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.
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Way Over There
Smokey Robinson and The Miracles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a lover way over there on the mountain side
And I know that's where I should be
Don't you know
I've got a lover way over there across the river wide
I can hear her calling to me
Oh, she's calling my name (calling my name)
So sweet so plain (calling my name) I can hear her saying
I'm on my way
(Come to me baby)
I'm gonna stay
(Come to me baby) ah
They tell me that the river's too deep
And it's much too wide
Boy, you can't get across to the other side
But they don't know I got to get there
And hold her in my arms just one more time
Like I did before when she was mine, all mine
'Cause I can hear her saying
(Come to me baby)
I'm on my way
(Come to me baby)
I'm gonna stay
(Come to me baby)
I'm gonna get to you
(Come to me baby)
No matter what I have to do
(Come to me baby)
Oh, they tell me that the river's too deep
And it's much too wide
Boy, you can't make it over to the other side
But they don't know I got to get there
And hold her in my arms just one more time
Like I did before when she was mine, all mine
'Cause I can hear her saying
(Come to me baby)
I'm on my way
(Come to me baby)
I'm gonna stay
(Come to me baby)
Oh, baby when I get there
I'm going nowhere
Oh, oh, 'cause the river ain't deep enough
Oh, nothing's deep enough to keep me from your side
Ah, ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya
The lyrics of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles' song Way Over There speak to the yearning of a lover to be reunited with their significant other. The singer talks about having a lover way over there on the mountain side and across the river wide, and that's where they should be. The lover is calling their name and they hear her so sweet and plain, saying "come to me, baby." They are determined to get to her, even though they know others have deemed it impossible to cross the deep and wide river.
The passion and longing for the lover are evident in the lyrics, as the singer insists they must hold her in their arms just one more time, like they did before when she was all theirs. The deep connection shared between the two is not something that can be easily forgotten, and the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to be with her. The repetition of "come to me baby" and "I'm on my way" emphasizes the determination of the singer to be reunited with their lover, even if they have to overcome the odds.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, oh, woah, oh oh
The singer begins with an emotional exclamation to express his desire.
I've got a lover way over there on the mountain side
He has a lover who lives on the mountain side and he wants to go there.
And I know that's where I should be
He believes that being with his lover is his true destiny.
Don't you know
The singer addresses the listener to emphasize his point.
I've got a lover way over there across the river wide
His lover is also across a wide river.
I can hear her calling to me
He can hear her voice calling him to come to her.
Oh, she's calling my name (calling my name)
He repeats that his lover is calling his name, emphasizing how much he wants to go to her.
So sweet so plain (calling my name) I can hear her saying
Her voice is clear and direct, making him feel even more compelled to go to her.
(Come to me, baby) I'm on my way
She urges him to come to her and he is already heading in her direction.
(Come to me baby) I'm gonna stay
She promises to stay with him once he arrives.
(Come to me baby) ah
She uses endearing language to coax him to come to her.
They tell me that the river's too deep
Others are warning him that the river may be too deep for him to cross.
And it's much too wide
The river is also very wide, which may pose a challenge for him.
Boy, you can't get across to the other side
They are pessimistic about his chances of reaching the other side of the river.
But they don't know I got to get there
He is determined to get to his lover no matter what anyone says.
And hold her in my arms just one more time
He longs for physical contact with his lover.
Like I did before when she was mine, all mine
He reminisces about a time when they were together and he felt complete possession of her.
'Cause I can hear her saying
He is once again spurred on by her voice calling to him.
(Come to me baby) I'm on my way
She reiterates that he is coming to her and she is waiting for him.
(Come to me baby) I'm gonna stay
She assures him again that she will stay with him once he arrives.
(Come to me baby) I'm gonna get to you
He will stop at nothing to get to her.
(Come to me baby) No matter what I have to do
He will do whatever it takes to reach her.
Oh, they tell me that the river's too deep
He has certainly been warned about the river's depth many times.
Boy, you can't make it over to the other side
People believe he will not be able to make it to the other side of the river.
Oh, baby when I get there
He imagines how he will feel when he finally reaches her.
