Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Temptations Lyrics


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I know you wanna leave me
But I refuse to let you go
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)

Now I've heard a cryin' man is half a man
With no sense of pride
But if I have to cry to keep you, I don't mind weepin'
If it'll keep you by my side

Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darlin'
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)

If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
Just to keep you from walkin' away
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand
'Cause I wanna keep you any way I can

Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darlin'
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)

Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart
And each day it grows more and more
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)





Baby, baby, baby (sweet darlin')
Please don't leave me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations speak of a deep desire to keep a loved one from leaving. The singer acknowledges that their partner wants to end the relationship, but they refuse to let them go. They are willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means begging and pleading for sympathy. The singer emphasizes that their love for this person is so significant that they don't mind going to such lengths.


The chorus repeats the phrase "Ain't too proud to beg" to highlight their willingness to do whatever it takes to keep their partner from leaving. They express their desperation by pleading with their partner not to go. This repetition emphasizes the singer's vulnerability and the intensity of their feelings.


The song challenges the notion that a crying man is seen as weak and lacking pride. The singer states that they have no problem crying if it means keeping their partner by their side. This further emphasizes the extent to which they are willing to go for love. They refuse to let societal expectations define their actions and are ready to show vulnerability if it maintains their connection.


The bridge of the song displays the singer's determination to prevent their partner from leaving. They are willing to endure any hardship, even sleeping on their doorstep, in order to stop them from walking away. They are prepared to face the judgment of others and endure ridicule if it means holding onto the one they love. The lyrics suggest that the singer's love for their partner is unwavering and they will do whatever it takes to keep them.


Overall, the song "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" conveys a heartfelt plea to a loved one not to leave. The lyrics depict a person who is not afraid to express their vulnerability and desperation, and who is willing to go to great lengths to keep their partner in their life. The song highlights the depth of their love and their refusal to let go, despite the potential consequences.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Edward Jr. Holland

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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