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.
In My House
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
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You always flirt around with someone new
But I never criticize the tearful things you do
'Cause I'm so afraid of losing you
But in my lonely room, tears I don't have to hide
'Cause I just lock my door and let myself go
And lay right down and cry
Every place we go, people are whispering
About your flirting ways, & it hurts me so to hear
But in the public's eye I just push behind all my hurt inside
And pretend i don't mind
But in my lonely room, tears I don't have to hide
In my lonely lonely lonely lonely room
I push my pride aside and lay right down & cry
In my lonely room, in my lonely room
Let myself go, lay right down and cry
The lyrics of Martha Reeves & The Vandellas's song "In My Lonely Room" reveal a heart-wrenching tale of insecurity and internal suffering. The singer is clearly in love with someone who is unfaithful and flirts with other people, even right in front of them. Despite the obvious hurt this causes, the singer never criticizes them, instead opting to keep their feelings to themselves in fear of losing them. The singer tries to push their hurt aside and pretend everything is okay in the public eye, but in their lonely room, they have a safe space to let their emotions flow freely.
This song speaks to the universal experience of feeling insecure in a relationship and wanting to hold on to someone despite the pain they cause. The singer's decision to keep silent about their feelings may seem self-destructive, but it is a relatable experience for many people who have been in similar situations. The line "Tears I don't have to hide, 'cause I just lock my door and let myself go" perfectly captures the feeling of finally having a private space to let out all the emotions that have been bottled up for so long.
Line by Line Meaning
Every single time you take me out with you
Whenever you take me out with you
You always flirt around with someone new
You always flirt with someone else
But I never criticize the tearful things you do
I never criticize your behavior that makes me feel sad
'Cause I'm so afraid of losing you
Because I'm scared of losing you
But in my lonely room, tears I don't have to hide
When I'm alone in my room, I don't have to hide my tears
'Cause I just lock my door and let myself go
I lock the door and allow myself to be emotional
And lay right down and cry
I lay down and cry
Every place we go, people are whispering
Wherever we go, people are whispering about us
About your flirting ways, & it hurts me so to hear
They talk about how you flirt, and it hurts me to hear them
But in the public's eye I just push behind all my hurt inside
In public, I hide my pain and keep it to myself
And pretend i don't mind
I pretend that it doesn't bother me
In my lonely room, tears I don't have to hide
But when I'm alone in my room, I don't have to hide my tears
In my lonely lonely lonely lonely room
In my very lonely room
I push my pride aside and lay right down & cry
I set aside my pride and cry alone
In my lonely room, in my lonely room
In my room, where I'm alone and lonely
Let myself go, lay right down and cry
I allow myself to be emotional and cry
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JR., BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dwayne S. Jones
I have always loved this song since a child and it still sounds great to this day. Thinking of you mom always Love you.
altanett
We had some good sounds back in the 60’s. So glad I came up in that era. The songs had substance. Thank you Motown! ❤️
Bridgett Garvin
Wow, my mom use to play this ALL THE TIME. I can't believe i found it. This is FOR YOU MOM.
RIS❤❤❤❤❤
Daryl Taylor
Martha Reeves one of my all-time favorite singers
Valerie Johnson
I've looked for this song for years just found it in 2019. My mom's neighbor would play this and cry.
ARCENIA Crout
I LOVE this song!
Christine Taylor
Beautiful track we should not forget. Get it played!. Gem. HX
Wayne Brasler
Among her best records ever and Motown did almost nothing to promote it. This was to have been followed by the hypnotic "No One There" and that even didn't BECOME a single. Then she did another fabulous record, "I Won't Be the Fool I Was Before" and THAT didn't get released. When it finally came out on an album it was in mono, and it was the stereo version that was the killer. Motown had no shame with some of its greatest artists.
Humboldt Bear
'No One There' was a single in the UK.
robert
I love diana, but berry gordy was blinded by love. martha never got the respect she deserved at Motown. or the stardom.