The label's second most-successful all-female singing group after The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were known for a churchier, more southern-styled soul than the Supremes, as typified in Motown hits such as "(Love Is Like A) Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", "I'm Ready For Love", "My Baby Loves Me", "Nowhere to Run", and, their signature song, "Dancing in the Street".
The group had its origins in Detroit, Michigan in 1957, and had initially gone by the name The Del-Phis. It originally was a quartet comprising childhood friends Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard, and original lead singer Gloria Williams. Williams left after a failed single on the Checkmate label, leaving the quartet as a trio. They changed their name to The Vells signing a deal with Motown's Mel-o-dy label, and singing background for established Motown performers such as Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye before signing a new deal with Motown's Gordy label on September 21, 1962, after which the group changed its name to Martha and the Vandellas.
In 1964, the Vandellas' lineup changed with Betty Kelley replacing Sterling. In 1967, Kelley was fired and was replaced by Martha's younger sister, Sandra "Lois" Reeves. In 1969, Ashford was also fired and replaced by Sandra Tilley. The lineup of the Reeves sisters and Tilley continued after Martha's return from an institution after suffering a nervous breakdown. The group disbanded following a farewell concert, held at Detroit's Cobo Hall on December 21, 1972., however, Reeves still performs with sister Lois and another Reeves sister, Delphine.
Ain't That Peculiar
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
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Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain
Ain't that peculiar
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all
Your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger
Ain't that peculiar
Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears
Now ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
Ain't it peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
Said I don't understand it baby
It's so strange sometimes
In this song, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas sing about the continuing love they have for someone who continuously hurts them. The lyrics express a contradiction - the singer is hurt and mistreated, yet they cannot bring themselves to leave the person they are in love with. The chorus declares that this situation is peculiar, which refers to something being unusual or strange.
The first stanza describes how the person they are in love with is mistreating them and causing them pain, but that pain is strengthening their love for them. The second stanza acknowledges that the person they love is lying to them, yet they still believe in their love. The final stanza compares the singer's tears to that of a child's, but ultimately, their tears will not help them gain what they want.
Overall, "Ain't That Peculiar" is a song about the difficulties of love and the contradicting emotions that come along with it - the pain, the joy, the confusion. It highlights the idea that love is not always easy or straightforward, but it is still worth fighting for.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
You hurt me, but I can't help loving you
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
I need you around, or I feel incomplete
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
You keep hurting me, even though I love you
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
Your hurt drives me to love you more
I know flowers go through rain
I know love faces challenges
But how can love go through pain
How can love endure such hurt?
Ain't that peculiar
Isn't that strange
A peculiar-arity
A strange occurrence
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
You lie to me, even when it's obvious
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
I've been blind to your lies because I love you so much
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
You hurt me intentionally, to bring me down
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all
It's sad that my love for you makes your lies seem true
Your lies seem true
Your lies feel like the truth to me
But if the truth makes love last longer
If honesty makes love stronger
Why do lies make my love stronger
Why do your lies make me love you even more?
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
I cry like a lost child, because I feel helpless without you
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
You might think I'm happy, but I'm actually sad
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
A child's tears can manipulate adults into doing their bidding
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
My tears don't get me what I want
I know love can last through years
I know relationships can survive for a long time
But how can love last through tears
But can love survive through the pain?
Now ain't that peculiar baby
Isn't that ironic, my dear
A peculiar-arity
What a strange situation
Ain't it peculiar baby
Isn't that odd, my love
Peculiar as can be
As strange as it gets
Said I don't understand it baby
I don't comprehend this, my dear
It's so strange sometimes
It's odd how things work out
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, William Robinson Jr., Robert Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind