Possessing a five-octave vocal range, Lewis built her reputation as a singer joining the British group Ferris Wheel in 1967. When the group disbanded in 1970, she went on to pursue a solo career.
A self-taught guitarist and keyboard player, Lewis was heavily influenced by Stevie Wonder and also drew inspiration from Joni Mitchell among others. With her blend of soul, folk, pop and reggae, she helped paved the way for today's artists like Des'ree and India.Arie.
After over a decade of non-stop touring, performing and recording, Lewis went on hiatus during the 1980s, spending over ten years in Los Angeles out of the public eye.
In 2003, Lewis appeared at the Glastonbury Festival. In 2006, she released the album, Live in Old Smokey, which featured a string of new songs and previously released ones that have been re-recorded. In the same year, she collaborated with Basement Jaxx.
In 2023, Lewis collaborated with UK folk-funk band The Paracosmos; their single "Earthling" featured additional vocals by Lewis.
Come Back And Finish What You Started
Linda Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh oh, don't leave me hanging on
Hanging on, hanging on
Come back and finish what you started
No no no no, don't leave me hanging on
Hanging on, hanging on
You plant the seeds of love in my heart
(A love that's something that shouldn't begin)
But you're not gonna see it through to the end
Come back and finish what you started
Yea-eah, don't leave me hanging on
Hanging on, hanging on
Come back and finish what you started
Oh oh, don't leave me hanging on
Hanging on, hanging on
A taste of honey is a dangerous thing
When love is gone, it never replace
(Just like a promise I have to repeat)
But you left it undone and incomplete
Come back and finish what you started
Ah oh, don't leave me hanging on
Hanging on, hanging on
Oh oh yeah, yeah
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Come on baby, come back
A taste of honey can't control me
Come on baby, come back
I need your loving arms to hold me
Come on baby, come back
Bring back the promise that you made me
Come on baby, come back
Come back and save me
Come back and finish what you started
Don't leave me hanging on
Hanging on, hanging on
Come back and finish what you started
Don't leave me hanging on
Hanging on, hanging on
[Repeat to fade]
The lyrics to "Come Back and Finish What You Started" by Linda Lewis are a plea to a former lover to come back and fulfill their promises. The singer tells the listener that they planted the seeds of love in their heart, but failed to see it through to the end. The song is full of emotion, with the singer expressing a sense of longing and desperation for her former lover to return.
The first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer describes how the former lover started something (their relationship), but failed to see it through to the end. She uses the metaphor of planting seeds of love in her heart, which suggests that their relationship had potential, but the former lover didn't put in the effort to make it work. The second verse further emphasizes this idea, with the singer describing how a taste of honey (love) is a dangerous thing when it's gone and can't be replaced. The chorus repeats the titular phrase, with the singer begging her former lover to come back and finish what they started.
The bridge of the song is a call to action, with the singer imploring her former lover to come back and save her. The repeated use of "come on baby, come back" gives the song a sense of urgency, as if the singer is on the brink of desperation. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes the singer's desire for her former lover to return and complete what they started.
Line by Line Meaning
Come back and finish what you started
Return and complete what you initiated.
Oh oh, don't leave me hanging on
Oh oh, I implore you not to leave me in suspense.
Hanging on, hanging on
I am still waiting.
You plant the seeds of love in my heart
You have sparked love within me.
When all the tender words are sow at the start
When you express endearing sentiments from the beginning.
(A love that's something that shouldn't begin)
(A love that you don't intend to carry forward.)
But you're not gonna see it through to the end
Yet, you don't plan to see it to the finish.
No no no no, don't leave me hanging on
No no no no, I plead that you don't leave me hanging in limbo.
A taste of honey is a dangerous thing
The fleeting sensation of love can be perilous.
When love is gone, it never replace
Once love departs, it can never be substituted.
(Just like a promise I have to repeat)
(Much like a vow I continue to reiterate.)
But you left it undone and incomplete
However, you departed and failed to follow through.
Ah oh, don't leave me hanging on
Ah oh, I pray that you don't leave me in suspense.
Oh oh yeah, yeah
Oh oh yeah, yeah
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Come on baby, come back
Please come back to me, my love.
A taste of honey can't control me
I cannot be contained by a mere taste of love.
I need your loving arms to hold me
I yearn for your affectionate embrace.
Bring back the promise that you made me
Fulfill the commitment that you vowed to me.
Come back and save me
Return and rescue me.
Don't leave me hanging on
Do not leave me hanging in suspense.
[Repeat to fade]
[The repetition of the same plea, until no sound can be heard.]
Writer(s): JOE COBB, VAN MCCOY
Contributed by Reagan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Itaintflatdummy
So Linda recorded it before Gladys. Interesting.