Stephanie Mills first came to fame as "the little girl with the big voice" as the star of the hit Broadway play, The Wiz, an adaptation of L. Frank Baum's classic book, The Wizard Of Oz. She had many R&B hits such as "I Have Learned to Respect the Power of Love," "I Feel Good All Over," "(You're Puttin') A Rush On Me," "Something in the Way (You Make Me Feel)" and "Home" along with one certified million selling single, "Never Knew Love Like This Before." In addition, she also had five gold albums: Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin', Sweet Sensation, Stephanie, If I Were Your Woman and Home.
Mills honed her rich vocals singing gospel music at Brooklyn's Cornerstone Baptist Church as a small child. At age 9, she began appearing in the Broadway play Maggie Flynn. She was presented with first prize after winning "The Amateur Hour" talent contest six weeks straight at New York's famed Apollo Theater when she was nine. That success led to her being chosen as the opening act for The Isley Brothers, eventually becoming good friends with lead singer Ronald Isley. Many years later, Isley would manage and later marry singer/songwriter Angela Winbush, who co-wrote one of her number one R&B hits. Mills' début album, Movin' In The Right Direction was recorded for ABC Records in 1974. A year later, she won the role of Dorothy in The Wiz. Her rendition of the beautiful ballad "Home" was a showstopper, mesmerizing audiences nightly for a number of years. The original cast recording of The Wiz was produced by Jerry Wexler and issued by Atlantic Records in spring 1975. Curiously, when The Wiz was made into a full length feature film by Motown Records' film division and Universal Pictures, Diana Ross played the role of Dorothy instead of Mills. The film ended up being a major flop.
Singer Jermaine Jackson referred Mills to Motown head Berry Gordy, who signed her to the label. Her Motown debut was For the First Time, written and produced by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, being issued in October 1976. For the First Time is a sweet affair with Mills convincingly covering Bacharach/David standards, most of which were originally recorded by Dionne Warwick. In 1978, she signed to 20th Century Records and was teamed with the hit production duo of James Mtume — later leader of Mtume, who had a gold single with "Juicy Fruit" — and Reggie Lucas. Her first LP for the label, Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin', went gold, going to number 12 R&B and number 22 pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1979 and spawned the singles, "Whatcha Gonna Do With My Lovin'" and "You Can Get Over." Her next LP, Sweet Sensation (#3 R&B, #16 Pop, spring 1980) yielded "Sweet Sensation," "Never Knew Love Like This Before," and the radio-aired LP track, "Try My Love." Around this time, she briefly married former Soul Train dancer Jeffrey Daniels of the group Shalamar. Next came the LP titled Stephanie in spring 1981, which also was a huge hit, peaking at #3 R&B and #30 Pop. The album included notable songs such as "Two Hearts" — a midtempo duet with Teddy Pendergrass — "Night Games" and the radio-aired LP cut, "Don't Stop Doin' What Cha Do."
In 1981, Mills switched to Neil Bogart's Casablanca Records. Her LPs for the label included Tantalizingly Hot, Merciless and I've Got The Cure. During 1983, she had her own NBC-TV daytime talk show and reprised on role in a Broadway revival of The Wiz. She also signed with MCA Records, where she released her Stephanie Mills album.
The first single from the Stephanie Mills album was "Stand Back," in late 1985, which also included the passionate ballad "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love." "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love" was initially written by Rene Moore and Angela Winbush — best known as the hit singing duo Rene & Angela — as a gospel song and originally was recorded by Alton McClain and Destiny on their self-titled 1978 Polydor LP. The original version is available on Polygram's Power of Love: Best of Soul Essentials Ballads. Because of its massive radio play as an album track, Mills' version of "I Have Learned To Respect The Power Of Love, — produced by Philly Soul keyboardist Ron Kersey — was reissued as an A side holding the #1 R&B spot for two weeks in spring 1986. Its follow-up, "Rising Desire" reached #11 R&B in summer 1986.
Her next LP's title cut was the Clay McMurray/Gloria Jones/Pam Sawyer song, "If I Were Your Woman," originally a 1971 #1 R&B, #9 Pop smash for Gladys Knight and the Pips. Philly-based producer Nick Martinelli gave Mills her second #1 R&B hit with "I Feel Good All Over," written by husband and wife songwriting duo, Gabriel Hardeman and Annette Hardeman. The song held the #1 R&B spot for three weeks in spring 1987. Originally submitted to Mills' fellow MCA labelmate Patti Labelle by the Hardemans, the track was included on Mills' LP If I Were Your Woman, issued June 1987 and peaked at #30 Pop in summer 1987. Paul Laurence produced and co-wrote with Timmy Allen the chugging '"(You're Putting) a Rush On Me" giving the singer her third #1 R&B hit in fall 1987. The single made it to #85 Pop and was followed by "Secret Lady," which landed at #7 R&B in late 1987. Her covers of "If I Were Your Woman" and "Where Is The Love" followed. All were included on her If I Were Your Woman album, which peaked at #1 R&B, #30 Pop in summer 1987. Following these hits, Mills contacted Ronald Isley about working with singer/songwriter/producer Angela Winbush who had hits as half of Rene and Angela and was forging a hit-filled career as a recording artist and producer for the group Body among others. The collaboration between Mills and Winbush resulted in another #1 R&B single, "Something In The Way You Make Me Feel," in summer 1989.
Having starred for five years in the smash Broadway show The Wiz and recorded the song "Home for the play's 1975 original cast soundtrack album, she wanted to record the song again as a posthumous tribute to the play's producer, Ken Harper, and the song's composer, Charlie Smalls. On her new version of "Home," Take 6 sung the background vocals. The song went to #1 R&B in late 1989 and was followed by "Comfort Of A Man" and "Real Love." The Home LP ended up peaking at #5 R&B, #82 Pop in summer 1989. She then recorded a charting single with J.T. Taylor titled "Heart To Heart" in late 1991. Her final MCA album, Something Real included the hit "All Day All Night" and "Never Do Wrong." Following this album, she recorded a gospel album, Personal Inspirations, for Interscope Records and recorded several tracks at Philadelphia International Records with Bunny Sigler among others in the late '90s.
After a hiatus from recording Mills returned with sixteenth album, "Born For This" in 2004. It includes the singles "Can't Let Him Go" and "Healing Time." Mills is currently working on her seventeenth album titled "Breathless." The lead single chosen is a song called, "Yesterday."
Can't Let Him Go
Stephanie Mills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't let him go
No, no
Hoo hoo ooh
I've had my heartaches and pain, ooh
For all the lovers playing games
The will to hurt became too much, listen to me
But I got tired of being alone, ooh
I had to find someone to call my own
And he don't cheat and he don't lie, no, no
And there's more than fire in his eyes and that's why
I just can't let him go (Go)
I guess I love him so (So)
'Cause I deny this heart of mine
That's why I won't let love go this time, ooh yeah
It's not easy livin'
Even when you find a special friend
It's hard to know what's love from lust, ooh, ooh
Your heart forgets just who to trust
Then he starts callin' you and botherin' you
And askin' you what you wanna do
Are you happy now, do you wanna settle down
Then you feel safe and sound and that's why
I just can't let him go, go (Can't let him go, no, no)
I guess I love him so (I love him, I love him so)
'Cause I deny (Oh, yes, I deny) this heart of mine
(Oh, yeah, yeah)
That's why I won't let love go this time
I just can't let him go (Whoa ho whoa )
I guess I love him so
(Woo hoo hoo .hoo woo )
'Cause I deny (Oh, yeah) this heart of mine (Listen)
That's why I won't let love go this time (This time,
this time, baby)
That's why I won't let love go this time (This time)
I can't let him go, no, no, no
Stephanie Mills's song "Can't Let Him Go" is an emotional ballad about the struggles of finding love and overcoming past heartaches. The lyrics communicate the singer's pain and uncertainty in relationships, but eventually finding someone special that she is unwilling to let go of. The song begins with the singer acknowledging how she has gone through heartaches and pain from past relationships. She gave up on love because the prospect of being hurt became too much for her to handle. However, she eventually tires of being alone and finds someone she can call her own who doesn't cheat or lie. There is a deeper connection between them, and the singer can sense that there is more than just physical attraction.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase, "I just can't let him go," indicating the singer's unwillingness to let go of this special someone. She knows that she loves him and denies her heart the chance to walk away. She has found something real and is holding onto it even when things get tough. The second verse touches on the difficulty of navigating a relationship, especially when it comes to distinguishing between love and lust. It is hard to know whom to trust when the heart forgets. However, when the special someone starts calling and bothering, and you feel safe and sound: This is the moment that the trust is built, and this is why the singer cannot let her special someone go.
In conclusion, "Can't Let Him Go" is a melancholic song with a positive message about love, trust and the willingness to hold onto something special even when times get tough. Life is not always easy, and finding someone to share it with can be challenging. The song shows that if we are willing to persevere, we might find what we are looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
Introduction to the song
Can't let him go
The singer is unable to leave her lover
No, no
Repeated assertion of her inability to leave her lover
Hoo hoo ooh
Ad-lib line
I've had my heartaches and pain, ooh
The singer has been through previous heartbreaks and emotional suffering
For all the lovers playing games
Refers to the insincerity of previous lovers
I've even given up on love, ooh, ooh
The singer has at one point lost hope for love
The will to hurt became too much, listen to me
The risk of being hurt stopped the singer from pursuing love until now
But I got tired of being alone, ooh
The singer reached a point where being alone was not an option anymore
I had to find someone to call my own
The singer was actively searching for a committed relationship
And he don't cheat and he don't lie, no, no
The singer found a trustworthy and faithful partner
And there's more than fire in his eyes and that's why
The singer is attracted to her partner for reasons beyond physical appearance
I just can't let him go (Go)
Reiteration that the singer cannot leave her lover
I guess I love him so (So)
The singer acknowledges her strong romantic feelings for her partner
'Cause I deny this heart of mine
The singer is trying to suppress her emotions to avoid getting hurt
That's why I won't let love go this time, ooh yeah
The singer's previous experiences with love taught her to hold on to true love when it is found
It's not easy livin'
The difficulties of relationships are emphasized
Even when you find a special friend
Even when you find a meaningful companion, challenges may still exist
It's hard to know what's love from lust, ooh, ooh
The difference between genuine love and infatuation can be difficult to discern
Your heart forgets just who to trust
Past hurt can make it harder to trust new potential partners
Then he starts callin' you and botherin' you
Description of the early stages of a romantic relationship
And askin' you what you wanna do
Communication and collaboration are important in relationships
Are you happy now, do you wanna settle down
Important questions to ask in a relationship
Then you feel safe and sound and that's why
Feeling secure in a relationship is desirable
This time, this time, baby
Emphasizes the importance of this specific relationship
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BARRY EASTMOND, GORDON CHAMBERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
KDS Nyc-Fl
She's simply incomparable...to any other female vocalist out there...sang Cookie!
Cheryl Simmons
This little Stephanie has such a beautiful powerful voice
This song takes me back
What a song wow!
SuperHurricane75
This song has that stank on it! Classic Stephanie Mills! Goose Bumps all over my body! The arrangements are sick!!!!!! One of the best vocalist ever. She is a Queen!
Antonio ///
Classic Stephanie..
Felicia Hardy
Yes she is >G.O.A.T.
Joyfulnoise Team
2019 never gets old still play it like day one love love love love this her voice is sooooooooooo beautiful make u cry every time
Jeff the Gent
I was fortunate enough to hear this song right before the “Born for This!” album came out. I heard a promo copy of the CD because I had to fact-check a review for People magazine. This song struck me immediately as a standout track, and I still love it.
Stephanie sounds amazing as usual, and the soulful and gospel-tinged instrumentation is wonderful.
MILDRED Williams
I love her music!!!
Antonio ///
Thank you..
Ladi Jae1
Stephanie takes me to church with this SONG!!!!!! 9/18/2018 who else want to go to church with me???