I'm going nowhere
Once he is with his lover, he will not want to leave her side.
Oh, oh, 'cause the river ain't deep enough
He instinctively knows that he will find a way to cross the river no matter its depth.
Oh, nothing's deep enough to keep me from your side
His love for her is so strong that nothing will stop him from being with her.
Ah, ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya ya
He ends the song with another emotional expression to convey his dedication to his lover.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BERRY GORDY JR, BERRY JR GORDY, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R. R. Rubin
I've got a lover way over there on the mountain side
And I know that's where I should be
Don't you know
I've got a lover way over there across the river wide
I can hear her calling to me
Oh, she's calling my name
So sweet so plain I can hear her saying
(Come to me, baby)
I'm on my way
(Come to me baby)
I'm gonna stay
(Come to me baby)
They tell me that the river's too deep
And it's much too wide
Boy, you can't get over to the other side
But they don't know I got to get there
And hold her in my arms just one more time
Like I did before when she was mine, all mine
'Cause I hear her saying
(Come to me baby)
I'm on my way
(Come to me baby)
I'm gonna stay
I'm gonna get to you
No matter what I have to do
Lukas S.
One of the first tracks of the legendary James Jamerson! Over 60 years, and he is still one of the most influential bass players.
Anthony Honorio
Cheguei até aqui em uma pesquisa pelos trabalhos do grande James Jameson!!!!
stripemister
Ahhh, 1960, just getting ready to leave hanging on the street corner as my high school days were coming to an end, and I would soon be off to college. What a great time it was with all the great music being played on AM radio. There were dozens of great songs by many, many great sounding groups as well as solo singers. The only time one could hear "Way Over There" was on black radio stations. Also, I never heard The Miracles sing this great song live. This is one of my top five by the Miracles. I've never again heard a voice in the music business like Mr. Robinson. To be 14 again, and starting over, and listen to this great sounding music is something that I can only reminisce about. To young people of today, you missed a great decade (1955/1965) of the greatest sounding music ever produced.
caribman10
The singing, God! What voices! And Claudette! You can hear her distinctly all the way through the song. The setup in the second chorus, after the perfectly-timed handclaps when The Miracles sing "ay-yi-yi-yiiiii"and Smokey turns the song for a moment into a revival meeting is one of the great moments in Motown music history. And the string break, wow! Just long enough to accentuate the song.
AGGeiger
One of the greatest records AND the greatest songs ever to come out of Motown -- I wish it lasted 20 minutes!!!!! And you have to love Claudette's voice here -- they lost so much when she retired from performing!!!
Linda Franklin
Smokey’s voice and lyrics can make you fall in love if you’re not already
Daniel Mitchell
couldnt agree more!
d0walden
"Way Over There", my favorite Miracles song of all time. The Jo Hunter piano, the acknowledgement of the Funk Brothers, and the digital remastering of these old classics has made me appreciate more fully what we have witnessed and enjoyed. I wore the 45 out as a kid, and my car AM radio only captured the bass and Smokey, but now I hear it all and marvel at the arrangement, the lyrics, and the musicianship, Whew! Strings or "No Strings" I love both versions(45 ,album, or CD).
KappaKool67
I was 10 years old. We lived in the Gravesend Projects in Coney Island. The first time I heard this song was probably the last time I played Skelly. This song took me out of childhood and sparked a deeper interest in girls. It was truly wonder-ful. We had a great group of kids and I learned how to slow dance to music like this. What great music we had in those days! I saw Little Eva one day with her friends in our candy store. This song was a majestic anthem to love. It began my life-long love of Smokey, The Miracles, and all the great Motown groups, especially The Temps. I have great memories of the Motown Revues at The Brooklyn Fox Theater. This song was one of the great inspirations of my life, and remains so to this day. A couple of years ago, I bought a new copy of the 45, the one with the lines on the label. It is one of my most prized possessions. I miss those girls, and I miss those guys from Coney Island. Our family moved away in '63. This brings brings us all back together again in my soul.
DSCW777
Fantastic...the voice, the harmony, the deep-felt emotion.