1. Martha Davis … Read Full Bio ↴There are two female vocalists named Martha Davis.
1. Martha Davis (December 14, 1917 – April 6, 1960) was an African-American singer and pianist whose musical comedy act, "Martha Davis & Spouse", was popular in the late 1940s and 1950s.
Davis was born in Wichita, Kansas, and raised in Chicago, Illinois. By the mid-1930s, she had met and been influenced by Fats Waller, and performed regularly as a singer and pianist in Chicago clubs. In 1939, she met, and later married, bass player Calvin Ponder (October 17, 1917 - December 26, 1970), who went on to play in Earl Hines' band.
In 1948, Davis and Ponder moved to California, and Davis developed her recording career on Jewel Records in Hollywood with a trio including Ponder, Ralph Williams (guitar) and Lee Young (drums). Their cover of Dick Haymes' pop hit "Little White Lies" reached # 11 on the Billboard R&B chart, followed by a duet with Louis Jordan, "Daddy-O", from the movie A Song Is Born, which reached the R&B top ten later that year.
Davis and Ponder also began performing together on stage, developing a musical and comedy routine as "Martha Davis & Spouse" which played on their physical characteristics (she was large, he was smaller). The act became hugely popular, touring and having a residency at the Blue Angel in New York. They appeared together in movies including Smart Politics (with Gene Krupa), and in the mid-1950s, variety films Rhythm & Blues Revue, Rock 'n' Roll Revue and Basin Street Revue. Several of their performances were filmed by Snader Telescriptions for video jukeboxes, and they also broadcast on network TV, particularly Garry Moore's CBS show.
In 1957, after a break of several years, they resumed recording for the ABC Paramount label, with whom they cut two LPs. Davis died from cancer in New York in 1960, aged only 42, and Ponder died ten years later, aged only 53.
2. Martha Davis is best known as the lead singer of The Motels, a new wave pop band that scored hits in the 80s with songs such as "Only the Lonely" and "Suddenly Last Summer."
Davis released her first solo album entitled Policy in November of 1987, and had a hit with "Don't Tell Me the Time" (#8 in Australia), but in the U.S. the song only went as far as #80. Soon afterwards, Davis asked to be released from her contract with Capitol.
After leaving Capitol Records, Davis focused on different music styles, and recorded songs for several movie soundtracks.
In 2005 Davis released her second solo project entitled So the Story Goes. She is still touring and recording as "Martha Davis and the Motels."
Take the L
Martha Davis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One more evening gone to waste
No longer do I know my place
Killing time and missing my cues
Watching her belong to you
Tears could only change my view
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Growing up has always been tough
Good intentions never good enough
I would take you far away
Do anything to make you stay
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Every drink and cigarette
All those hands we never met
There are things we should forget
Now it's over, over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Take the L out of lover and it's over
In the first verse, the singer expresses their frustration and despair. They are overwhelmed and feel lost, as if they no longer know where they belong. The line "Watching my head, holding my face" suggests that they are feeling defeated and unable to make sense of their thoughts and emotions. They reflect on how they have wasted another evening, possibly implying that they have been caught up in destructive behavior or an unhealthy relationship. The line "Tears could only change my view" hints at their realization that crying or feeling sorry for themselves won't solve their problems.
In the chorus, the lyrics "Take the L out of lover and it's over" are repeated several times. The "L" in this context stands for love. By removing the "L" from the word "lover," the singer is emphasizing that once love is gone or lost, the relationship is over. It suggests that love is a crucial factor in their relationship's survival, and without it, there is no way to salvage what is left.
Moving on to the second verse, the singer reflects on the challenges of growing up. They imply that despite their good intentions, it's never enough to overcome the difficulties they face. They express their willingness to make sacrifices to keep their partner by their side, showing that they are desperate to hold on to them. However, these efforts seem futile, as the repetition of "Take the L out of lover and it's over" reinforces the idea that without love, the relationship cannot continue.
The final verse dives into the consequences of their actions and choices. They mention the distractions they used to cope with their problems, such as drinking and smoking, alluding to their feelings of numbness and escapism. The line "All those hands we never met" suggests that they both missed out on potential connections and experiences while trying to make their troubled relationship work. They conclude by acknowledging that some things should be forgotten, possibly referring to the mistakes they've made, and emphasizing the finality of their situation by repeating "Now it's over, over."
Overall, the song portrays a sense of frustration, regret, and the realization that love is the driving force behind a relationship's strength. The repeated lyrics "Take the L out of lover and it's over" act as a poignant and straightforward refrain, highlighting the importance of nurturing and maintaining love in a relationship to avoid its demise.
Line by Line Meaning
Watching my head, holding my face
Feeling lost and confused, overwhelmed by emotions
One more evening gone to waste
Another night spent without purpose or fulfillment
No longer do I know my place
Feeling disconnected and unsure of one's role or purpose
Killing time and missing my cues
Passing time aimlessly, unaware of opportunities
Watching her belong to you
Seeing someone you love being with someone else
Tears could only change my view
Crying doesn't alter the reality or the pain
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Growing up has always been tough
Facing challenges and difficulties while maturing
Good intentions never good enough
Having good intentions is not sufficient to achieve desired outcomes
I would take you far away
I would go to great lengths to take you somewhere else
Do anything to make you stay
Willing to do whatever it takes to make you not leave
Every drink and cigarette
Every act of indulgence and escape
All those hands we never met
All the missed opportunities and connections
There are things we should forget
There are memories and experiences that should be left behind
Now it's over, over
The relationship or situation is now finished
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Take the L out of lover and it's over
Remove the 'L' from the word 'lover' and the relationship ends
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: JOHN S. JR. CARTER, MARTY R JOURARD, MARTHA EMILY DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thomas Waters
Martha Davis is not only gorgeous but is one of the most brilliant and sensual singers of the 80's.She has amazing vocals.The band is top notch and multi-talented.The Motels..........Priceless!
Rex Remedy
Yes. Gorgeoustastic!
Jiverdude
I always thought she had that classic Hollywood beauty going on. I wonder if she ever did any acting?
mike mik
I put her voice with Ann Wilson Pat benatar
Orange Elixir
@Jiverdude I've always wondered if she was related to Geena Davis. There's a bit of a resemblance.
James Moore
This song is so simple, but so BRILLIANTLY executed... and Martha's delivery of it, especially the beginning and ending of it with her totally made up with those gorgeous eyes, really puts the icing on the cake... Reminds me a lot of Missing Persons, only more melodic.
Mike Sabota
Excellent production and execution...no wonder why this became such a big hit!!👍
DenMark
Great song and unforgettable video.
Thanks Martha and Motels for putting to music what so many of us lived through in the 80's and 90's !
Mr Young - Fictionist
Finally found it! This song haunted my childhood. Her voice was so sad and soulful. Now I discover the motels actually wrote 3 songs that I loved separately. Instant fan!
stevo
EUREKA!