The label's second most-successful all-female singing group after The Supremes, Martha Reeves and 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".
Founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1960, the group had initially gone by the name The Del-Phis and originally was a quartet of Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford, Annette Beard and original lead singer Gloria Williamson. Williamson left after a failed single on the Checkmate label, leaving the quartet as a trio. They changed their name again 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, changing their name to Martha and the Vandellas in 1962.
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's final performance at Detroit's Cobo Hall in 1972 ended their twelve-year existence.
I Want You Back
Martha Reeves And The Vandellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me
To take second look
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Yes I do now
I want you back
Ooh ooh baby
Yeah yeah, naw
Trying to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
That I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on
I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl
I didn't even want around
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Abuh buh buh buh
All I want!
Abuh buh buh buh
All I need!
Abuh buh buh buh
The lyrics of "I Want You Back" by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas express regret and a desire to reclaim a lost love. The singer acknowledges that when they were together, they took their partner for granted, seeing them as just another pretty face in a crowd. However, they recognize the error of their ways and wish they could have another chance to show their love. The song also indicates that the singer is having a difficult time moving on without their love and is following them around, leaving tear stains on the ground.
The chorus of the song, "Oh baby give me one more chance, to show you that I love you" is a universal sentiment that many people can relate to. The singer's longing for a lost love is something that most people can empathize with, and the repetition of the phrase "Abuh buh buh buh" at the end of the song adds an element of urgency to the lyrics, emphasizing the singer's desperation to win back their love.
Overall, "I Want You Back" is a classic love song about lost love and the longing to make things right again. The lyrics are straightforward and honest, expressing the singer's regret and desire to be with their partner again. The melody is catchy and upbeat, making it a classic that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
When I had you to myself
When we were together, I didn't appreciate or value you.
I didn't want you around
I pushed you away and didn't want to be with you.
Those pretty faces always made you stand out in a crowd
You were attractive and caught people's attention.
But someone picked you from the bunch
Someone chose you over everyone else.
One glance was all it took
They fell in love with you at first sight.
Now it's much too late for me to take second look
I realize now that I made a mistake and it's too late to change things.
Oh baby give me one more chance
Please give me another opportunity to make things right.
To show you that I love you
To prove my love to you through my actions.
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Please open your heart to me again and forgive me.
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
I didn't realize how much I cared for you until you were gone.
But now since I see you in his arms
Now that I see you with someone else, I realize my mistake.
I want you back
I want to be with you again.
Trying to live without your love
It's difficult to go on without you.
Is one long sleepless night
I can't sleep or rest without you in my life.
Let me show you girl
Allow me to demonstrate my love for you.
That I know wrong from right
I understand what I did wrong and how to make it right.
Every street you walk on
Everywhere you go, I'm reminded of you.
I leave tear stains on the ground
I cry and feel sorrowful when I think of you.
Following the girl I didn't even want around
I realize now that I was wrong to not appreciate you when I had you.
Abuh buh buh buh all I want!
All I want is to be with you.
Abuh buh buh buh all I need!
All I need is your love and forgiveness.
Abuh buh buh buh
Repeated sounds representing the singer's passion and longing for their love.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind