Flack and Hathaway were both solo artists on the Atlantic roster who'd enjoyed critical acclaim, but Flack had enjoyed limited commercial success. Both had attended Howard University, although Flack's attendance there pre-dated Hathaway's. The singers' careers had overlapped, however: Flack had included Hathaway compositions on her First Take and Chapter Two albums, with the latter also featuring Hathaway as pianist, arranger and background vocalist. It was Jerry Wexler who suggested that a joint venture might consolidate Flack and Hathaway's popularity.
The first single from Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway was a version of "You've Got a Friend" recorded before the single release of the James Taylor version: both tracks debuted on the Hot 100 dated May 29, 1971 — marking Flack's first chart appearance — and, although Taylor's version reached #1, the Flack/Hathaway duet ascended as high as #29 and was a top ten R&B hit at #8. (The B-side, "Gone Away," was a Chapter Two track written by Hathaway.)
The second single from the duets album was a remake of "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" that became a #30 R&B hit, peaking on the Hot 100 at #71.
It was the album's third single "Where Is the Love" — released in April 1972, almost a year after the album itself — that would be the smash hit, largely due to Flack having had her solo career breakthrough with "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face".
Although Hathaway had enjoyed more solo success than had Flack prior to their teaming up, his subsequent solo career was desultory, with no high-profile success prior to his re-teaming with Flack for "The Closer I Get to You" in 1978. Hathaway had recorded two songs for a second duet album with Flack — that became the Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway album — at the time of his death on January 13, 1979.
Where Is The Love
Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love
You said you'd give to me
Soon as you were free?
Where is the love?
You told me that you didn't love him
And you were gonna say goodbye
But if you really didn't mean it
Why did you have to lie
Where is the love
You said was mine, all mine
'Til the end of time
Was it just a lie?
Where is the love?
If you have had a sudden change of heart
I wish that you would tell me so
Don't leave me hangin' on to promises
You've got to let me know
Oh, how I wish I never met you
I guess it must have been my fate
To fall in love with someone else's love
All I can do is wait
That's all I can do, yeah, yeah, yeah
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
Where is the love? (Where is the love?)
The lyrics to "Where Is The Love" by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway are about heartache and confusion in a relationship. The singers are asking where the love they were promised has gone and why their partner made false promises. The song is full of longing and desperation, with the singers struggling to come to terms with the end of their relationship and the betrayal they feel. The repeated chorus of "Where is the love?" emphasizes the confusion and sadness that the singers are experiencing, as they wonder where everything went wrong and why they were left with broken hearts.
The lyrics reveal a deep sense of disappointment and disillusionment with love, with the singers feeling that they have been let down and lied to. There is a sense of sorrow and helplessness throughout the song, with the singers struggling to move on and accept the reality of the situation. At the same time, there is also a sense of resilience and determination, with the singers refusing to let go of the hope that they will find love again someday.
Overall, the lyrics to "Where Is The Love" are a powerful expression of the pain and uncertainty that can come with love and loss. They capture the intense emotions that can accompany a breakup, as well as the sense of hope and resilience that can help us move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is the love?
The singer questions the whereabouts of love.
You said you'd give to me soon as you were free? Will it ever be? Where is the love?
The singer questions if the promised love will ever be given, as it has not been received yet.
You told me that you didn't love him and you were gonna say goodbye. But if you really didn't mean it, why did you have to lie?
The singer questions the honesty of the person who claimed to no longer love someone else but then lied about it.
Where is the love? You said was mine, all mine. 'Til the end of time. Was it just a lie? Where is the love?
The artist questions if the love that was promised to be theirs forever was actually a lie, since it has not been given.
If you have had a sudden change of heart, I wish that you would tell me so. Don't leave me hangin' on to promises. You've got to let me know.
The artist requests honesty from the other person and asks them to communicate if they no longer feel the same way as before.
Oh, how I wish I never met you. I guess it must have been my fate. To fall in love with someone else's love. All I can do is wait. That's all I can do, yeah, yeah, yeah.
The singer regrets falling in love with someone who was in love with someone else and feels helpless in the situation.
Where is the love? (Where is the love?) Where is the love? (Where is the love?) Where is the love? (Where is the love?) Where is the love?
The singer repeats the question, emphasizing their confusion and lack of understanding about the absence of love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Ralph MacDonald, William Salter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@charlesbutler1566
Who's still listening to this amazing song in 2024? This guy, that's who! Who else is with me?
@mimboyce6643
I am reading the comments with the feeling that there is still many people with good hearts. Keep being loving all of you.
@DR-xt9ux
Too bad you can’t get music like this anymore
@lisalove9204
Who’s still here with me 2022 👋🏽wata beautiful song
@andrews127
I am honey enjoying this masterpiece.
@ellove370
I'm here and will always love 💕 that song
@TheAgentAaron
I was born in 1980 and absolutely love this.
@freetodream8945
@@TheAgentAaron So was I! Love this classic!🤩
@cindyadkins7860
Here 👋🏻👋🏻
@ch.keller3859
Born in 1960 and this one is going right to my soul. Roberta Flack's voice gives me the shivers. Always.