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.
Jimmy Mack )
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh Jimmy Mack when are you comin' back.
Jimmy Mack Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack when are you comin' back.
My arms are missing you,
My lips feel the same way too.
I tried so hard to be true, like I promised to do.
tryin' to wear my resistance down.
Hey Jimmy, Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack, when are you comin' back.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back.
He calls me on the phone about three times a day.
Now my heart's just listening to, what he has to say
But this loneliness I have within,
Keeps reaching out to be his friend
Hey Jimmy, Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack, when are you comin' back.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back.
Need your loving, need your loving.
I wanna say I'm not getting any stronger,
I can't hold out very much longer
Trying hard, to be true,
But, Jimmy he talks just as sweet as you.
Hey Jimmy, Jimmy,
Oh Jimmy Mack, when are you comin' back.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back.
The song “Jimmy Mack” by Martha Reeves is a classic tale of longing and heartache. In the lyrics, the singer is waiting for her lover, Jimmy Mack, to return to her. She expresses how her arms and lips miss him, and how she is trying so hard to be true to him, but another boy keeps trying to wear her resistance down. Despite her intentions, she can't seem to resist the sweet talk of the other boy who calls her three times a day. The singer is torn between her loyalty to her absent lover and her desire for the attention and love the other boy offers.
The chorus of the song reinforces the message of the lyrics as it repeats the plea to Jimmy Mack to return as soon as possible. The song conveys a desperate need for the love of Jimmy Mack, and it depicts the struggle one goes through when trying to remain true to a lover who is not around. The song is not just about love but is also about loyalty and commitment in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Jimmy Mack Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack when are you comin' back.
The singer is pleading for her lover Jimmy Mack to return to her.
My arms are missing you, My lips feel the same way too.
The singer misses Jimmy Mack both physically and emotionally.
I tried so hard to be true, like I promised to do.
The singer has been faithful to Jimmy Mack despite other men pursuing her.
But this boy keeps comin' around, tryin' to wear my resistance down.
Another man keeps trying to seduce or woo the singer, making it difficult to stay faithful to Jimmy Mack.
He calls me on the phone about three times a day. Now my heart's just listening to, what he has to say.
The other man keeps contacting the singer frequently and she is starting to listen to his words and be influenced by him.
But this loneliness I have within, Keeps reaching out to be his friend.
The singer is lonely and wants companionship, which the other man is offering.
Need your loving, need your loving. I wanna say I'm not getting any stronger, I can't hold out very much longer
The singer needs Jimmy Mack's love and is struggling to resist the other man's advances.
Trying hard, to be true, But, Jimmy he talks just as sweet as you.
The singer is trying to stay loyal to Jimmy Mack, but the other man is just as charming and persuasive.
Jimmy, Jimmy, Oh Jimmy Mack, you better hurry back.
The singer is becoming increasingly desperate for Jimmy Mack's return.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DONALD CLINT GOODMAN, TROY HAROLD SEALS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ronald8780
How did we ever get away from great music like this?
@elosasanchez1243
The music today stinks . The music back then actually had lyrics that made sense . I don't like the music they play today and the 60's and 70's I love and probably always will.
@timmyporter359
probably because 8 crazy nights....
@josephnatoli3935
1:22. Woke progressive morons!
This is what I call music.
Amen.❤
@VickiHillyard
@@elosasanchez1243l
@numbnuts511
One of my wifes favourite ,I bought this for her in our courting days .she used to change the "Mack" bit to my surname. She passed away very recently.I love you ,I miss you. Jimmy xxxxxxx
@BOBLLASHRAM
We all feel the same don't we? This song gives me goose bumps when I hear it just like loads of that Motown stuff. It brings back so many memories of the times when music was just fabulous!
@Realmusiclover1957
We were lucky to be born at the time we were born to witness the greatest music in the history of the world.
@cajayson8301
Amazing, underrated song. Wish they still played this on radio today...such a classic dance hit
@neilhunter495
They do constantly on absolute and smooth radio.