Come See About Me
Nella Dodds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've been crying
'Cause I'm lonely (for you)
Smiles have all turned to tears
But tears won't wash away the fears
That you're never ever gonna return
To ease the fire that within me burns

It keeps me crying baby for you

Keeps me sighin' baby for you
So won't you hurry
Come on boy, see about me
(Come see about me)
See about your baby

I've given up my friends just for you
My friends are gone
And you have too
No peace shall I find
Until you come back
And be mine
No matter what you do or say
I'm gonna love you anyway

Keep on crying baby for you
I'm gonna keep sighin' baby for you
So come on hurry
Come on and see about me
(Come see about me)
See about you baby

Sometime's up
Sometime's down
My life's so uncertain
With you not around
From my arms you maybe out of reach
But my heart says you're here to keep

Keeps me crying baby for you
Keep on, keep on crying baby for you
So won't you hurry
Come on boy, see about me (Come see about me)
See about you baby (Come see about me)
You know I'm so lonely (Come see about me)
I love you only (Come see about me)

See about your baby (Come see about me)
Hurry, hurry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nella Dodds's song "Come See About Me" express the emotions of a woman who has been left alone while still in love with her partner. She is crying and feeling lonely because the person she loves has left her, and her attempts to put up a happy front with smiles have failed, resulting in her tears. However, her tears cannot wash away her fears that her lover may never return. The agony of her unfulfilled longing keeps her crying and sighing in anticipation of his return. She begs him to return and ease the fire burning within her.

She has given up everything, even her friends, just for him. As a result, she is unable to find any peace until he comes back to be with her. She expresses unwavering love for him, assuring him that no matter what he does or says, she will always love him. Her life is uncertain, with no rhythm, when he is not around, and her heart tells her that the man she loves is always with her, even if her arms are unable to hold him. She pleads with him, saying that she loves him and that he is the only one for her, to hurry and come to see about her.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been crying
I am shedding tears

'Cause I'm lonely (for you)
I am crying because I am alone without you

Smiles have all turned to tears
My feeling of happiness has turned into sadness

But tears won't wash away the fears
Crying won't remove my doubts and fears

That you're never ever gonna return
I feel uncertain whether you will come back or not

To ease the fire that within me burns
I need you to soothe the burning emotions inside me

It keeps me crying baby for you
My love for you keeps me crying

Keeps me sighin' baby for you
My desire for you keeps me sighing

So won't you hurry
I need you to come soon

Come on boy, see about me
Please come and check on me

(Come see about me)
I need you right now

See about your baby
I want you to take care of me like your own baby

I've given up my friends just for you
I have left my friends for the sake of our relationship

My friends are gone
I am left with no friends

And you have too
You have also left me

No peace shall I find
I can't find peace without you

Until you come back
I need you to return to me

And be mine
I want you to be exclusively mine

No matter what you do or say
I will still love you, regardless of your actions or words

I'm gonna love you anyway
I will continue to love you

Sometime's up
Sometimes I feel good

Sometime's down
Other times I feel bad

My life's so uncertain
I am unsure about my life

With you not around
Your absence makes me uncertain

From my arms you maybe out of reach
You may be too far away for me to hold you

But my heart says you're here to keep
But I feel that you still belong to me

Keep on, keep on crying baby for you
I will keep crying for you

You know I'm so lonely
I feel very alone without you

I love you only
You are the only one I love

Hurry, hurry
Please come back to me quickly

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brian Holland, Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Herbert Dozier

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Come See About Me2:39

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Nella Dodds

02You Don't Love Me Anymore2:30

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Comments from YouTube:

KAREN

11y↑18

It should also be noted that "Come See About Me" hit the number one spot twice for the Supremes. It had already peaked at number one and was on the decline just before the girls made their debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in December of 1964. After that appearance, the song regained energy and returned to the number one spot.

8176morgan

2y↑2

That explains it. I always thought that it was rather odd how after being dethroned by the Beatles song 'I Feel Fine" it came back a month later and retook the #1 spot again. Now I know why. Thanks.

Steven Kerry

2y↑5

This version is fine for the R+B charts at that time and nothing to be embarrassed about but the arrangement and tempo were a bit lacking for us teeny-boppers who were scooping up 45 RPM singles back then. What it really misses is those Supremes record hand-claps. Yes, the hand-claps were actually a very potent hook of that early string of Supremes hits.

marknorthwest93

2y↑3

Well worth coming to see about, Nella does a fine job on her interpretation, but The Supremes have that groove thing going on!

Mark Paddock

12y↑16

This was not the original. The original was already a cut on The Supremes "Where Did Our Love Go" album. Nella Dodds (or her producers) heard it and released it on her. Motown then rush-released it as The Supremes next single. It came out the month after Baby Love. And a good thing. Come See About Me got HUGE national media exposure: Shindig!, Ed Sullivan and Hullabaloo -- all with different choreography. And then The Supremes could do no wrong!!!

Terry Rippa

4y↑1

From Motown:
American soul singer Nella Dodds was the first Motown act to make the charts with a version of “Come See About Me” which later became a number one hit for The Supremes.

From Wikipedia:
The Supremes, whilst being the first to record the song, were not the first to issue it as a single. That distinction fell to Nella Dodds.

motownbaby

4y↑5

Terry Rippa Yes...but Nella was never a Motown artist.

Bradley Scarton

4y↑1

@Terry Rippa She didn't have a hit with it.

1 More Replies...

Welsh Liberty Lovers

Absolute class. One of my fav soul records.

brooky54

8y↑11

Never heard this before but really like it!

Know Bodies Full

8y↑1

First time hearing this. Not bad at all!

Valerie Cheers Brown

8y↑3

wow and I love them singing this and the things we learn here are fabulous!

Hard Cold

1y↑1

I was just reading Mary Wilson's book and found out about this just now. They sure did pass songs around in the 60's.

Bryan Wiley

4y↑3

Never knew any of the information that's being delivered to all of us, which is great. I will say this I like this cover of the song.

Rob Windess-Holmes

8y↑2

Brilliant version.

supremes ballard

9y↑6

the Supremes ruled the airwaves and sales charts with this song! It entered @#66 on Billboard HOT 100 chart ...then moved to #27-14-7+1-2-2-2+1-5-8......on the TOP 10 for eight weeks! while Nella Dodds had no chance....it stalled at #77 fell off the chart in 2 weeks. If not for the beatles song "I feel fine" #1 and Come See About Me (@ #2) would have been #1 for 5 weeks!

supremes ballard

Ron Rossmore exactly what I wrote ....
five weeks @#1 for "Come See About Me" if not for the Beatles mega hit "I FEEL FINE" im 1967, after the Supremes' name change .....DJ's slowed down radio play time for MOTOWN releases and sales turned to more "SOUL" sounding artist like Aretha Franklin .....and more.

Malcolm Marshall

38w

In her autobiography, Mary Wilson recalled this version and said " a group called the Neladods copied our song."

KAREN

11y↑8

No it is not. The original version belongs to the Supremes. Nella Dodds version was a cover and it was released as a single. But, when Motown found out, they rushed released the Supremes original version, and the Supremes won out. It was a number one record for the girls.........twice! (Once before their first appearance on Ed Sullivan, and again, after that appearance)! Nella Dodds version faded into oblivion.

Bill Ions

think you find KAREN it was written for NELLA but was record by the SUPREMS AS WELL and to release it they won the thumps up to be released by BARRY GOORDY AND CO

Terry Rippa

Bradley Scarton

4y↑2

@Bill Ions Holland-Dozier-Holland were writing exclusively for Motown. This was never written for Nella Dodds. Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote it specifically for the Supremes. It was recorded July 13, 1964. The Where Did Our Love Go album was released in August 1964. It was then that Nella Dodds and her producers heard it and decided to record it. When Motown heard her version, they rush released the Supremes' version before it's scheduled single release date in order to knock Dodds version out of the charts. It worked as the Supremes went on to have the #1 hit with it.

Tony Russi

45w

Nobody can do a Motown song like Motown.

Leo Appeal

TOP soul music!!!

Keith Reese

5y↑1

Very nice, can’t touch Diana’s lead vocals but the singer is wonderful in her own right.

fauzia issaka

3y↑1

This version was played on R&B radio early on before even the Supremes version was released. I didn't like it in those days but it's interesting to listen to now. On a later listening this singer sings with an accent that doesn't sound American.

Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox

45w

It's interesting that you say she's singing with an accent that doesn't sound American. Nella is really doing a fairly good imitation of Diana Ross's singing style, which was formed and honed and crafted by Berry emphasizing that he wanted his singers (especially Diana) to enunciate their words carefully.

Berry was a great fan of singers like Doris Day because he felt when they sang, you could understand every last word. I remember Stevie Wonder saying one time that when he first heard Diana Ross in her early years, he thought she sounded English, as if she came from England. I often noticed this too about her- she did enunciate those words until she sounded somewhat exotic- like she had an accent.

All of this is a roundabout way of saying this is probably why you're hearing that accent with Nella Dobbs.

Lollipop Pug

8y↑44

This is my grandmother!!!!

Rob Windess-Holmes

8y↑2

Tell your Grandmother that I just bought a copy of this song and it's the best version I have ever heard. :)

Lollipop Pug

Rob Windess-Holmes okay!

Moutton Noir

8y↑1

Go Granny! Great record!

GL AnnapolisTeam

6y↑2

Is your grandmother still alive ? I heard her being interviewed on a Maryland Oldies Station about 25 years ago. She told the whole story of recording "Come See About Me". She got mentioned in Mary Wilson's DREAMGIRL book though Mary mistakenly said that a group called the Nelodods recorded the song! Mary !!!!

GL AnnapolisTeam

I heard that some of Nella Dodds' records are popular with the Northern Soul crowd

5 More Replies...

Ryan DeJuan

3y↑4

This version sounds a lot like the Supremes version but as to be expected the magic just isn’t there without Diane, Mary, and Flo

Know Bodies Full

8y↑5

Nella Dodds was born in 1950 in Havre de Grace, Maryland, just outside of Baltimore.

fauzia issaka

Are you sure about that 1950 birth date? That would have made her 14 years old when this was released. You sure you don't mean 1940?

wayydowneast

@fauzia issaka no I think she really was just a kid. Actually Lala Brooks of The Crystals began recording at 14 as well. Then these girls just went on to normal little secretary jobs once the “girl group” thing was over.

strictlynorton

7y↑3

Every one gets an opinion obviously but how any sane minded person could vote down Nella on any track beats this soul boy.... beautiful version of a timeless track. Check out Come Back Baby which is pure finger snapping brilliance with what sounds like Hal Blaine drumming. Totally top tune x

Phil X

Lack the moodiness that made it a big hit for the Sups.

1 More Replies...

sauquoit13456

On this day in 1964 {November 8th} two versions* of "Come See About Me" entered Billboard's Top 100 chart...
Nella Dodds' version entered at #87, the following week it was at #84, and then on it's third and final week on the chart it peaked at #74...
She had one other Top 100 record, "Finders Keepers, Losers Weepers", it stayed on the chart for two weeks, peaking at #96...
* The other version of "Come See About Me" to enter the Top 100 on Nov. 8th, 1964, at position #66, was by the Supremes, five weeks later it would peak at #1 {for 2 consecutive weeks} and it spent fourteen weeks on the Top 100...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department; the week the Supremes' "Come See About Me" entered the Top 100, the trio's "Baby Love" was in it' third of four weeks at #1 on the chart...

Michael Davis

Same thing happened with Love Hangover also recorded by The 5th Demension

bu baby

This version is OK but it lacks the magic of the Supremes version.

William Stuller

4y↑2

Donzella I don't know if you still go back and read these comments or if you would remember me but I played guitar in The Ecuador's with your Uncle Harry.,I hope you and your family are all doing well !

Andy Lockett

Very similar production to the Supremes but doesn't have the Funk Brothers of course.

Ujima Jame

Weldon McDougal, who did promotion at Motown, was the producer of the record!

genejazz1948

Donzella Pettyjohn's version was much better and raw, the wrath of Berry Gordy can't change that fact. Berry just added to her pain.

kwahjuo

genejazz1948 You're kidding..., aren't you!?

genejazz1948

Totally serious !

kwahjuo

genejazz1948 And totally deaf!

King Bee

8y↑1

+genejazz1948 Plus, after a very good 1962 and 1963 year, Motown's independent distribution network was larger than that of Scepter/Wand. That made it easier for Motown to rush-release the Supremes' version to more DJs and regional record distributors.

Kevin Goins

@King Bee Yup. By 1964 Motown sales force was unstoppable.

supremes ballard

11y↑1

if not for the Beatles "I FEEL FINE" ....the Supremes version would been #1 for 5 weeks. debut #66-27-13-7-4+1-2+2+2+1-5 THE SUPREMES

byron stevens

Nelladid it before the Supremes and it was a hit.

Allen Micheal

8y↑4

+byron stevens Wrong x 2. She did it after them and it was a flop.

byron stevens

8y↑1

+Allen M. Quinn: Hi Allen, You may be 100% Correct. Because at the time, I remember having went into Scepter Offices, and worked with the regional distributors to do the promotion. I was one of the Former R&B Radio DJ's, that would do Record Promotion when we were out of a job at those old R&B Southern Radio Stations. Either way, whoever was right or wrong. Does not help the cause. The Record flopped. I recall about eight (8) Promotion men includingmyself, would hound R&B Stations throughout the South to get airplay for the record. I would cover BIB Record Distributors out of Charlotte, NC, Norman Thrasher would be hounding Gwen Kesler out of SOUTHLAND Record Distributors out of Atlanta, GA. So lets just say, it was one that did not go anywhere.

Allen Micheal

byron stevens Apparently, from what I've heard, another label took 'Come See About Me' form the Supremes LP and retooled it and rush released it with Nella (just as Baby Love was going down the chart) in order to capitalize on the Supremes new fame. Gordy heard about it, flipped out, and immediately released it as a single to counter Nella's, even tho Baby Love had just reached #1 4-5 weeks earlier. Didn't matter it was rushed, since the Supremes version was a smash hit!

byron stevens

+Allen M. Quinn: Hii; now we are getting on the right track. What You heard is about 99% correct, as we pushed like crazy. But Barry came out with Full page ads in Billboard, Record World and Cashbox Magazines. And only the other big boys at the time could do this. And Claude Hall, Whom was then BillBoard's Chart man, gave the record a bullet # on the chart, and the rest as they say is history. Again Allen, You got to remember Barry had deep pockets. And had every available Record Promoter he could find to push Motown and the Supremes. And other Motown acts.

Allen Micheal

8y↑1

byron stevens Oh I'm aware and well good on him. He was a genius businessman and marketer. It's very fascinating to speak with someone who has first-hand experience so thank you for conversing with me! With all due respect, while this version is good, I'm glad The Supremes reigned well 'supreme' in this battle.

2 More Replies...

Rod McDonald

5y↑1

Who is singing background vocals on this cut ?

mellorful

12y↑3

Nella Dodds was a 13 year old when she cut this tune and was a match for any female Mowtown artist in 1964;what did Diana Ross sound like at 13? Berry Gordy and Phil Spector didn't catch em all, J J Barnes was pushed out because he was starved of top tunes which were directed to Marvin Gaye and the Temptations; but as a soul singer he was the best of the bunch. Nella is a big Northern soul name and appreciated by the dancers and that's as good as it gets.

wayydowneast

Makes me think Mary should have done the lead. Diana should have stayed in the background on this one. It sounds better with a blues singer out front. (Here come the Diane ding dongs…)

Selfish One

Nice

steve hewitt

13y

top notch !!

Malcolm Marshall

Wand Records from Philly.

tongolele

11y

This woman's voic is FINE-- this is bette then the pop suprem's version. Thanks for posting. Do you have her version of the Carla Thomas hit, Gee Whiz? I just have to hear it. DOES ANYONE-- PLEASE post thank you

robert

3y↑1

she should have sued. but you know who's really missing here. flo.

Leonard Berg

was this recorded before the supremes ?

jonsa

No. The Supremes recorded it first and it was put on the "Where Did Our Love Go" album. Nella Dodds' record label heard it and got her to record it as fast as possible and it was released as a single. Motown rush released The Supremes' version and both versions hit Billboard on the same week ("Baby Love" had been number 1 at the time)...the competition stopped there because Nella's version peaked at 74, and The original version by The Supremes gave them their third consecutive number one.

Moutton Noir

Written by H-D-H for the Supremes. Never intended to be released as a single. Nella recorded her version and released it. Motown decided to rush release the original Supremes version which would reach no1, knocking the Beatles off the top spot and give the girls their 3rd consecutive No1,

jonsa

8y↑1

Ummm, yeah that's kinda what I already said...?

Know Bodies Full

+Moutton Noir This maybe explains that Motown released two of the Supremes' songs with nearly consecutive catalog numbers - "Baby Love" was Motown #1066, and "Come See About Me" was Motown #1068.

Moutton Noir

Hi William, thanks for the info. I'm a big Motown fan and know the history of the Supremes well. The question was posted by another person! Have a fantastic day!

10 More Replies...

tongolele

11y↑1

In the cuthroat world of recording-- the nameS -- Motown, Supremes always win, rahter than the unknowns-- BECAUSE, frankly, this is a DAMN good song wiht hit potential were it not for, well, like I said

Bradley Scarton

It doesn't help that the Motown/Supremes version is the better version.

motownbaby

12y↑6

Not bad...but no where near the classic original!!!

Terry Rippa

4y↑1

stevie68a

This can't touch the original.
I'm surprised at how much this copies the Supreme's version.
She even copies the ad lib ending.
This singer was too young to know how to add her own style and interpretation.

coolanddeadly

this is the original

Terry Rippa

davidavi

4y↑1

@Terry Rippa Nella Dodds was not a Motown act.

R N

Absolutely NOT.

Chris Mulwee

12y

This is the original version.

MotownMaster

5y↑1

Like hell it is

tricky59

2y↑1

@MotownMaster There do seem to be some quite deluded people on this thread. Certainly a nice try by Nella, but nowhere near the classic. As for it being the original, wow, I didn't know Holland-Dozier-Holland wrote for Scepter/Wand. The things you learn as you get older. Bought this the day it came out in the UK, when I was 18. Maybe by the time I'm 81 the original will have been recorded by somebody like Helen Shapiro. By the way both versions were reviewed in Cash Box on 7 November 1964.

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