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.
Honey Chile
Martha and the Vandellas Lyrics
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Just like the hound dog Daisy
I had when Grandma raised me, honey chile
When Granny got to old to scorn me
Dear old Auntie warned me
You sure was no good for me, honey chile
But your kiss is sweeter than the cake That Grandma used to make
All the sweet li'l things about you
Sure enough taste like cake
You ain't gonna amount to nothin'
But you ain't gonna work for nothin'
Without you I'm good for nothin', honey chile
Honey chile, sure about to drive you wild
I love you so, keep me goin' now, honey chile
Sugar chile, I won't need a country mile
Just to be with you, exactly true now, honey chile
I try to act like a lady
But you've been goin' with Sade
Your reputation's gained me
Hey, you even took out Sally
Who lives across the alley
Oh I've been keepin' a tally, honey chile
You're like the grapes upon the vine
The grapes in Granny's wine
A vine that always was so sweet
But you're not happy not outside now
You ain't nothin' but a playboy
Usin' me for a play toy
You're ruinin' my pride and joy now, honey chile
Honey chile, sure about to drive you wild
I love you so, keep me goin' now, honey chile
Sugar chile, I won't need a country mile
Just to be with you, exactly true now, honey chile
Listen here now
One day I'm gonna get stronger
And I won't need you no longer
This feelin' will be gone now, honey chile
Hey, now I can't take disgracin'
That ain't the way Granny raised me
You're gonna have the gravy, honey chile
Sugar chile, I won't need a country mile
Just to be with you, exactly true now, honey chile
Hey, honey chile, sure about to drive you wild
I love you so, keep me goin' now, honey chile
In "Honey Chile," Martha and The Vandellas sing about a woman who is in love with a man who is shiftless and lazy, just like the hound dog Daisy. Despite warnings from her grandmother and auntie, who knew that the man was no good for her, the woman can't resist his sweet kisses. She compares him to the sweet cake that her grandmother used to make, and even though she knows he will never amount to anything, she can't be without him.
The lyrics also touch on the woman's struggle to maintain her dignity and reputation while being with this man. She tries to act like a lady, but she knows that he has a reputation for dating other women, including Sally who lives across the alley. The woman realizes that she needs to be stronger and not let this man disgrace her, and she promises that one day she will be able to let go of her feelings for him.
Line by Line Meaning
You're shiftless and you're lazy
You lack motivation and do not contribute to society.
Just like the hound dog Daisy
You have no ambition and are as unproductive as a dog with no purpose.
I had when Grandma raised me, honey chile
I grew up with a dog just like you during the time my grandmother raised me.
When Granny got to old to scorn me
When my grandmother became too old to guide me in life.
Dear old Auntie warned me
My aunt warned me about you.
You sure was no good for me, honey chile
You are of no good for me.
But your kiss is sweeter than the cake
Although you have no value to me, your kiss is desirable.
That Grandma used to make
As desirable as the cake my grandma used to make.
All the sweet li'l things about you
All the desirable and charming aspects of your character.
Sure enough taste like cake
Are as satisfying to me as a piece of cake.
You ain't gonna amount to nothin'
You do not have the drive or ambition to succeed.
But you ain't gonna work for nothin'
You may not have ambition but you expect rewards without effort.
Without you I'm good for nothin', honey chile
Without you I feel worthless and aimless.
Honey chile, sure about to drive you wild
My words are likely to excite or entice you.
I love you so, keep me goin' now, honey chile
I depend on your love to remain energized.
Sugar chile, I won't need a country mile
I will not have to go far to be with you or make efforts for our relationship.
Just to be with you, exactly true now, honey chile
I seek genuine, truthful love from you.
I try to act like a lady
I try to behave with grace and poise.
But you've been goin' with Sade
But I know you have been seeing someone else named Sade.
Your reputation's gained me
Your poor reputation has affected me too and given me a bad name.
Hey, you even took out Sally
You have even gone out with my neighbor, Sally.
Who lives across the alley
Who resides in the area across the street.
Oh I've been keepin' a tally, honey chile
I have been keeping a record of your behavior and all the girls you have been seeing.
You're like the grapes upon the vine
You are like the grapes on the vine, like a fruit hanging in front of me and to be picked.
The grapes in Granny's wine
Like the grapes in the wine my grandmother used to make.
A vine that always was so sweet
A fruit that is always appealing and tantalizing.
But you're not happy not outside now
But you are not content or happy being loyal and faithful to me.
You ain't nothin' but a playboy
You are nothing but a player and a flirt who deceives innocent women.
Usin' me for a play toy
Leading me on, making me believe you love me to satisfy your desires.
You're ruinin' my pride and joy now, honey chile
You are now destroying my happiness and dignity by not being honest about our relationship.
Listen here now
Listen to me now.
One day I'm gonna get stronger
I will overcome your charms and manipulations.
And I won't need you no longer
And I will eventually not need you anymore.
This feelin' will be gone now, honey chile
These strong feelings I have for you will be gone soon.
Hey, now I can't take disgracin'
I cannot tolerate being ashamed and ridiculed by your actions.
That ain't the way Granny raised me
Grandma taught me to have dignity and self-respect.
You're gonna have the gravy, honey chile
You will get what you want, but it will not be at the cost of my happiness.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD MORRIS, SYLVIA MOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind