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".
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 Kelly replacing Annette Beard (now Beard-Sterling). In 1967, Kelly was fired and was replaced by Martha's younger sister, Sandra "Lois" Reeves. In 1969, Ashford was also fired and replaced by Sandra Tilley. It was right about this time that the group's name was officially changed to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, to conform with the company's recent changes of The Supremes' and The Miracles' names to reflect their featured lead singers. 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.
The story of the group did not end completely with their split-up in 1972, however. While Tilley and Williams (both now deceased) eventually retired, the others continued with their individual career pursuits: Lois sang with the group Quiet Elegance and also sang background for Al Green; Reeves reunited with original Vandellas Ashford and Beard-Sterling for a 1978 benefit concert in Los Angeles; and in 1983, Reeves performed solo at Motown 25, which partly helped her and the Vandellas gain a new audience. In particular, Reeves herself is still known to sing with her sisters Lois and Delphine, often performing as a solo artist under the bill, "Martha Reeves of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas", and still performs all over the world.
Come See About Me
Martha and The Vandellas Lyrics
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'Cause I'm lonely (for you)
Smiles have all turned to tears
But tears won't wash away the fears
That you're never ever gonna return
To ease the fire that within me burns
It keeps me crying baby for you
So won't you hurry
Come on boy, see about me
(Come see about me)
See about your baby
I've given up my friends just for you
My friends are gone
And you have too
No peace shall I find
Until you come back
And be mine
No matter what you do or say
I'm gonna love you anyway
Keep on crying baby for you
I'm gonna keep sighin' baby for you
So come on hurry
Come on and see about me
(Come see about me)
See about you baby
Sometime's up
Sometime's down
My life's so uncertain
With you not around
From my arms you maybe out of reach
But my heart says you're here to keep
Keeps me crying baby for you
Keep on, keep on crying baby for you
So won't you hurry
Come on boy, see about me (Come see about me)
See about you baby (Come see about me)
You know I'm so lonely (Come see about me)
I love you only (Come see about me)
See about your baby (Come see about me)
Hurry, hurry
The Martha and The Vandellas song "Come See About Me" is a classic track about lost love and longing for a former partner to return. The lyrics convey the heartache and loneliness that the singer is experiencing, as she cries for her ex and hopes that he will come back to her. She sings, "I've been crying, 'cause I'm lonely (for you)/ Smiles have all turned to tears/ But tears won't wash away the fears/ That you're never ever gonna return/ To ease the fire that within me burns." These lines express the desperation that she feels, as she is unable to move on from their relationship and still loves him deeply.
The chorus of the song repeats the message "Come see about me" multiple times, as the singer pleads with her ex to come back to her. She has given up her friends for him and is now alone without him in her life. She says, "I've given up my friends just for you/ My friends are gone/ And you have too/ No peace shall I find/ Until you come back/ And be mine." Despite all of this, she still loves him and will continue to do so, regardless of what he does or says.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been crying
I have shed tears due to loneliness.
'Cause I'm lonely (for you)
I feel lonely because of your absence.
Smiles have all turned to tears
My happiness has turned into sadness.
But tears won't wash away the fears
Crying cannot remove the fear of never seeing you again.
That you're never ever gonna return
I fear that you will never come back.
To ease the fire that within me burns
To put out the passionate flame you have ignited in me.
It keeps me crying baby for you
My love for you keeps me in tears.
Keeps me sighin' baby for you
My love for you keeps me in a state of longing.
So won't you hurry
Please come back quickly.
Come on boy, see about me
Come and check on me and my well-being.
(Come see about me)
I'm pleading with you to come and see me.
See about your baby
Check on your lover.
I've given up my friends just for you
I have abandoned my social life for you.
My friends are gone
I no longer have my friends around me because of you.
And you have too
You have also left me alone.
No peace shall I find
I cannot find any peace of mind.
Until you come back
My peace of mind is only possible when you return.
And be mine
I need you to be my partner.
No matter what you do or say
I will still love you regardless of your actions or words.
I'm gonna love you anyway
I will continue to love you despite the circumstances.
Sometime's up
Sometimes I am happy.
Sometime's down
Sometimes I am sad.
My life's so uncertain
I feel uncertain about my life.
With you not around
Your absence creates uncertainty in my life.
From my arms you may be out of reach
You may be physically distant, but my heart still longs for you.
But my heart says you're here to keep
My heart tells me that you belong with me.
Keep on crying baby for you
I will keep crying for you because of my love for you.
Keep on, keep on crying baby for you
I will keep crying for you with all my heart.
You know I'm so lonely (Come see about me)
I am alone and in need of someone to see about me.
I love you only (Come see about me)
My love is solely for you and I need you to see that.
Hurry, hurry (Come see about me)
Please come quickly and see about me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Herbert Dozier
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johannes Musssosein
That Kind of easy Soul that always gets you in a good Vibe!
USmotown
MARTHA IS ALWAYS GREAT !
Grazie mille! Bacio!
Micaï. Claude.
Super Martha Reeves.
loveblind
Sort of the grown up version... wish the background singers were a little more soulful. Martha=superb!