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.
Ain't That Peculiar
Martha and the Vandellas Lyrics
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Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain
Ain't that peculiar
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all
Your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger
Ain't that peculiar
Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears
Now ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
Ain't it peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
Said I don't understand it baby
It's so strange sometimes
The lyrics to Martha and The Vandellas's song Ain't That Peculiar speaks from the perspective of someone who is madly in love with a person who continually hurts them. The person knows that their lover is doing them wrong but they find it difficult to be without them. Each time their lover hurts them, it only makes them love them more. The individual thinks that if flowers can go through rain and still survive, then their love should be able to go through pain and still survive. However, they wonder why lies make their love stronger if the truth is supposed to make love last longer.
The lyrics are quite relatable as many people have found themselves in a situation where they are so in love with someone that they overlook their flaws and stay with them despite the hurt they cause.
One possible interpretation of the song is that it highlights the paradoxical nature of love. Love can be so strong that it makes people ignore obvious red flags, and it can even grow stronger when faced with hurtful behavior. The song suggests that this paradox is peculiar and strange, yet it is a common experience for many people.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
Even though you mistreat me, I can't help but love you.
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Even if you're the source of my pain, I still need you in my life.
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
I feel like you purposely try to hurt me whenever you can.
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
Even when you hurt me, my love for you grows stronger.
I know flowers go through rain
I understand that difficult times are a natural part of life.
But how can love go through pain
But I don't understand how love can last through so much pain.
Ain't that peculiar
Isn't that strange?
A peculiar-arity
It's a peculiar situation.
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
You lie to me so much that it's obvious, but I don't want to see it.
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
I'm blinded by my love for you, so I don't want to acknowledge your lies.
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
The things you do and say are meant to cause me sadness and pain.
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all
It's unfortunate that my love for you makes it hard to see through your lies.
Your lies seem true
I believe your lies even though I know they're not true.
But if the truth makes love last longer
If being honest with each other makes love stronger and longer-lasting,
Why do lies make my love stronger
then why does your lying to me make me love you more?
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
I've cried so much that I feel like a child who has lost their sense of security.
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
Perhaps you mistake my tears of pain for tears of happiness.
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
A child's tears can manipulate others, but my tears won't make you do what I want.
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
Unlike a child, my tears don't help me to manipulate you into doing what I want.
I know love can last through years
I believe that love can endure the test of time.
But how can love last through tears
But how can love survive when tears and sadness are a constant presence?
Now ain't that peculiar baby
Isn't that strange, baby?
A peculiar-arity
It's a strange and unique circumstance.
Ain't it peculiar baby
Isn't it strange, baby?
Peculiar as can be
This situation is as strange and unique as can be.
Said I don't understand it baby
I admit, I don't quite get it, baby.
It's so strange sometimes
Things can be so strange and inexplicable at times.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WARREN MOORE, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR., ROBERT ROGERS, MARVIN TARPLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind