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.
This Old Heart Of Mine
Tammi Terrell Lyrics
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Dizzy spells, I bite my fingernails
I don't think I'm gonna pull through
Everything depends on you
Only your love can save this poor heart of mine
Situation, desperate, honey, save this poor heart of mine
Oh dark days, empty nights
I don't know how long I'm gonna last
So come back baby, I'm sinking fast
Only your love can save this poor heart of mine
Situation, desperate, baby, save this poor heart of mine
Baby, you left me in a burning condition
And my love, to you, has become my affliction
Oh you know my need for you
Is oh so strong it's like fire set up in my bones
Only your love can save this poor heart of mine
Situation, desperate, baby, save this poor heart of mine
Oh I don't think I'm gonna pull through
Everything depends on you
Only your love can save this poor heart of mine
Situation, desperate, honey, save this poor heart of mine
Only your love can save this poor heart of mine
Situation, desperate, honey, save this poor heart of mine
The lyrics of "This Poor Heart of Mine" by Tammi Terrell is a song about a woman who is in desperate need of her lover's love. She suffers from heartburn, cold chills, and dizzy spells. She is biting her fingernails and fears that she won't be able to pull through. Tammi's voice really captures the desperation and longing in the lyrics.
The chorus of the song "Only your love can save this poor heart of mine, situation desperate, honey, save this poor heart of mine" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of her lover's love. The verses describe her feelings of loneliness and emptiness without her lover, and how she wants him to come back to her before she sinks too far.
The lyrics use vivid imagery to convey her physical and emotional pain. She compares her need for her lover's love to a fire setting up in her bones. The song is a beautiful example of Motown's soulful sound and Tammi Terrell's powerful vocals. It is a heartbreaking song that is relatable to many people who have experienced the agony of longing for someone who they cannot have.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh heartburn, cold chills
I'm experiencing physical symptoms of distress.
Dizzy spells, I bite my fingernails
I'm anxious and worried.
I don't think I'm gonna pull through
I'm afraid that I won't be able to survive this without you.
Everything depends on you
You are the only one who can help me through this tough time.
Only your love can save this poor heart of mine
Your love is the only thing that can make me feel better.
Situation, desperate, honey, save this poor heart of mine
I'm in a desperate situation and I need you to help me.
Oh dark days, empty nights
My days and nights are filled with emptiness without you.
Without your arms to hold me tight
I miss the way you used to hold me and make me feel safe.
I don't know how long I'm gonna last
I'm not sure how much longer I can endure this pain.
So come back baby, I'm sinking fast
Please come back to me quickly because I'm struggling to stay afloat.
Baby, you left me in a burning condition
You left me in a state of intense emotional pain.
And my love, to you, has become my affliction
Loving you has become my source of suffering.
Oh you know my need for you
I'm so deeply in love with you, it hurts.
Is oh so strong it's like fire set up in my bones
My need for you is so intense that it feels like it's consuming me from the inside out.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: NICKOLAS ASHFORD, VALERIE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind