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.
Sweet Misery
Martha and The Vandellas Lyrics
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I knew you were the classic one
We danced and laughed and talked all night
But you had to leave out of town
But as I walked you home that night
The whispers then soon changed
And like a knife right through my heart
Why you forgot me I did not know
You do not recall my name
Must be sweet misery
I'll have you know I feel the same
If I believe what I've been told
I'd only be around for a while
You love 'em and leave 'em for less than a song
But they still can't forget that smile
And once I'm safely home alone
I wish you could be here
I want so bad to be the one
To say exactly how I feel
Why you forgot me I did not know
You do not recall my name
Must be sweet misery
I'll have you know I feel the same
Why you forgot me I did not know
You do not recall my name
Must be sweet misery
I'll have you know I feel the same
I haven't got a thing to give
Except for what you see
Remember this, if all should fail
You'll always have a friend in me
Why you forgot me I did not know
You do not recall my name
Must be sweet misery
I'll have you know I feel the same
Why you forgot me I did not know
You do not recall my name
Must be sweet misery
I'll have you know I feel the same
Must be sweet misery
I'll have you know I feel the same
Must be sweet misery
I'll have you know I feel the same
The song "Sweet Misery" by Martha and The Vandellas is a classic love song that speaks about the pain of unrequited love. The singer sings about how she fell for someone she met and how they spent the night dancing and talking. However, when it was time for him to leave town, she was left with a sense of sadness and heartache. As she walked him home that night, the whispers of others made her realize that her love might not be reciprocated. The pain of this realization feels like a knife through her heart, hence the title "Sweet Misery."
The singer then reveals that she is aware of the man's reputation for being a player and that she wishes he could understand how she feels about him. She acknowledges that she has nothing to give him and that she is willing to accept just being his friend. The chorus repeats the realization that he has forgotten her and she is left feeling nothing but sweet misery.
Line by Line Meaning
The very first time I saw your face
When I first laid eyes on you, I knew that you were something special.
I knew you were the classic one
You had a timeless appeal that made you stand out from the rest.
We danced and laughed and talked all night
We had an amazing time together and I felt a strong connection to you.
But you had to leave out of town
Unfortunately, your departure disrupted our time together and left me wanting more.
But as I walked you home that night
During our walk home, I had hopes that this could be the start of something special.
The whispers then soon changed
However, rumors surrounding you began to circulate and unsettle me.
And like a knife right through my heart
These rumors caused me immense emotional pain and felt like they were piercing me directly in the heart.
Sweet misery again
This kind of emotional pain is painful, but it's also sweet in some way. It's a bittersweet feeling.
Why you forgot me I did not know
I'm not sure why you seem to have forgotten me, but it hurts me deeply.
You do not recall my name
It seems like you don't even remember who I am, which feels like a complete disregard for the connection we had.
Must be sweet misery
This kind of painful emotion is sweet in a poetic sense, but it's still very real and very painful.
I'll have you know I feel the same
Even though you seem to have moved on and forgotten me, I still feel the same way about you.
If I believe what I've been told
Based on what other people have told me, I shouldn't have any expectation that this could ever be anything more than a brief fling.
I'd only be around for a while
It seems like you are the kind of person who only wants a fleeting connection, not a real and lasting relationship.
You love 'em and leave 'em for less than a song
You have a reputation for treating your romantic partners poorly, and leaving them behind without remorse.
But they still can't forget that smile
Despite your poor treatment, people are still drawn to you and remember you fondly because of your warmth and charm.
And once I'm safely home alone
Once I'm away from you and the romance of the moment, I have time to think clearly and assess my feelings.
I wish you could be here
I miss the connection we shared and wish that we could have that again.
I want so bad to be the one
I desperately desire to be the one who you choose and who you care for deeply.
To say exactly how I feel
I want to be able to express my true feelings to you without fear or hesitation.
I haven't got a thing to give
I don't have much to offer you, other than my affection and admiration.
Except for what you see
I am myself, and I hope that who I am is enough for you to consider me.
Remember this, if all should fail
Even if we can't be together romantically, I want to remind you that I will always be a friend you can rely on.
You'll always have a friend in me
I value our connection enough that I will always be there for you as a friend, even if our romance falls apart.
Must be sweet misery
This kind of emotional pain is sweet in its poetic beauty, but it's still very real and very painful.
I'll have you know I feel the same
Even though our connection feels one-sided and you have moved on, I still feel the same way about you and our time together.
Must be sweet misery
This kind of emotional pain is sweet in its poetic beauty, but it's still very real and very painful.
I'll have you know I feel the same
Even though our connection feels one-sided and you have moved on, I still feel the same way about you and our time together.
Must be sweet misery
This kind of emotional pain is sweet in its poetic beauty, but it's still very real and very painful.
I'll have you know I feel the same
Even though our connection feels one-sided and you have moved on, I still feel the same way about you and our time together.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HOYT WAYNE AXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind