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 Heard It Through the Grapevine
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
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'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys
You know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you loved some one else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby
People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
I'm just about to love my mind
Honey, honey, yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
The lyrics of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas tell a story of heartbreak, betrayal, and the shock of learning about a lover's infidelity through rumors and gossip. The singer is addressing their partner, expressing their knowledge of the plans to make them feel blue and the existence of another person from the partner's past. The singer confesses their deeper love for the partner and how the revelation of the affair took them by surprise. They emphasize their emotional turmoil and the impending loss of the relationship, as they are just about to lose their mind.
The song explores themes of trust, communication, and the power of rumors. The singer laments the fact that they had to hear about the infidelity through hearsay instead of their partner openly and honestly sharing the information. The repeated phrase "I heard it through the grapevine" symbolizes the spreading rumors and serves as a metaphor for the breakdown of trust and the breakdown of the relationship itself.
Overall, the song captures the pain and confusion that can come with discovering a betrayal and serves as a poignant expression of heartache and impending loss.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
You're probably curious about how I discovered this information
'Bout your plans to make me blue
Regarding your intentions to make me feel sad
With some other guy you knew before
Being involved with another man from your past
Between the two of us guys
Among the two of us men
You know I loved you more
You should know that I loved you to a greater extent
It took me by surprise I must say
It certainly caught me off guard, I must admit
When I found out yesterday
When I discovered this information just the other day
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Don't you realize that I received this news through informal channels
Not much longer would you be mine
It won't be much longer until you're no longer with me
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh, I learned about it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
Oh, I'm on the brink of losing my sanity
Honey, honey yeah
Darling, oh yes
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
I understand that a man isn't expected to shed tears
But these tears I can't hold inside
But I'm unable to contain these tears within me
Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would bring my existence to an end, you understand
'Cause you mean that much to me
Because you hold such significance in my life
You could have told me yourself
You had the ability to inform me directly
That you loved some one else
That you had feelings for someone else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
However, I learned about it through informal channels
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
Oh, I received this news through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind
And I'm nearly losing control of my sanity
People say believe half of what you see
There's a saying that suggests only trusting half of what you witness
Son and none of what you hear
My child, and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
However, I can't avoid feeling perplexed
If it's true please tell me dear
If it's indeed true, please inform me, my dear
Do you plan to let me go
Are you intending to release me
For the other guy you loved before?
In favor of the other man you previously loved?
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
It won't be much longer until you're no longer mine, darling, yes
I'm just about to lose my mind
I'm on the brink of losing my sanity
Honey, honey, yeah
Darling, oh yes
I heard it through the grapevine
I learned about it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
It won't be much longer until you're no longer mine, darling, yes
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind