The Box Tops were an American band of the 60s that combined soul and rock m… Read Full Bio ↴The Box Tops were an American band of the 60s that combined soul and rock music into a popular sound epitomized by their famous single "The Letter". The band was fronted by teenaged singer Alex Chilton, and for their studio recordings after "The Letter", consisted solely of Chilton and Memphis studio musicians. For live performances, Chilton was joined by Tom Boggs (drums), Rick Allen (bass), Gary Talley (guitar), and Bill Cunningham (organ). A popular original member before their first hit was Larry Spillman (drums). Spillman, who dated Cybil Shepherd during their high school years, left the band to to play college and pro baseball.

The band existed from 1967 to 1970, after which Chilton went on to lead the legendary Big Star.

The single "Neon Rainbow" was used in television adverts for the UK telecoms company, Talk Talk, in 2009/2010.

Soul Deep
The Box Tops Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Darlin' I don't know much
I know I love you so much
My life depends on your touch
And my love is a river running soul deep
Way down inside me, it's-a soul deep
It's too big to hide and it can't be denied
My love is a river running soul deep

I worked myself to death for ya
Just to show I adore ya
Nothing I wouldn't do for ya
'Cause my love is a river running soul deep
Way down inside me, it's-a soul deep
It's too big to hide and it can't be denied
My love is a river running soul deep, uh

All I ever am or hope to be
Depends on your love for me
Baby, believe me if you should leave me
I'd be nothing but a empty shell
I know darned well, I can tell, now

I don't know much
But I know I love you so much
My life depends on your touch
And my love is a river running soul deep
Way down inside me, it's-a soul deep
It's too big to hide and it can't be denied
My love is a river running soul deep

My love is a river running soul deep
Way down inside me, it's-a soul deep
My love is a river running soul deep
Way down inside me, it's-a soul deep

Well my love is a river running soul deep
Way down inside me, it's-a soul deep

Overall Meaning

The Box Tops' "Soul Deep" is a love song that speaks about the central role that love plays in the life of the singer. He doesn't claim to know much, but he knows that he loves his partner so much that his life depends on their touch. His love for his partner runs soul deep, and it is too big to hide or deny. The singer adds that he worked himself to death just to prove his love for the partner and that there is nothing he wouldn't do for them. The singer believes that everything he is or hopes to be depends on his partner's love for him, and if they ever leave him, he will be nothing more than an empty shell.

The lyrics, while simple, have a depth of emotion that makes the song relatable to anyone who has been in love. The use of the river as a metaphor to describe the singer's love makes the lyrics more vivid and powerful. The singer uses the repetition of the phrase "way down inside me, it's-a soul deep" to emphasize the depth of his love further. The song's slow tempo and the singer's emotional delivery add to the overall effect of the song and make it a classic love song that stands the test of time.

Line by Line Meaning

Darlin' I don't know much
I may not have much knowledge or experience, but one thing I do know is that I love you deeply

I know I love you so much
I am absolutely certain of my strong feelings for you

My life depends on your touch
Your presence and affection are critical to my happiness and well-being

And my love is a river running soul deep
My love for you is intense and profound, flowing deep within me like a river

Way down inside me, it's-a soul deep
My love for you is not just surface level, but rather deeply ingrained in my soul

It's too big to hide and it can't be denied
My love for you is too powerful and undeniable to be concealed or ignored

I worked myself to death for ya
I have gone to great lengths and put in a lot of effort to show how much I love and care for you

Just to show I adore ya
My actions and sacrifices are my way of expressing my strong affection and admiration for you

Nothing I wouldn't do for ya
I am willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy and feel loved

'Cause my love is a river running soul deep
My motivation for my actions and dedication to you is the deep love I feel inside

All I ever am or hope to be
My entire identity and aspirations are tied to my love for you

Depends on your love for me
Your love and affection are crucial to my sense of self and purpose

Baby, believe me if you should leave me
I cannot imagine my life without you, and losing you would be devastating

I'd be nothing but a empty shell
Without your love, I would feel hollow and incomplete

I know darned well, I can tell, now
My instincts and emotions make it clear to me that my love for you is true and deep

My love is a river running soul deep
My deep and sincere love for you is a core part of who I am

Well my love is a river running soul deep
Once again, my love for you is described as a powerful river that flows deep within me

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Wayne Carson Thompson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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