Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she entered the music business at the age of 13, regularly performing live. In 1961 she was signed to the fledgling Scepter Records (later Wand Records), recording under the name "Tammy Montgomery". After coming to the attention of James Brown she recorded one single apiece for Brown's own Try Me record label and, in 1964, Checker Records. The year after that, she was spotted by Berry Gordy Jr. while playing live, and signed to his Motown label. Attractive and talented, she became romantically linked with both James Brown and David Ruffin, lead singer of The Temptations.
Tammy Montgomery changed her name to "Tammi Terrell" at the time of her Motown signing, and was teamed with producers Harvey Fuqua and Johnny Bristol. After releasing a pair of minor R&B chart hits, "I Can't Believe You Love Me" and "Come On and See Me," Terrell was chosen to replace Kim Weston as Marvin Gaye's duet partner. The duo recorded a number of successful hits which remain popular today: "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", "Your Precious Love," "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing," and "You're All I Need to Get By", all written (and in the case of the latter two, produced by) Ashford & Simpson.
While on tour with Gaye in Virginia in mid-1967, Terrell fainted on stage, and was later diagnosed as having a malignant brain tumor. While Terrell endured several operations and continued to record new material, her health steadily deteriorated. Fuqua and Bristol resorted to having Gaye overdub archived Terrell solo tracks to fill out the Gaye/Terrell duets albums. The final album attributed to Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, "Easy" (1969), actually features co-producer Valerie Simpson subbing for Terrell on all but two of the tracks.
Twelve of Tammi Terrell's solo Motown recordings, including "I Can't Believe You Love Me", "Come On and See Me," and a minor hit cover of The Isley Brothers' "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", were issued as Terrell's only solo album, "Irresistible," in January 1969. Terrell died of brain cancer at age 24 on March 16, 1970.
I Can't Believe You Love Me
Tammi Terrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah Tammi?
Listen to me baby
Take a plane a million miles and stay 100 years
And come back baby, and I'll be waiting here
I'll be true to you, I ain't goin' nowhere
'Cause this love I have is just for you to share
Can't help but love you, can't help but love you, babyCan't help but love you, oh
I don't care to know how far I have to fly
I don't care to know how many stars are in the sky
There's just one thing, baby, that I've got to know
Will you love me forever, never let me go?
Oh Tammi!
Yeah Marvin?
Oh baby, oh
I'll be lovin' you, I can't help myself
I'll be lovin' you and nobody else
I'll be lovin' you, oh yes I will
Till I'm old and gray
Till my heart stands still, oh Tammi!
Oh Marvin, tell me why do you love me?
I was just a rollin' stone goin' nowhere
Empty like a hollow room filled with despair
Then, like a rainbow and a pot of gold
You came into my life and you saved my very soul
Can't help but love you, can't help but love you, baby
Can't help but love you
Tell me, why do you love me?
I was so alone like a leaf without a tree
And I'm so grateful, baby I'm so glad
'Cause your sweet sweet love is the best I've ever had
Can't help but love you, can't help but love you, baby
Can't help but love you, oh
I'll be lovin' you, I can't help myself
I'll be lovin' you and nobody else
I'll be lovin' you, oh yes I will
Till I'm old and gray
Till my heart stands still
Can't help but love you, can't help but love you, baby
Can't help but love you, oh
I'll be lovin' you, I can't help myself
I'll be lovin' you and nobody else
I'll be lovin' you, oh yes I will
Till I'm old and gray
The lyrics to Tammi Terrell's song "He's The One I Love" speak to the heart-wrenching feeling of an influx in doubt regarding a romantic partner's love. The first verse declares three times that the singer cannot believe that the other person loves them. This repetition enforces the severity of the thought, potentially indicating that there may have been past issues affecting the trust in the relationship. Furthermore, the addition of "anymore, not like before" at the end of the verse reveals that there has been a shift in the dynamic of the relationship, and the singer no longer feels the same love from their partner as they once did.
In the following verse, the singer explains why they believe their partner's love has dwindled. They notice that their partner no longer kisses them as passionately, nor do they say the loving words they used to. There is a nuance in language when the singer notes that there is "no sincerity" in their kisses, indicating that there has been a lack of genuine emotion or feeling in the interaction. The final lines of the verse state that the singer believes their partner has "gotten over" them, which is a distinct contrast from the love they previously expressed.
The final verse showcases the lack of communication that has arisen in the relationship, with the singer noting that they feel entirely ignored when they are with their partner. This powerful display of despair highlights that the love between the two has reached a point where it can no longer survive, as the singer has lost confidence in their partner's affection.
Line by Line Meaning
No, I can't believe you love me
I find it hard to believe that you love me
No, I can't believe that you love me
I cannot accept that you love me
I can't believe that you love me
I am unable to believe that you love me
Anymore, not like before (not like before)
Things have changed between us and your love is not the same as before
You don't kiss me like you used to
Your kisses are not the same as they were before
You don't say those pretty words
You no longer express your love for me with sweet words
There's no thrill in your kiss, there's no sincerity
Your kisses lack passion and sincerity
I do believe you've gotten over me
I think you have moved on from me
Whenever we're together, not a word do you say
You remain silent when we are together
When I speak your name in sweestiest tone
Even when I say your name in a loving way
It's as though I'm all alone
I feel like I am by myself
I can't believe you love me
I find it hard to believe that you have feelings for me
I can't believe you love me
I cannot accept that you love me
I can't believe that you love me
I am unable to believe that you love me
I can't believe you love me
I find it hard to believe that you have feelings for me
I can't believe you love me
I cannot accept that you love me
I can't believe you love me
I am unable to believe that you love me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN GAYE, MARVIN P GAYE, ROBERT GORDY, THOMAS KEMP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scottrealmuto4784
A lost and found like none other! Great song! What a gem!
@johnrobinson4281
This sounds as good as it did back in the day
@lyndiablack9098
I was a teenager, having a very DIFFICULT time in life. I use to listen to music, to escape the ABUSE AND NEGLECT that I was enduring. This was one of my favorite songs.
@Stardust713-y6e
Hope you made it thru ok.❤
@GreenDot-dw4gr
Hearing this song takes me back to my childhood in the 60s when to me life was wholesome fun and like Stevie Wonder said with a Child's Heart 💞❤️ no worries Thank You Tammi Terrell for those memories RIP
@angelamorris6598
My favorite singer in the world when I was a kid she was my biggest inspiration for being smart in school , when I found out she was raised in philadelphia Pa. I was so proud.
@MrPeclo
R.I.P. Sweet Tammi Terrell.
1946. Death 16/03/70.
@chickable26rollerchick37
I LOVE THIS SONG TAMMI TERRELL AT HER BEST RIP TAMMI TERRELL YOU ARE GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.
@cleopatrabonz
I remember my mom bought this song when I was in elementary school..Motown didn't protect her..Marvin Gaye was so broken up by her death he stop singing for a few years..only 26 years old...terrible thing is James Brown beat on her and David Ruffin beat on her all the time too...her family only allowed Marvin Gaye at her funeral...he was never the same after her death..this is when he started spiraling downward,,
@Chanson60svinyl
She was 24 when she died