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.
Get Ready
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
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You're alright
Whenever I'm asked what makes a my dreams real
I tell 'em you do
You're outta' sight
Well twiddley dee, twiddley dum
Look out baby 'cause here I come
I'm bringing you a love that's true
Get ready, get ready
Start makin' love to you
Get ready, get ready
Get ready, 'cause here I come
Get ready, 'cause here I come
You wanna' play hide and seek with love, let me remind you
You're alright
Lovin' you're gonna' miss, and the time it takes to find you
You're outta' sight
Well fee fi, fo fo fum
Look out baby, 'cause here I come
I'm bringing you a love that's true
Get ready, get ready
Start makin' love to you
Get ready, get ready
Get ready, 'cause here I come
Get ready, 'cause here I come
Baby all my freedoms should you want me to I think i'll understand
You're alright
Hope I get to you before they do, 'cause that's how I planned it
You're outta' sight
Well twiddley dee, twiddley dum
Look out baby 'cause here I come
I'm bringing you a love that's true
Get ready, get ready
Start makin' love to you
Get ready, get ready
Get ready, 'cause here I come
Get ready, 'cause here I come
The lyrics to "Get Ready" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas express the singer's intense feelings of love and attraction towards a woman. The song begins with the acknowledgement that the woman in question is unique and special, able to make the singer feel a way that no other girl has been able to. This is followed by the declaration that it is the woman who makes the singer's dreams feel real. The chorus then invites the woman to "get ready" for the love that is about to come her way, promising a love that is true and genuine. The singer emphasizes that the woman is "outta' sight", meaning that she is beyond compare and truly exceptional.
The second verse sees the singer warning the woman against playing "hide and seek" with love, reminding her that the love they have is something special and that it shouldn't be taken for granted. The chorus then repeats, and the bridge kicks in, with the singer expressing a willingness to sacrifice their freedom for the woman they love, promising to be there for her always. Finally, the last chorus invites the woman to "start making love" to the singer, cementing the romantic and sexual undertones of the song.
Overall, "Get Ready" is a song that captures the excitement and passion of young love, expressing the thrill of discovering a new romance, and the willingness to do anything for that person.
Line by Line Meaning
Never met a girl could make me feel the way that you do
You're alright
I've never felt so enamored by someone before. You're amazing.
Whenever I'm asked what makes a my dreams real
I tell 'em you do
You're outta' sight
When people ask me what makes me happy, I tell them it's you. You're incredible.
Well twiddley dee, twiddley dum
Look out baby 'cause here I come
Here I come, ready to sweep you off your feet.
I'm bringing you a love that's true
Get ready, get ready
Start makin' love to you
Get ready, get ready
Get ready, 'cause here I come
Get ready, 'cause here I come
I'm coming to bring you genuine love. Get ready, because I'm about to make love to you and this is just the beginning of our journey together.
You wanna' play hide and seek with love, let me remind you
You're alright
Lovin' you're gonna' miss, and the time it takes to find you
You're outta' sight
If you think you can toy with love and hide from it, remember that you're already amazing and someone loving you is worth the time it takes to find you.
Well fee fi, fo fo fum
Look out baby, 'cause here I come
Watch out, because I'm coming for you and nothing is going to stop me.
Baby all my freedoms should you want me to I think i'll understand
You're alright
Hope I get to you before they do, 'cause that's how I planned it
You're outta' sight
I'm willing to give up all my freedom for you because I understand how amazing you are. I hope I get to you before anyone else does, and that's how I've planned it.
Contributed by Adrian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.