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.
I Want You Back
Martha and the Vandellas Lyrics
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I didn't want you around
Those pretty faces always made you
Stand out in a crowd
But someone picked you from the bunch
One glance was all it took
Now it's much too late for me
To take second look
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
But now since I see you in his arms
I want you back
Yes I do now
I want you back
Ooh ooh baby
Yeah yeah, naw
Trying to live without your love
Is one long sleepless night
Let me show you girl
That I know wrong from right
Every street you walk on
I leave tear stains on the ground
Following the girl
I didn't even want around
Oh baby give me one more chance
To show you that I love you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Abuh buh buh buh
All I want!
Abuh buh buh buh
All I need!
Abuh buh buh buh
The lyrics to "I Want You Back" by Martha and The Vandellas tell the story of a person who regrets letting go of someone they loved. They start by admitting that when they had the person to themselves, they didn't appreciate them and even found reasons to want them around less. However, once someone else noticed their worth and took them away, the storyteller realizes that they made a mistake and wants to show the person that they still love them. They acknowledge that it might be too late for them, but they still want another chance to prove their love.
The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and regret. The singer realizes the gravity of their mistake and the pain of being without the person they love. They promise to do better if given another chance, and the repetition of "give me one more chance" emphasizes their desire to make things right. The emphasis on tears, sleepless nights, and wanting someone back underscores the depth of their emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
When I had you to myself
I was possessive about you when you were mine
I didn't want you around
I didn't want you to hang out with other people
Those pretty faces always made you
You were popular because of your attractive appearance
Stand out in a crowd
You were easily noticeable among other people
But someone picked you from the bunch
Someone else chose you over everyone else
One glance was all it took
They chose you based on one look
Now it's much too late for me
I regret losing you and it's too late to fix it
To take a second look
To reconsider and try again
Oh baby give me one more chance
Please give me another opportunity
To show you that I love you
To prove my feelings for you
Won't you please send me back in your heart
Allow yourself to love me again
Oh darlin' I was blind to let you go
I didn't realize what I had until I lost it
But now since I see you in his arms
Seeing you with someone else makes me want you more
I want you back
I want to be with you again
Yes I do now
I am certain about wanting you back
Ooh ooh baby
Expressing affection towards the person
Yeah yeah, naw
Expressing emotions towards the person
Trying to live without your love
Being without your love is difficult for me
Is one long sleepless night
It causes me to lose sleep and feel restless
Let me show you girl
Allow me the opportunity to demonstrate my love for you
That I know wrong from right
That I understand and have learned from my mistakes
Every street you walk on
Everywhere you go
I leave tear stains on the ground
Leaving a trail of sorrow and sadness behind
Following the girl
Continuing to pursue the person
I didn't even want around
That I didn't appreciate or value at the time
Abuh buh buh buh
Expressing deep desire and longing
All I want!
I only want you
Abuh buh buh buh
Expressing deep desire and longing
All I need!
You are the only thing I need in my life
Abuh buh buh buh
Expressing deep desire and longing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind