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.
The Love You Save
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Lyrics
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(You're a fool for your baby)
Don't you know, girls
You've been in love too long
(You're a fool for your baby)
When just his smile takes all your pain away
And you find yourself believing whatever he may say
But your heart tells you, Girl, keep right on tryin'
Girls, you've been in love too long
(You're a fool for your baby)
Don't you know, girls? You've been in love too long
(You're a fool for your baby)
When you accept his wrongs just to share his kiss
And even though lonely nights are filled with happiness
Now girl, you're in trouble; you know your heart is seein' double
When your head tells you to run
But your heart says he's your only one
Girls, you've been in love too long
You're a fool for your baby)
(Girl, you've been in love too long)
You're a fool
'Cause when a week of loneliness
Can be erased with just one sweet caress
Girls, you've been in love too long
(You're a fool for your baby)
I say girls, oh yeah, you're a fool
When his wrong looks right 'cause he always treats you bad
When you find little excuses for all the sadness & abuses
Don't you know, girls, you're in love
You're just a fool for your baby
Girls, you've been in love too long
You're just a fool
In this song, Martha Reeves and The Vandellas address the issue of loving someone for too long, to the point where it has ceased to be healthy. The lyrics warn women that when they are in love for too long, they can become oblivious to their partner's wrongdoings, excuses, and abuses. Despite knowing that it is in their best interest to leave, they stubbornly insist on staying with their significant other, no matter the cost. The song places the focus on how women in love become "fools" for their partners, which can lead them to overlook certain red flags, toxic behaviors and eventually, the emotional turmoil that stems from such a relationship.
Reeves and The Vandellas further tackled the notion that being in love for too long can lead to a distorted perception of reality, which may result in a prolonged sense of loneliness and a dependence on the significant other's affection. The lyrics suggest that the women in love may accept their partner's wrongdoings just to experience temporary happiness, and focus on the positive aspects of the relationship while ignoring its issues. Despite the obvious warning signs, the women refuse to consider the possibility of leaving their partner, dismissing their intuition and being controlled by their emotions.
Overall, the song encourages women to recognize the signs of a toxic relationship, to listen to their intuition, and not to let their love for someone turn into a one-sided, unhealthy situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Girls, you've been in love too long
You have been in love for a significant period of time
(You're a fool for your baby)
You are blinded by love and are making poor decisions
Don't you know, girls
Do you not understand
When just his smile takes all your pain away
His smile has the power to make you forget any troubles in your life
And you find yourself believing whatever he may say
You trust and believe everything he tells you
Now when he keeps you cryin'
When he causes you to cry
But your heart tells you, Girl, keep right on tryin'
Your heart encourages you to keep trying to make the relationship work
When you accept his wrongs just to share his kiss
You are willing to overlook his faults in order to be with him
And even though lonely nights are filled with happiness
Despite being alone, you are content just thinking of him
Now girl, you're in trouble; you know your heart is seein' double
You are conflicted and unsure of what to do
When your head tells you to run
You know logically that you should leave the relationship
But your heart says he's your only one
You cannot bring yourself to leave him because you feel he is the only one for you
I say girls, oh yeah, you're a fool
The singer is emphasizing that the girls are making foolish decisions
When his wrong looks right 'cause he always treats you bad
You justify his negative behavior towards you as just his way of showing love
When you find little excuses for all the sadness & abuses
You make excuses for his actions, even when they hurt you emotionally or physically
Don't you know, girls, you're in love
The singer is suggesting that the girls are confusing love for a toxic relationship
You're just a fool for your baby
You are willingly making foolish decisions for the sake of being with him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CLARENCE O. PAUL, IVY JO HUNTER, WILLIAM STEVENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind