposed to cry
I know that it is not socially acceptable for a man to cry


But these tears I can't hold inside
However, I cannot hold back these tears


Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would be devastating for me


'Cause you mean that much to me
Because you hold a very special place in my heart


You could have told me yourself
You could have informed me directly


That you loved some one else
That you had fallen in love with someone else


People say believe half of what you see
There is a common saying that advises to trust only part of what you see


Son and none of what you hear
And to not trust what you hear at all


But I can't help but be confused
I can't help but feel uncertain about what to believe


If it's true please tell me dear
If the rumors are true, please tell me honestly


Do you plan to let me go
Are you planning on ending our relationship


For the other guy you loved before?
For the guy you were previously involved with?




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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