The hit songs "Do It Baby" and Love Machine (written by Billy Griffin & Pete Moore) were performed by Billy Griffin as the lead singer after the departure of original founder member Smokey Robinson.
http://myspace.com/billygriffinthemiracles
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles 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 song I Heard it Through the Grapevine by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles is a classic soulful ballad in which the singer is finding out from someone else that his partner is planning to leave him. The lyrics reveal the singer's intense love for his partner and his despair at the prospect of losing her. He reflects on the fact that he had no idea his partner was unhappy in the relationship and is shocked at the news he hears through the “grapevine”. The phrase “grapevine” refers to informal channels of communication, often used to spread rumors and gossip.
The song touches on themes of betrayal, trust, and love as the singer is feeling deeply hurt by his partner's actions. He is struggling to come to terms with the fact that the relationship is coming to an end and tries to understand why his partner did not tell him directly that she no longer wanted to be with him.
The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and recorded by many different artists over the years, including Marvin Gaye, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. The Miracles' version was released in 1967 and became a smash hit, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
You must be curious about how I found out
'Bout your plans to make me blue
That you wanted to hurt me
With some other guy you knew before
You were seeing someone else who you knew from before
Between the two of us guys
Out of the two of us men
You know I loved you more
I loved you more than he did
It took me by surprise I must say
I was shocked when I heard
When I found out yesterday
That you were leaving me to be with him
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
I found out through gossip, not from you
Not much longer would you be mine
You were going to leave me soon
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
I learned this from rumors
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
This news is driving me crazy
Honey, honey yeah.
A term of endearment directed at you
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
It's not expected for a man to show emotions
But these tears I can't hold inside
But I can't hold back my tears
Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would be devastating to me
'Cause you mean that much to me
Because you are so important to me
You could have told me yourself
You should have been honest and told me
That you loved some one else
That you were in love with someone else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
But instead I found out through gossip
People say believe half of what you see
Some say only believe part of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
And none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
But I can't help but to feel uncertain
If it's true please tell me dear
If this is really happening, please tell me
Do you plan to let me go
Do you plan to break up with me
For the other guy you loved before?
To be with the man you loved before?
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
You were going to leave me soon
I'm just about to love my mind
I am about to go crazy over this
Honey, honey, yeah
A term of endearment directed at you
I heard it through the grapevine,
I heard gossip about our relationship
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
You were going to leave me soon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Tratore
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JohnHolton
I don't care who does it, this is a hell of a song and everyone who does it does a great version.
@roller325
Beautiful attitude to have John!
@ceeemm1901
Couldn't agree more.This is a rare song that's been able to be a great song with all the 'majors' that have recorded it. It didn't sound that much different between them, but they all had a subtle tweek and fingerprint that you could tell who it was. A perfect song..., like Monster Mash...(teehee)
@101Licious
Love the version of Creedence Clearwater Revival
@tlove610
I have to completely agree with you on that. Also, I did not know Smokey Robinson and the Miracles were the original artists of this song.
@Tarantulisimo
No doubt -- A great song is a great song, & will be a hit time after time
@diannerebedew259
I use to get listen to this on my little blue and white record player....especially when mom was having a bad day...I would get lost in Motown music...😂❤
@msoileau83
This was the first recorded version, in 1966. It wasn't released until much later. Marvin Gaye's version was the second one RECORDED (1967) but was initially rejected as a single and put on Gaye's "In The Groove" album (1968). DJs played the song on the radio and forced Motown to make it a single. Gladys Knight and the Pips' version was the first one RELEASED but the third RECORDED...
@shomzlezilebovic
what about temptations version?
@msoileau83
I don't know.