Honey Chile
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

You're shiftless and you're lazy
Just like the hound dog, Daisy
I had when grandma raised me
Honey chile, poor Granny
Got too old to scorn me
Dear old auntie warned me
You sure was no good for me
Honey chile, but your kiss


Is sweeter than the cake
That grandma used to make
Oh them sweet little things about ya
Sure enough takes the cake
You ain't gonna amount to nothing
'Cause you ain't gonna work for nothing
Without you, I'm good for nothing
Honey chile, honey chile
Sure 'bout to drive me wild
And I love you so
Can't let go
Now honey chile oh sugar chile
I'd walk a country mile
Just to be with you
And to stay with you, now honey chile

I try to act like a lady
But you've been courtin' Sadie
Your reputation's shady
Honey chile, hey you even took out Sally
Who lives across the alley
Oh I've been keeping tally
Honey chile you're like the grapes
Upon the vine at winning pretty wine
'Cause like that home made wine so sweet
You sure enough drove me out of my mind now
You ain't nothing but a playboy
Using me for a play toy
You're ruining my pride and joy
Now honey chile, honey chile
Sure 'bout to drive me wild
And I love you so, can't let go
Now honey, ,oh sugar chile
I'd walk a country mile
Just to be with you
And to stay with you, now honey chile

One day I'm gonna get stronger
And I won't need you no longer
This feeling will be a goner
Honey chile, hey now I can't take disgracin'
That ain't the way granny raised me
You're gonna just hurt like crazy
Honey chile, sugar chile
I'd walk a country mile
Just to be with you

And to stay with you, honey chile
Hey honey chile sure 'bout to drive me wild

Overall Meaning

The song "Honey Chile" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas is a soulful track about a woman who is torn between her love for her lazy and shiftless partner and the knowledge that he is not good for her. The lyrics liken the man to a hound dog, Daisy, who symbolizes his lack of ambition and work ethic. The protagonist of the song admits that her family members, including her auntie and grandmother, have warned her not to get involved with this particular man, but she cannot resist his sweet kisses, which are even better than her grandmother's famous cake.


Later in the song, the lyrics reveal that the man has a reputation for being a playboy and has even courted other women, including Sadie and Sally, who the protagonist keeps track of. She acknowledges that he is just "using her for a play toy" and that he is "ruining my pride and joy." However, she still loves him and finds it hard to let go, even though she knows that one day she will need to move on and find someone who will treat her better.


Overall, the song is a reflection on the struggles of navigating love and relationships when we know that someone is not right for us. It captures the conflicting emotions of wanting to hold on to someone we love, even when we know that they are not good for us. The metaphor of the hound dog Daisy adds a layer of complexity to these emotions, emphasizing the laziness and lack of ambition that can sometimes be the downfall of a relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

You're shiftless and you're lazy Just like the hound dog, Daisy I had when grandma raised me Honey chile, poor Granny
You are lazy and do not work hard like my grandmother's hound dog, Daisy. My grandmother took care of me, taking pity on me.


Got too old to scorn me Dear old auntie warned me You sure was no good for me Honey chile, but your kiss
My grandmother became too old to scold me, but my aunt warned me that you were bad for me. Although you are like poison, your kisses seem sweet to me.


Is sweeter than the cake That grandma used to make Oh them sweet little things about ya Sure enough takes the cake
Your kiss is sweeter than the cake that my grandmother used to make. Your sweet personality and endearing qualities take the cake.


You ain't gonna amount to nothing 'Cause you ain't gonna work for nothing Without you, I'm good for nothing Honey chile, honey chile
You will never achieve anything because you refuse to work hard. Without you, I am worthless.


Sure 'bout to drive me wild And I love you so Can't let go Now honey chile oh sugar chile I'd walk a country mile
You are driving me insane but I still love you and can't let go. I would go to the ends of the earth to be with you.


I try to act like a lady But you've been courtin' Sadie Your reputation's shady Honey chile, hey you even took out Sally
I try to be a respectable woman, but I know you have been seeing other women like Sadie and Sally. Your reputation is questionable.


Who lives across the alley Oh I've been keeping tally Honey chile you're like the grapes Upon the vine at winning pretty wine
I know that Sally lives across the alley, and I've been keeping track of all the women you have been seeing. You are like the grapes that produce fine wine.


'Cause like that home made wine so sweet You sure enough drove me out of my mind now You ain't nothing but a playboy Using me for a play toy
Like the homemade wine, you are so sweet but have driven me crazy. You are nothing but a playboy who uses me for amusement.


You're ruining my pride and joy Now honey chile, honey chile Sure 'bout to drive me wild And I love you so, can't let go Now honey, ,oh sugar chile
You are destroying my pride and joy, but I am still crazy for you. I can't let go of the love I feel for you.


I'd walk a country mile Just to be with you And to stay with you, now honey chile One day I'm gonna get stronger
I would go to great lengths just to be with you and stay with you, despite knowing that you are bad for me. But one day I will become stronger.


And I won't need you no longer This feeling will be a goner Honey chile, hey now I can't take disgracin' That ain't the way granny raised me
Someday I will not need you anymore, and my feelings for you will be gone. I cannot tolerate being humiliated anymore. My grandmother did not raise me to be treated this way.


You're gonna just hurt like crazy Honey chile, sugar chile I'd walk a country mile Just to be with you And to stay with you, honey chile
One day, you will experience the pain that you have caused me. But for now, despite all the hurt you have inflicted, I will walk a country mile to be with you and stay with you.


Hey honey chile sure 'bout to drive me wild
Hey honey chile, you are driving me wild.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD MORRIS, SYLVIA MOY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

LESLEY ANGEL LOVE

CONGRATULATIONS TO MOTOWN'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND CELEBRATION ALONG WITH

"MARTHA REEVES AND
THE VANDELLAS" FOR THEIR HIT SONG AND SO MANY OTHER GREAT
GOLDEN CLASSIC HIT SONGS

I WAS JUST A VERY YOUNG GIRL
WHEN THIS GENUINE GOLDEN CLASSIC HIT SONG WAS RELEASED

WELL, WHAT MORE CAN I SAY
THOSE AMAZING
"MOTOWN SOUNDS" CAN ALWAYS

LIFT MY SPIRITS UP TO SMILE
REMINISCE ABOUT THOSE
GOLDEN CLASSIC HIT SONGS

AND WONDERFUL TO THAT WAS
"THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME GROWING IN

THE HEART OF MOTORCITY'S FINEST WITH EXTRAORDINARY TALENT THAT WAS BEYOND

COMPARE TO ANY LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT, WITH MUSIC
THAT DOMINATED THE MUSIC INDUSTRY LIKE A OVERNIGHT SENSATION

WORLDWIDE THAT I HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE, SO I THANK YOU
ALL FOR THOSE GREAT FABULOUS

UNFORGETTABLE AND GENUINE CLASSIC GOLDEN MEMORIES OF A

LIFETIME ENJOYMENT AND CELEBRATION, THAT I'LL

NEVER FORGET AND I MUST
SAY THANK YOU TO YOUTUBE.COM

FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE TO HEAR AND ENJOY TODAY
5-18-19.



LESLEY ANGEL LOVE

THANK YOU ALL FOR LIFTING UP
MY SPIRITS TODAY WITH SONG
MANY OTHERS WORLDWIDE

AND I MUST SAY THANK YOU TO YOUTUBE.COM FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE TO HEAR ALL OF THESE

GREAT QUALITY MUSIC OF THESE
MOTOWN SOUNDS AND ALL
THE THINGS I MISS AT HOME,

YES, THE MOTOWN-PHILLY IS VERY
EXCELLENT, EXTRAORDINARY AND OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES

AND SHOWMANSHIP LIKE NO OTHER I'VE SEEN BEFORE IN MY
LIFETIME THAT DOMINATED

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY LIKE NO OTHERS I HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE YES THEY WERE ALL TRULY AMAZING GENUINE OUTSTANDING

PEOPLE FROM THEIR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS OF
DETROIT MICHIGAN WITH GREAT QUALITY MUSIC AND LYRICS TO
ENTERTAIN ALL THEIR MUSIC CONNOISSEURS WORLDWIDE AND
THEY WERE ALL CLOSE FRIENDS

AND SUCCEEDED TO DO WELL
IN THEIR RECORD SELLS

WITH ALL THEIR GREAT LOVE SONGS AND PLATFORM TO
DISPLAY FINE GIFTS OF
TALENTED THEIR TREASURES,

BUT NEVER OUT OF DESPERATE MEASURES

YES, THEY ALL WERE SO GENUINE,
LIKE THE FINEST VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE AND WINE.



All comments from YouTube:

Sam Williams

James Jamerson was such an amazing bass player. he really revolutionized the bass's role in popular music. I love it how on this track and on many others, his bass really pops out.

Bobby Reynolds

I believe "Honey Chile" was the most successful single by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas to be produced by Richard Morris, who came to Motown from Ed Wingate's Golden World/Ric-Tic label (which Motown would soon buy out). Morris also co-wrote the song with Sylvia Moy, and I agree, it was one of Martha & the Vandellas' best!

NYC Songman

Thanks for the 411 on Richard Morris; loved how he employed those Southern country-flavored strings to underscore the "Honey" part of this great piece.
His pet fuzztone guitar here was more prominent in the Vandellas' grittier,
yet solid "Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone."
The great Sylvia Moy, besides co-writing several pop/ R&B classics, is credited with salvaging Stevie Wonder's career (Motown was going to drop him [ ! ] ).

Randall Long

But thin comparison to Dancing in The Street 👍

Richard Early

Along with Jimmie Mack

Lil Peaches Ali

@Randall Long This is way better than Dancing In The Street

frankie hunter

Perfect indeed in every respect. Only Motown could release such kind of excellency.

Armand Di Meo

The Supremes did some nice pop songs but Martha and the Vandellas' songs put a smile on my face and make me want to get up and dance in a way that the Supremes' music just doesn't.

Donald Hartsfield

This is another classic!!! I had forgotten how terrific this song is!

LESLEY ANGEL LOVE

CONGRATULATIONS TO MOTOWN'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD AND CELEBRATION ALONG WITH

"MARTHA REEVES AND
THE VANDELLAS" FOR THEIR HIT SONG AND SO MANY OTHER GREAT
GOLDEN CLASSIC HIT SONGS

I WAS JUST A VERY YOUNG GIRL
WHEN THIS GENUINE GOLDEN CLASSIC HIT SONG WAS RELEASED

WELL, WHAT MORE CAN I SAY
THOSE AMAZING
"MOTOWN SOUNDS" CAN ALWAYS

LIFT MY SPIRITS UP TO SMILE
REMINISCE ABOUT THOSE
GOLDEN CLASSIC HIT SONGS

AND WONDERFUL TO THAT WAS
"THE BEST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO ME GROWING IN

THE HEART OF MOTORCITY'S FINEST WITH EXTRAORDINARY TALENT THAT WAS BEYOND

COMPARE TO ANY LIVE
ENTERTAINMENT, WITH MUSIC
THAT DOMINATED THE MUSIC INDUSTRY LIKE A OVERNIGHT SENSATION

WORLDWIDE THAT I HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE, SO I THANK YOU
ALL FOR THOSE GREAT FABULOUS

UNFORGETTABLE AND GENUINE CLASSIC GOLDEN MEMORIES OF A

LIFETIME ENJOYMENT AND CELEBRATION, THAT I'LL

NEVER FORGET AND I MUST
SAY THANK YOU TO YOUTUBE.COM

FOR MAKING IT ALL POSSIBLE TO HEAR AND ENJOY TODAY
5-18-19.

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