That's What Love Is Made Of
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles Lyrics


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You take sugar and spice (sugar and spice)
Everything nice (everything nice)
And you've got a little girl, yeah, yeah

You take snakes and snails (snakes and snails)
Some puppy dog tails (puppy dog tails)
And you've got a little boy, yeah, yeah
That's what love is made of
Said, that's what love is made of

Some, snakes, snails, puppy dog tails
Sugar, spice, everything nice
Yeah, yeah, alright

Somethin' else ya do
Ya take a walk by the sea (walk by the sea)
Two hearts on a tree (two hearts on a tree)
And you've got a little gladness, yeah, yeah

Then two eyes cry (two eyes cry)
Two hearts say goodbye (two hearts say goodbye)
Ya got a little sadness, yeah, yeah

That's what love is made of
Talkin' to ya now
That's what love is made of
Hearts say goodbye
Hearts have to cry
Hearts on a tree
Walks by the sea
Snakes, snails, puppy dog tails
Sugar, spice everything nice
Yeah, yeah, alright

One more thing
You take a rude word spoken, yeah (rude word spoken)
Pride gets broken (pride gets broken)
And you've got a little break- up, yeah, yeah

Take a little bit a soul (a little bit of soul)
Sweet love's bein' told (love's bein' told)
Then you've got a little make up, yeah, yeah

That's what love is made of
That's what love is made of

Words bein' told with a little bit of soul
Pride gets broken
Rude word spoken
Hearts say goodbye
Eyes have to cry
Hearts on a tree
Walks by the sea
Snakes, snails, puppy dog tails
Sugar, spice, everything nice, yeah, yeah
Alright

A-everybody say
Yeah, yeah, alright




Yeah, yeah, alright
Yeah, yeah, alright

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Smokey Robinson and The Miracles's song "What" describe the various things that love is made of, both the positive and negative aspects. The first verse contrasts the ingredients that make up a little girl versus a little boy, with the former being made up of "sugar and spice" while the latter is made up of "snakes and snails" and "puppy dog tails." The second verse continues this theme by contrasting the happy moments of love, like walking by the sea with two hearts on a tree, with the sad moments of love, like two hearts saying goodbye and two eyes crying. The final verse adds a third dimension to the song, as it describes the process of breaking up and making up, suggesting that even when things go wrong, love can still be found in the act of reconciling.


Through its use of contrasting imagery, "What" presents love as a complex and multifaceted emotion that encompasses both joy and pain. The repetition of the phrase "that's what love is made of" highlights the song's central message, as it suggests that while love may be difficult and even painful at times, ultimately it is what makes life worth living. The song's catchy melody and upbeat rhythm also serve to reinforce this message, highlighting the joy that can be found in even the most difficult moments of love.


Line by Line Meaning

You take sugar and spice (sugar and spice) Everything nice (everything nice) And you've got a little girl, yeah, yeah
Girls are made up of sweetness and niceness


You take snakes and snails (snakes and snails) Some puppy dog tails (puppy dog tails) And you've got a little boy, yeah, yeah That's what love is made of Said, that's what love is made of
Boys are made up of rough and adventurous attributes. The diversity of the two genders is what love is all about.


Somethin' else ya do Ya take a walk by the sea (walk by the sea) Two hearts on a tree (two hearts on a tree) And you've got a little gladness, yeah, yeah Then two eyes cry (two eyes cry) Two hearts say goodbye (two hearts say goodbye) Ya got a little sadness, yeah, yeah
In love, joy and sadness come hand in hand. You experience gladness when two hearts are united with love on a tree by the sea, and experience sadness when these same hearts say goodbye and two eyes cry.


One more thing You take a rude word spoken, yeah (rude word spoken) Pride gets broken (pride gets broken) And you've got a little break- up, yeah, yeah Take a little bit a soul (a little bit of soul) Sweet love's bein' told (love's bein' told) Then you've got a little make up, yeah, yeah
Love and break-ups are often a result of words spoken in anger that hurt one's pride. But when there is true love, it is equally possible to make up and reconcile.


Words bein' told with a little bit of soul Pride gets broken Rude word spoken Hearts say goodbye Eyes have to cry Hearts on a tree Walks by the sea Snakes, snails, puppy dog tails Sugar, spice, everything nice, yeah, yeah Alright
Love has its ups and downs, your pride may be broken by the rude words spoken, people may part ways or shed a tear, but it is still a beautiful thing. Snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails for boys, and sugar, spice, and everything nice for girls make the world of love a special place.


A-everybody say Yeah, yeah, alright Yeah, yeah, alright Yeah, yeah, alright
Let's all ignite our spirits and say cheers to love, with 'yeah, yeah, alright' as a celebration of the triumph of love despite all the hardships.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Robert Rogers, Smokey Robinson, Warren Moore, William Robinson Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

michael Seven

You take sugar and spice (sugar and spice)
Everything nice (everything nice)
And you’ve got a little girl, yeah, yeah
You take snakes and snails (snakes and snails)
Some puppy dog tails (puppy dog tails)
And you’ve got a little boy, yeah, yeah
That's what love is made of
Said, that's what love is made of
Some, snakes, snails, puppy dog tails
Sugar, spice, everything nice
Yeah, yeah, alright
Somethin’ else ya do
Ya take a walk by the sea (walk by the sea)
Two hearts on a tree (two hearts on a tree)
And you’ve got a little gladness, yeah, yeah
Then two eyes cry (two eyes cry)
Two hearts say goodbye (two hearts say goodbye)
Ya got a little sadness, yeah, yeah
That's what love is made of
Talkin’ to ya now
That's what love is made of
Hearts say goodbye



All comments from YouTube:

Arlena Fl

Only Smokey can take Sugar, Spice, Puppy Dog Tails and Snails and make something as sweet as this song. Love it. One of my All Time Favorite Songwriters and Musical Groups.

nufforme

Lyrical Master of his time

tljones9

One of my all time favorites from the master of metaphors......Pure song writing genius.....Long live Classic Motown!!!!!!

Lisa1966

I bought the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles Anthology 8-track tapes back in 1977, and this song was on it. That was the first time that I ever heard this song. This is a great song!

SGranny

I was in the 8th grade when this jam came out! Sounds so good 55 years later.

hotsauce4495

what a song indeed!! so easy to sing..............four or five guys and my self standing in front of Woolworths 5&10 on Broad st. Woodbury,N.J.,trying to harmonize this song in the snow and cold, the people walking by stop for a listen........it just does'nt get much better. ya know what i mean? thanks for sharing this song.

Motown Deep Cuts, PAMS Jingles & More with Tomovox

Some of the best handclaps you'll ever hear anywhere- and check out the foot stomping going on deep in the mix.  Smokey and the Miracles' sweet, sweet lyrics and vocals on top of an absolutely Rock Solid beat.  Wow!

Michaela Steele

tomovox was

nufforme

I was so fortunate to have visited Hitsvillea few years ago. I stood in the studio where so much of Motown hits were made. Same walls that heard the original hand claps ,same floors where the stomps took place. I had chills through out the experience.

Deborah McCoy

On Point!!!!

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