I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Michael McDonald Lyrics
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'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys
You know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you loved some one else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby
People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
I'm just about to love my mind
Honey, honey, yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
The lyrics of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" by Michael McDonald is a tale of heartbreak and betrayal in a relationship. The singer is seemingly blindsided by the news that his lover is planning to leave him for another man, someone she knew before. The singer loved her more than anyone else, and the news of her leaving him would be devastating. The song's opening lines recount the surprise and pain the singer feels on discovering this news, which he had heard through the grapevine, meaning he had learned the news through rumors and not directly from his partner. The second and third verses see the singer expressing his feelings of heartbreak and confusion, finishing with a plea to his partner to tell him the truth if the hearsay is true.
The song's lyrics seem to suggest that the singer was kept in the dark about his lover's plans, causing him immense pain and confusion. It also highlights the power of gossip and how the spreading of rumors can cause pain and heartbreak in their wake. The song's melody, coupled with the lyrics, creates an atmosphere of melancholy and despair, making it one of the most powerful ballads of its time.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
I can tell that you're curious about how I found out
'Bout your plans to make me blue
I know about your intentions to make me sad
With some other guy you knew before
I know you're seeing someone else who you've known for a while
Between the two of us guys
The other guy is me, and we both love you
You know I loved you more
I cared for you more than the other guy does
It took me by surprise I must say
I was shocked when I first heard the news
When I found out yesterday
I learned about it just recently
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
I didn't hear it from you directly, I heard it through gossip
Not much longer would you be mine
I'm aware that our relationship is coming to an end
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Again, I learned about it through gossip
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
I'm very upset and close to losing control
Honey, honey yeah.
I'm addressing you with affection, even though I'm upset
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
Men aren't typically expected to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
I can't help but cry over the situation
Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would be devastating to me
'Cause you mean that much to me
You're incredibly important to me
You could have told me yourself
It would have been better if you'd told me about the other guy directly
That you loved some one else
I know that you have feelings for another person
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Once again, I found out through gossip
People say believe half of what you see
Some folks say that you should only trust 50% of what you witness
Son and none of what you hear
It's often said that you shouldn't believe anything you hear
But I can't help but be confused
I'm feeling bewildered by the situation
If it's true please tell me dear
If what I heard is correct, I want you to tell me directly
Do you plan to let me go
Are you intending to end our relationship?
For the other guy you loved before?
Is it because of the other guy you've known for a long time?
I'm just about to love my mind
I'm becoming more and more upset
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I know that our relationship won't last much longer
I heard it through the grapevine
I found out through gossip
Honey, honey, yeah
I'm addressing you affectionately again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind