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.
Nowhere To Run
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to run to, baby (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
Nowhere to hide
It's not love, I'm running from
It's the heartbreak I know will come
'Cause I know you're no good for me (you're no good for me)But you've become a part of me
Everywhere I go, your face I see
Every step I take, you take with me, yeah
Nowhere to run to, baby (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
Nowhere to hide
Got nowhere to run to, baby (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
Nowhere to hide
I know you're no good for me
But free of you I'll never be, no
Each night as I sleep, into my heart you creep
I wake up feelin' sorry I met you
Hoping soon that I'll forget you
When I look in the mirror to comb my hair
I see your face just smiling there, yeah
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide (from you, baby)
Got nowhere to run to, baby (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
Nowhere to hide
I know you're no good for me
But you've become a part of me
How can I fight a love that shouldn't be?
When it's so deep, so deep, deep inside of me
My love reaches so high I can't get over it
It's so wide I can't get around it, no
Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide from you, baby
Just can't get away from you, baby (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
No matter how I try to
I know you're no good for me
But free of you I'll never be
Nowhere to run to, baby (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
Nowhere to hide (nowhere to hide)
I got nowhere to run to, baby (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
Nowhere to hide (nowhere to hide)
Got nowhere to run (nowhere to run, nowhere to hide)
Got nowhere to hide
In Martha Reeves & The Vandellas's hit song "Nowhere To Run," the singer sings about being trapped in a tumultuous romance. The opening lines of the chorus, "Nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide / Got nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide," suggest a sense of desperation and a feeling of being caged in. The lyrics continue to describe the singer's struggle to escape the heartbreak that they know will come. Though they recognize that their partner is no good for them, they can't seem to shake them off, and they've become a part of them. Everywhere they go, they see their partner's face, and every step they take, their partner is there. The singer is constantly haunted by their lover, and they can't seem to find a way out.
The second half of the song's lyrics continue with the same theme of entrapment. Each night when the singer sleeps, their partner crawls into their heart. Even when they wake up, they can't seem to shake off their partner's memories: "When I look in the mirror to comb my hair / I see your face just a smiling there." The lyrics suggest that the singer is emotionally attached to their partner, even though they know it's not good for them. The song suggests that the singer is in a bind, unable to escape the clutches of their lover, and is resigned to the fact that they may never be free from them.
Line by Line Meaning
Nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide
Feeling trapped and exposed
Got nowhere to run to, baby, nowhere to hide.
Feeling helpless and vulnerable
It's not love, I'm a running from,
Not wanting to escape love
It's the heartbreak I know will come.
Fearing pain and loss
'Cause I know you're no good for me, but you've become a part of me.
Recognizing a toxic relationship
Ev'rywhere I go, your face I see, ev'ry step I take, you take with me yeah
Constantly haunted by memories of the person
I know you're not good for me, but free of you I'll never be, no.
Feeling trapped, unable to escape
Each night as I sleep, into my heart you creep.
Unable to escape their presence, even in dreams
I wake up feelin' sorry I met you, hoping soon that I'll forget you.
Regretting meeting the person and longing to forget them
When I look in the mirror to comb my hair, I see your face just a smiling there.
Feeling like the person is everywhere and in everything
My love reaches so high I can't get over it, It's so wide I can't get around it, no
Feeling trapped by the intensity of their love
Just can't get away from you baby, no matter how I try to
Unable to escape their presence
Nowhere to run to baby, nowhere to hide, got nowhere to run to baby.
Feeling trapped and exposed, unable to escape the situation
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Tarantulisimo
Martha Reeves - Lead vocals
Rosalind Ashford & Betty Kelly - background vocals
The Funk Brothers - All instruments
Benny Benjamin: drums
James Jamerson: bass guitar
Earl Van Dyke: Wurlitzer electric piano
Jack Ashford: percussion, tambourine, vibes
Ivy Jo Hunter: Detroit snow chains
Robert White: guitar
Eddie Willis: guitar
Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Edward Holland, Jr. - songwriters
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland - producers
@markplane5994
I start Spring Cleaning tomorrow and my stereo is going to get abused with Martha, Aretha, Motown and Northern Soul.( if you are familiar with the Northern Soul Genre) Nothing under 50 years old and I am going to literally shake the house as I clean (unless I blow my speakers, which would be a really bad day) Don't know about my hips being loosened, but I could have very well dislocated them by the end of the day. lol.
If you are not from the UK, have a look at this.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_soul
Here is a quick preview.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TEyxwXIRPs&list=PLfMaV_DTTyta-hFFXFtw0OyeNqRUfOx9x&index=3
@devious187
We're in 2024, and there still isn't much that touches this song's greatness... what a masterpiece
@authenticallykyle
This song is so recognizable, makes me think of so many movies I love. Congratulations on Martha's Hollywood star today ❤
@blakefish80
This just hits so hard. Just the perfect Motown record. Pure talent!
@leesher1845
The best Motown tunes ever. Great lyrics, great orchestration, great musicians, and of course great vocalists.
@oldermusiclover
the Funks could make Micky Mouse sound good
@geoffreyjonathanwilson9932
Oh yes!
@trademark1874
Jack Ashford on the tambourine right here!!!
@andrewbetsargis92
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus Christ loves you all!❤✝
@hiddenpandacapital6990
Behind every good singer / vocalist / Motown group was ..... THE FUNK BROTHERS !
@steveadams5190
A LONG OVERDUE WELCOME HOME TO ALL VIETNAM VETERANS AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!!!!