DISCOGRAPHY: Shaun Escoffery (Oyster 2002)***, Soulonica (Oyster 2003)***.
(2) Championed by the likes of Elton John, Shaun Escoffery was hailed as one of Britain's brightest talents when he arrived on the R&B scene in 2002. Born in East London, Escoffery grew up in a musical family with his singer mother and DJ father. Aware of the pitfalls of a career in the music industry, his parents encouraged him to follow a more academic profession. But after being asked to provide backing vocals for his aunt, also a singer, Escoffery got hooked on the music bug. While at college he started to write and record tracks, and soon landed a part in the Chaka Khan-fronted musical Mum I Wanna Sing. In 2001, Oyster Music showed interest in his independent release "Space Rider" and promptly signed him, re-releasing the track a year later to widespread interest from the likes of influential DJs Trevor Nelson and the Dreem Team. Featuring collaborations with 4hero, MJ Cole, and Ed Case, his self-titled eclectic debut, which was later re-released as the remix album Soulonica, soon followed, but -- despite huge critical acclaim -- it failed to enter the U.K. charts. However, his talent soon became recognized in the U.S., with a personal invitation from Lennox Lewis to sing the National Anthem at his title bout with Mike Tyson in Memphis and the likes of Erykah Badu and Angie Stone requesting his services. In 2007, Escoffery teamed up with longtime writing partner Geoffrey Williams on Move into Soul, a collection of classic soul covers including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "A Change Is Gonna Come." In the same year, he tread the boards at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, earning a Laurence Olivier nomination for playing several roles in Parade, and in 2008 he was cast as Mufasa in the West End production of The Lion King. ~ Jon O'Brien
I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Shaun Escoffery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'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
I Heard It Through The Grapevine is a soul song originally recorded by Gladys Knight & The Pips in 1967, but it was Shaun Escoffery's version that gained popularity in the 2000s. The song's lyrics are about a man who found out that his lover was leaving him for someone else through the grapevine rather than hearing it directly from her. The singer is heartbroken and struggling to accept the news, as he loves her deeply and losing her would be devastating. The song's title itself is a reference to the informal communication channels used in small towns and communities, where gossip and rumors spread quickly through word of mouth.
The opening lines of the song are sung with hesitation, conveying that the singer is unsure about how much he knows and how trustworthy the source of the news is. The verse is followed by the chorus, where he expresses his distress at the prospect of losing his lover. The second verse sees him admitting his vulnerability and how much he cares about her, while also questioning why she couldn't have told him the truth herself. The final chorus repeats the same lyrics, emphasizing his desperation and sadness at the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
You must be curious how I found out about your secret plan to hurt me.
'Bout your plans to make me blue
Your intention to make me sad is no longer a secret to me.
With some other guy you knew before
You are involved with another man, someone you knew before me.
Between the two of us guys
You and me are the two men involved in this love triangle.
You know I loved you more
I was the one who loved you more between the two of us.
It took me by surprise I must say
I was taken aback when I found out about your betrayal.
When I found out yesterday
I only discovered this information yesterday.
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
I learned about your affair through rumors and hearsay.
Not much longer would you be mine
Our time together was already limited, and knowing about your infidelity confirms it.
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Again, I found out about your secret through rumors and gossip.
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
The revelation of your betrayal is driving me crazy.
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
Society expects men not to show their emotions like crying.
But these tears I can't hold inside
However, I can't contain my sadness and frustration inside anymore.
Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would be the end of my world, you mean that much to me.
'Cause you mean that much to me
The reason why I'm so devastated is that you are very important to me.
You could have told me yourself
I wish you had been honest with me and broke the news yourself.
That you loved someone else
If you had told me that you were in love with someone else, it could have saved us both some pain.
People say believe half of what you see
The old saying goes that you should only take half of what you see at face value.
Son and none of what you hear
This advice pertains to rumors and gossip that you hear, which may not be entirely accurate.
But I can't help but be confused
Even though I know rumors shouldn't be trusted entirely, I'm still confused by what I heard.
If it's true please tell me dear
If what I heard is accurate, please confirm it with me, my love.
Do you plan to let me go
Are you intending to break up with me and let me go?
For the other guy you loved before?
Is the reason for the potential breakup the return of your feelings for your previous lover?
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
Again, the duration of our relationship would be cut short due to your betrayal.
I'm just about to love my mind
The news of your affair is driving me insane with emotion.
Honey, honey, yeah
A term of endearment used for the alleged lover, intended to evoke sweetness and affection.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
SeeingEye Multimedia
cool underscore and layers..shaun takes a classic to another level!
Chicharrero91
this track is HUGE!
samhadrios
une tuerie ce morceau.... UNE TUERIE ! THX fot the upload !
Sacha Tholl
Killa!!! This said, I have to notice that I am listening this track in 2018!!!! OMG
godeeperdjs
HUGE!!
Орландо Московиш
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