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.
More
Martha Reeves and The Vandellas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The world has knows
It is the love I give to you alone
More than the simple words
That I try to say
I only live to love you more each day
More than you ever know
My arms long to hold you so
Waiting, sleeping, laughing, weeping
Longer than always is a long, long time
But far beyond forever you'll be mine
I know I never lived before
And my heart is very sore
No-one else will love you more
Longer than always is a long, long time
But far beyond forever you'll be mine
I know I never lived before
And my heart is very sore
No-one else will love you more.
The song 'More' by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas is a beautiful and soulful composition that talks about the depth of love that one can have for another person. In the lyrics, the singer emphasizes that the love they have for their partner is greater than any other love that the world has ever known. The words 'More than the greatest love the world has known' indicates that the love they have is not just great, but it exceeds the greatness of love that the world has ever experienced.
The lyrics go on to say that the singer's only purpose in life is to love their partner more each day. They express the desire for their arms to hold their partner and to keep them safe. The lyrics also portray the depth of the singer's emotional connection to their partner where they express a willingness to wait, sleep, laugh, and weep with them. It is clear that the singer's love for their partner is unconditional, and they are willing to dedicate their entire life to them.
In the second verse, the singer talks about the eternal nature of their love. They say that their love will last longer than always and will extend far beyond forever. They emphasize the fact that they have never loved before and that their heart is very sore. The lyrics suggest that their love for their partner is so profound that they have never felt anything like it before. The singer concludes by saying that no one else will ever love their partner more than they do.
Overall, the song 'More' is a touching and emotional tribute to the depth of love that can exist between two individuals. The lyrics express the desire for a deep emotional connection and an eternal commitment to each other.
Line by Line Meaning
More than the greatest love
The love I give to you surpasses all the greatest love the world has ever known.
The world has knows
Over the years, the world has experienced different forms of love.
It is the love I give to you alone
The love I give to you is unique and exclusive to you only.
More than the simple words
My love for you goes beyond mere words.
That I try to say
Although I try to express it verbally, my love for you is simply inexplicable.
I only live to love you more each day
All I live for is to love you more with each passing day.
More than you ever know
The depth of my love for you is beyond your imagination.
My arms long to hold you so
I yearn to hold you tightly in my arms.
My life will be in your keeping
I entrust my life and all that I am to you.
Waiting, sleeping, laughing, weeping
In every moment of my life, whether waiting, sleeping, laughing, or weeping, you're always on my mind.
Longer than always is a long, long time
Using 'always' to express forever is an extended amount of time.
But far beyond forever you'll be mine
I'll love and cherish you beyond forever because you're mine.
I know I never lived before
Before I met you, I never truly understood what it means to live.
And my heart is very sore
Being without you is like a wound that never heals; it hurts my heart.
No-one else will love you more
No one else in this world can love you more than I do.
Writer(s): R. Ortolani, N. Oliviero;, Ital. Lyric: M. Ciorciolini;, N. Newell, M. Ciorciolini, N. Oliviero
Contributed by Matthew T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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
@ramsnover3599
63 yrs old, Detroit Bred, Every 2 days i heard a new motown song come out when i was young...
@markcf83
I don't doubt it for one minute. Motown were prolific.
@ralphsorrenti1602
At 65 I hear this music and I say to myself GOD I was luckly to be alive, when this music first came out. You wil NEVER EVER hear music like this again.
@salimaalazri9664
don't i wish i lived then cause i believe i was born into the wrong era when the musics actually meant something, unlike the garbage the produce these days :(
@motowngirl5891
Never
@beautyan5309
Truth
@frankmalinaro9700
~~ at 73 ..I hear ya...really blessed we are . The crap they call music today is unlistenable to me.ย
My motto is " Pick a decade and be true to it ".
@Snuffnguts
I'm lucky in this gen cause I can listen to it for free lmfao
@authenticallykyle
This song is so recognizable, makes me think of so many movies I love. Congratulations on Martha's Hollywood star today โค
@lettsifo
It has been almost fifty years since I served in the South Vietnam War. But this song a;ways moves me to tears when I think of buddies lost in that senseless war. It still sadden me to think that they were given a chance to grow up and become men. Three of them were still in their teens when they died.