I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You
Millie Jackson Lyrics


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Twas a hot afternoon, the last day of June
And the sun was a demon
The clouds were afraid, 110 in the shade
And the pavements were steaming

I told Billy Ray in his red Chevrolet
I needed time for some thinking
I was just walkin' by when I looked in her eye
And I swore it was winkin'

She was thirty-one and I was seventeen
I knew nothin' 'bout love, she knew everything
But I sat down beside her on a front porch swing
And wondered what the coming night would bring

The sun closed her eyes as it climbed in the sky
And it started to swelter
Sweat trickled down the front of her gown
And I thought it would melt her

She threw back her hair like I wasn't there
And she sipped on a Julep
Her shoulders were bare and I tried not to stare
When I looked at her two lips

And then she looked at me, I heard her softly say
I know you're young, you don't know what to do or say
But stay with me until the sun has gone away
And I will chase the boy in you away

And then she smiled and we talked for a while
Then we walked for a mile to the sea

We sat on the sand and a boy took her hand

But I saw the sunrise as a man

Ten years have gone by since I looked in her eye

But the memory lingers




I go back in my mind to the very first time
And feel the touch of her fingers

Overall Meaning

The song "I'm Through Trying To Prove My Love To You" by Millie Jackson is a poignant reminder of a love that didn't last. The opening lyrics of the song set the stage for a hot summer day, with the sun beating down and the air thick with humidity. The singer, who is only 17 years old at the time, is wandering aimlessly when he comes across a woman who captures his attention. The woman is 31, and the singer is immediately struck by her beauty and wisdom.


As the two of them sit together and talk, the singer is both intimidated and fascinated by the woman's experience and knowledge of love. He is unsure of himself and feels like a boy in her presence, but she is patient and encouraging, assuring him that he will eventually grow into a man who understands love. The two spend the evening together, watching the sunrise as the singer realizes that he has fallen in love.


The memories of that day and that woman remain with the singer, even as ten years have passed. He looks back on that time with a sense of longing and sadness, wondering if things might have turned out differently if he had been more confident or if they had met under different circumstances. The song is a beautiful tribute to lost love and the power that it can hold over us, even years later.


Line by Line Meaning

Twas a hot afternoon, the last day of June
It was a scorching day in the last moments of June


And the sun was a demon
The sun was excessively hot


The clouds were afraid, 110 in the shade
The clouds feared the heat with a temperature of 110 degrees


And the pavements were steaming
The ground was extremely hot


I told Billy Ray in his red Chevrolet
I spoke to Billy Ray in his red Chevrolet


I needed time for some thinking
I needed time to contemplate


I was just walkin' by when I looked in her eye
I was passing by when I gazed into her eyes


And I swore it was winkin'
I confidently believed she was winking at me


She was thirty-one and I was seventeen
She was aged 31 while I was only 17 years old


I knew nothin' 'bout love, she knew everything
I was ignorant about love, but she knew it all


But I sat down beside her on a front porch swing
I took a seat beside her on a swing outside the porch


And wondered what the coming night would bring
I thought about what the future night might hold


The sun closed her eyes as it climbed in the sky
She closed her eyes as the sun rose high in the sky


And it started to swelter
The weather began to get even hotter


Sweat trickled down the front of her gown
She was sweating, and her dress showed it


And I thought it would melt her
I worried the heat would cause her to melt


She threw back her hair like I wasn't there
She flipped her hair back, as if I wasn't present


And she sipped on a Julep
She drank a Julep


Her shoulders were bare and I tried not to stare
Her shoulders were exposed, and I attempted not to gaze


When I looked at her two lips
When I glanced at her lips


And then she looked at me, I heard her softly say
She then stared at me, while speaking in a low voice


I know you're young, you don't know what to do or say
You are naive and don't understand how to handle things


But stay with me until the sun has gone away
Remain with me until the sun sets


And I will chase the boy in you away
I will help you grow up and become more mature


And then she smiled and we talked for a while
She then grinned and we conversed for some time


Then we walked for a mile to the sea
We walked for a mile and arrived at the ocean


We sat on the sand and a boy took her hand
We sat on the sandy beach and a young man held her hand


But I saw the sunrise as a man
I experienced the sunrise metamorphosing me into a mature adult


Ten years have gone by since I looked in her eye
It has been a decade since I gazed into her eyes


But the memory lingers
But the memory of it is still fresh


I go back in my mind to the very first time
I can recall the very first time in my head


And feel the touch of her fingers
And reminisce the sensation of her fingers on me




Writer(s): Bobby Womack

Contributed by Brooklyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Michael Benton


on All The Way Lover

Totally Wrong Lyrics.. Not Even Close.. Totally Different Song

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