Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were one of the most successful groups in the… Read Full Bio ↴Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were one of the most successful groups in the Motown roster during the 1960s and fully active from 1960 to present, performing at various times doo-wop, pop, rock and roll and soul.

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.

I'm In Love
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

As I stand alone on this moonful night
for the first time I feel alone in life.
As I watched the moon kiss the starlit sky
I feel the need for your lips to press close to mine.
For so long I been afraid to love,
but right now I feel the need for love
and you, you have the love the love I need
to comfort me oo and I'm ready for love

truly ready for love your wonderful
sweet sweet love right now I'm ready for love.

I've tried to shield my heart from love's tender touch
'cause to lose in love would hurt so much;
but as I softly walk in my solitude
I searched my heart and found there's a need for you.
And for the first time I feel alone,
'cause I need a love to call my own;
and only you, you have the love the love I need
to comfort me oo and I'm ready for love
I'm truly ready for love you know I'm ready for love
your wonderful sweet sweet love
I'm ready right now I'm ready right now.

Something wonderful has come over me
and filled this heart of mine with ecstasy
I'm glad I finally opened up my eyes
and pushed the fear of love, the fear of love aside;
and for the first time I feel alive
I have the touch of love deep down inside.
And just as soon as I see your smiling face
I'll rush into your warm embrace.

Right now I'm ready for love,
I'm truly ready for love,
you wonderful sweet, sweet love
right now I'm ready for love

you know I'm ready for love,
I'm truly ready for love,
your wonderful sweet, sweet love
right now I'm ready for love

you know I'm ready for love,

I'm truly ready for love,
your wonderful sweet, sweet love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I'm Ready for Love" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas convey the longing for a deep romantic relationship. The song's narrator sings about the fear of loving someone and losing them, but also about the realization that true love is worth taking a risk. The opening lines reveal how the singer feels alone and isolated, possibly after experiencing disappointment in previous relationships. The moon and starry sky set the mood for a contemplative moment of self-reflection.

The singer understands that she has been trying to protect her heart from being hurt by love, but now she acknowledges the need for love in her life. She describes the inner turmoil of wanting to be loved, yet feeling scared to open up to someone. Finally, she experiences a newfound confidence in love and is ready to embrace it. The comforting presence of a partner is what she wants, and she acknowledges that only this person's love can bring her comfort.

Overall, the song's message is about overcoming fear and taking a risk for love. It speaks to the universal longing for companionship and the emotional strength that comes with having someone to love and support you fully.

Line by Line Meaning

As I stand alone on this moonful night
I am by myself on this night with a full moon

for the first time I feel alone in life.
This is the first time that I have ever felt so lonely

As I watched the moon kiss the starlit sky
While observing the moon meeting the starry sky

I feel the need for your lips to press close to mine.
I crave and desire your lips close to mine

For so long I been afraid to love,
I have been scared to love for a very long time

but right now I feel the need for love
At this moment, I have the desire for love

and you, you have the love the love I need
You are the only one that can provide the love that I crave

to comfort me oo and I'm ready for love
The love that you give will comfort me, and I am now ready to receive it

truly ready for love your wonderful
I am genuinely prepared for affection, your love is excellent

sweet sweet love right now I'm ready for love.
The sweet, sweet love that you offer is what I want at this moment, and I am prepared for it

I've tried to shield my heart from love's tender touch
I have attempted to guard my heart from the fragile aspects of love

'cause to lose in love would hurt so much;
Because to experience a loss from love would be incredibly painful

but as I softly walk in my solitude
While I gently walk in my aloneness

I searched my heart and found there's a need for you.
I examined my heart and discovered that the requirement for your love is present within it.

And for the first time I feel alone,
This is the first time that I feel so lonely

'cause I need a love to call my own;
Because I require a love that belongs to me only

and only you, you have the love the love I need
You are the only individual who possesses the love I need

to comfort me oo and I'm ready for love
Your love will comfort me, and I am ready to receive it

I'm truly ready for love you know I'm ready for love
I am genuinely prepared for love, and you should be aware of it

your wonderful sweet sweet love I'm ready right now I'm ready right now.
Your amazing and delightful affection is what I want, and I am ready to have it at this exact moment

Something wonderful has come over me
Something excellent has taken over me

and filled this heart of mine with ecstasy
And has brought me to a state of euphoria.

I'm glad I finally opened up my eyes
I am grateful that I finally realized

and pushed the fear of love, the fear of love aside;
And set aside the fear of love

and for the first time I feel alive
And for the first time, I feel alive

I have the touch of love deep down inside.
Deep inside, I have the feeling of affection and care.

And just as soon as I see your smiling face
As soon as I see your happy face

I'll rush into your warm embrace.
I will immediately rush into your warm and tender hug

Right now I'm ready for love,
I am ready for love right now

your wonderful sweet, sweet love
Your amazing, pleasant affection

you know I'm ready for love,
You should acknowledge that I am prepared for love

I'm truly ready for love,
I am wholeheartedly prepared for love