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 Lonely Room )
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 to Martha Reeves and The Vandellas's song In My Lonely Room is about a woman who is desperately in love with a man who constantly flirts with other women in front of her. Despite his hurtful behavior, she is afraid of losing him and never criticizes him. She goes out with him to public places where she hears people whispering about his flirting ways, which deeply hurts her. However, she hides her feelings and pretends like it doesn't bother her.
In the chorus, the woman sings about her "lonely room" where she can finally allow her true feelings to come out. She locks the door, lets herself go and cries as much as she wants. This is a place where she doesn't have to hide anything or pretend like everything's fine. She can be vulnerable and honest with herself.
Overall, the song is about the pain of unrequited love and the struggle of hiding one's true feelings. It's also about the relief that comes when one is finally able to let those feelings out in a safe space.
Line by Line Meaning
Every single time you take me out with you
Each time we go out together
You always flirt around with someone new
You constantly seek attention from others
But I never criticize the tearful things you do
I avoid criticizing your behavior despite feeling hurt
'Cause I'm so afraid of losing you
Because I fear losing your love and companionship
But in my lonely room, tears I don't have to hide
I don't need to hide my tears when I'm alone
'Cause I just lock my door and let myself go
I allow myself to express my emotions freely in private
And lay right down and cry
I let myself cry until I feel better
Every place we go, people are whispering
Wherever we are, people are gossiping about you
About your flirting ways, & it hurts me so to hear
They talk about how you flirt around and it pains me to hear it
But in the public's eye I just push behind all my hurt inside
I hide my feelings from others and pretend to be unaffected
And pretend i don't mind
To give the impression that I'm okay with everything
In my lonely room, tears I don't have to hide
When I'm alone, I can cry freely without feeling judged
In my lonely lonely lonely lonely room
A place where I feel truly alone and isolated
I push my pride aside and lay right down & cry
I put aside my ego and let myself cry until I feel better
In my lonely room, in my lonely room
The only place where I allow myself to be vulnerable
Let myself go, lay right down and cry
I permit myself to release my emotions and cry until I feel better
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brianalejandro5746
This song has a special meaning to me. I love Martha Reeves and The Vandellas. It was such an honor to actually dance on stage with them.
@Bluhilla
That’s amazing. You’re one lucky man !
@lasgdle2777
As a baby boomer I jammed many a days off this song. As much as I love Heat Wave, Quicksand and others, this is my favorite. I only listen to 50s, 60s, and 70s. This was a wonderful era of "true music that could be understood!"
@davidmoore6112
It's just something about the golden years we grew up in no fooling every time I put in one of these cuts it's just so I just get happy you know and it brings me back to you a good old days you know when people have respect for each other vandellas you nailed it God bless you and your family
@leeroberts8114
This is one of the tunes that's the reason I love Northern Soul so much....KTF
@boomerang905
"But l never criticized the tearful things you do, cause lm so afraid of losing you ...." How can you make a sad song so beautiful? Genius. Motown was fire. 🔥
@aud2369
For those who gave this a thumbs down. Do you know music and words with meaning. This is real music. Thank you Funk Brothers you will live on in music for generations to come.....Peace.
@williamfleming5740
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@old-schooldaze2746
Martha handles this one .the vandellas are superb as usual.
@pluto1jack
I am 67 years young, so put things in perspective and you will understand why I say,
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas were some sexy looking, talented young ladies.....hats off!!