Their cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" peaked at #84 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1988.
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
The California Raisins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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,
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 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.
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
Just to keep you from walking 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 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 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.
The California Raisins' song Ain't Too Proud To Beg is a soulful ballad about a man who is unwilling to let go of his lover. In the first verse, it is clear that the woman wants to leave him, yet he is desperate to keep her. He is willing to go to great lengths, even if it means begging for her sympathy. The chorus repeats the refrain "Ain't too proud to beg," as he pleads with her not to leave him. He doesn't care if he has to cry or weep to keep her by his side.
The second verse of the song reveals that the man is aware of the stigma around a man who cries, but he doesn't care about his pride anymore. He is willing to do anything to keep her, even if it means sleeping on her doorstep. He is willing to withstand the laughter of her friends just to keep her. The bridge of the song speaks about the love he has for her, which is growing more profound each day. He pleads with her, saying that he is not ashamed to call her and beg her not to leave.
The California Raisins' Ain't Too Proud To Beg is an incredibly emotional and moving song. It speaks to the lengths that some people will go for love, even if it means laying aside their pride. It is a classic soul ballad that remains relevant even today.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you wanna leave me,
I am aware of your desire to leave me
But I refuse to let you go,
But I will not permit you to leave
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy,
If I have to ask and implore you to stay with me
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me.
I am willing to do it because you mean so much to me
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
I am not ashamed to ask for your mercy, and you know it
Please don't leave me girl,
Please don't abandon me, my dear
Don't you go,
Don't depart from me
Now I've heard a cryin' man
They say a man who cries
Is half a man with no sense of pride,
Is lacking self-respect and dignity
But if I have to cry to keep you,
But if I must weep to retain you
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side.
I am willing to shed tears if it means you will stay with me
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
If it means sleeping by your doorstep day and night
Just to keep you from walking away,
To prevent you from leaving me
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand,
Let your friends mock us, I can endure it
'cause I wanna keep you any way I can.
Because I want to keep you in any way possible
Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart,
Now I possess a love that is so profound in my heart
And each day it grows more and more,
And every day it gets stronger
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby,
I am not embarrassed to call and implore you, my darling
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door.
As long as pleading will keep you from leaving me
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it,
I am not ashamed to implore and you are aware of it
Please don't leave me girl,
Please do not abandon me, my dear
Don't you go,
Don't depart from me
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby,
I am not ashamed to beg, my love
Please don't leave me, girl,
Please do not abandon me, my dear
Don't you go.
Don't depart from me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@grim1683
My favorite California Raisins song
@SamanthaPortUkulele
This is my favorite segment from the film. It's so ridiculous, I love it. And the song is excellent, of course.
@taurinecat
One of the defining albums of my childhood. And one of the coolest songs ever.
@victorialawrence505
I second that!
@tyorbs3680
taurinecat Wasn’t this already writing by the temptations
@v.dargain1678
The California bay area still has that huge fire . Making raisins everything . 2020 sucks .
@kerrygligorovic9758
I remember the The California Raisins Show as I watched in on Channel 4 in the beginning of the 90s when I was very young. I'm very happy 😊that the series is final released onto complete DVD collection at last many years ago and was able to get it so I can enjoy watching the episodes.
I still wished more of my 90s cartoons there were broadcast on channel 4 are finally released onto complete DVD at last like Biker Mice From Mars, Space Cats, Creepy Crawlers, Super Dave, Hammerman, and The Adventure of Hyperman🤞. Because like The California Raisins Show they're no longer broadcast on TV anymore.
@crashguy4196
Woooooooo!!!!!!! A cover of a song by the Tempatations!
@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357
I remember this movie and the Holidays one, being a child in the late 1980s and early 1990s. I still love this scene and this song! I am now age 31 going age 32 this year, memories of my childhood. Thank you for posting! :)
@blackamericanlesbianprofes4357
I had researched who is singing this, it was drummer Buddy Miles. What wonderful vocals!