Billy Gordon, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea and Billy Rollins founded a singing group called The Blenders in their native Detroit, Michigan in 1959. The group soon added Leroy Fair (in place of Billy Rollins), bass singer Hubert Johnson, and guitarist Huey Davis, and auditioned for Berry Gordy's Motown Records. Gordy turned the act down, prompting Johnson to call his cousin, R&B star and Gordy associate Jackie Wilson. Wilson in turn got The Contours a second audition with Gordy, at which they sang the same songs they had at the first audition, the same way, and were signed to the company.
The group's first singles, "Whole Lotta Woman" and "The Stretch", were unsuccessful, and the group was in danger of being let go. Also at this time, Leroy Fair was replaced with Sylvester Potts. In early 1962, Gordy had the Contours record "Do You Love Me", a composition originally meant for The Temptations. The resulting record, with its shouted lead vocals from Billy Gordon, became a number-two hit 1962.
In 1964, Billy Hoggs, Joe Billingslea, Hubert Johnson, and Sylvester Potts all quit the group. Berry Gordy hired Council Gay, Jerry Green and Alvin English to back Billy Gordon, making the Contours a quartet. Within a year, Sylvester Potts returned to the group (replacing Alvin English), but Billy Gordon departed at about the same time. Gordon was replaced by Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs. Stubbs soon quit the act and was replaced by Dennis Edwards.
During the mid-1960s, The Contours recorded several records which received R&B radio play (notably "First I Look At The Purse" and "Just a Little Misunderstanding"), but were considered secondary to Motown's major male vocal groups: The Temptations, the Four Tops, and The Miracles. The group's contract with Motown expired in 1967, and the Contours disbanded. Lead singer Dennis Edwards was recruited to replace the departed David Ruffin as lead singer of The Temptations. Edwards later became a solo hitsmaker as well.
After the group's demise, Joe Billingslea has reformed the Contours several times. Billingslea first resurrected the group in 1971, with himself, Council Gay, Arthur Hinson, Martin Upshire and C. Autry Hatcher as its members. By 1987, the lineup included Billingslea, Hinson, Darell Nunlee, Charles Davis, and Motown-era Contour Sylvester Potts. The same year, "Do You Love Me" was prominently featured in the film Dirty Dancing, which led to a revival of both the recording and the Contours touring career.
The Contours were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. The group is today a quartet led by Joe Billingslea, with fellow members Al Chisholm, Charles Davis, and Gary Grier. Former member Hubert Johnson committed suicide on July 11, 1981, and Huey Davis died February 23, 2000. Sylvester Potts died in January 2017.
Just A Little Misunderstanding
The Contours Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's a cold man to hurt his woman
And watch her walk away crying
When all along, he knows he's wrong
Being so hard on a woman who's trying
I was so unkind to hurt you so
I just gotta let you know that
Baby, I just can't let you go
I realize I hurt you so
Our love, surely can we mend it
It's just a little misunderstanding
I remember you said
You would always care
Until death should we do part
Baby, surely must be our destiny
To die the death of a broken heart
So before I go, a wandering rover
Let's get together
Talk this thing over now
Baby, I just can't let you go
I realize I hurt you so
Our love, surely can we mend it
It's just a little misunderstanding
That's all it is
If our love is so wrong?
It just seems wrong
That our love could never be
You could be anywhere
Baby, I wouldn't care
If I thought that you're leaving me
All the chains in the world
(Couldn't hold me, couldn't hold me)
Like the? our your love
(Controls me, controls me)
Baby, I just can't let you go
I realize I hurt you so
Our love, surely can we mend it
It's just a little misunderstanding
That's all it is
Baby, I just can't let you go (oh, yeah)
I realize I hurt you so (ooh, yeah)
Our love, surely can we mend it
(Surely we can we mend it)
It's just a little misunderstanding
Baby (baby)
I just can't let you go
The Contours' song "Just a Little Misunderstanding" is an apologetic plea from a man to his lover, asking for forgiveness and a chance to repair their relationship. The lyrics express regret for the hurt and pain he has caused, acknowledging that he was unkind and too hard on a woman who was trying her best. The man admits that he was wrong and that he wants to make things right, emphasizing that their love is worth fighting for despite any misunderstandings.
The song's tone is melancholic and introspective, yet hopeful. The man acknowledges that their love is not perfect and has been tested, but he believes that they can overcome any obstacles if they work things out. He expresses his willingness to compromise and suggests that they talk things over before he leaves. The lyrics also hint at the possibility of heartbreak if they cannot reconcile, leaving the listener with a sense of urgency to resolve the misunderstandings.
One interesting fact about "Just a Little Misunderstanding" is that it was written and produced by Motown's legendary songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland, who were responsible for many of the label's biggest hits. The song was released in 1966 and became a minor hit, peaking at number 85 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, the song's popularity grew over time, and it has since become a soul and Motown classic.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Just an opening line to the song.
It's a cold man to hurt his woman
It takes a cruel man to hurt his woman.
And watch her walk away crying
And to see her go away shedding tears.
When all along, he knows he's wrong
While he knows he did wrong all along.
Being so hard on a woman who's trying
It's unfair to be so tough on a woman who's doing her best.
I was so unkind to hurt you so
I was really cruel to cause you so much pain.
Going out of my mind
I'm going crazy over this.
I just gotta let you know that
I must tell you this.
Baby, I just can't let you go
I can't lose you, my love.
I realize I hurt you so
I'm aware I caused you harm.
Our love, surely can we mend it
Together, we can surely fix our love.
It's just a little misunderstanding
What happened is just a tiny mistake.
I remember you said
I recall what you told me.
You would always care
You'd always be there for me.
Until death should we do part
Till death parts us.
Baby, surely must be our destiny
It's our fate, my love.
To die the death of a broken heart
To suffer from a broken heart till we die.
So before I go, a wandering rover
Before I leave like a nomad.
Let's get together
Let's meet and talk.
Talk this thing over now
Let's discuss this now.
If our love is so wrong?
Is our love really wrong?
It just seems wrong
It just feels wrong.
That our love could never be
That our love can't be fixed.
You could be anywhere
Even if you're far away.
Baby, I wouldn't care
I wouldn't mind, my love.
All the chains in the world
(Couldn't hold me, couldn't hold me)
Like the? our your love
(Controls me, controls me)
Nothing in the world can keep me from my love, as our love controls me.
Baby (baby)
My love (my love)
Surely we can we mend it
We can fix it for sure.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MORRIS BROADNAX, STEVIE WONDER, CLARENCE PAUL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brennenlancashire2465
I absolutely love this song, it makes you want to get up and dance whenever you hear it 🎶 that’s why it’s now a Northern Soul dance Classic, I’m now 71yrs old and still Keeping The Faith 🤘🏼anyone else listening in 2023 😎👍🏻
@Rodin99
same age buddy...almost....and love this music and can't stand today's with few exceptions. good for you in the UK.
@gnomely1
@Teixeira25ify I'm knocking 76 and I remember when this was originally released in 1965. the B side was First I Look at the Purse, equally good. Keep the Faith.
@Rodin99
@gnomely1 first I Look....was known to me thru J Geils Band when I was in college.
@gnomely1
@Teixeira25ify I met J Geils in 1982 when his band was supporting the Stones at my local football stadium ,St James's Park in Newcastle. He hired a classic motor bike from a friend and gave us tickets for the show. Great result all round. It's good to have corresponded with you and I hope we're both around for a lot more years. My wife and I lived in N Carolina during the 70s, north of Fayetteville. Had a great time. Keep well and keep the faith.
@Rodin99
@gnomely1 Wow...thanks for the memories. and the nice thoughts.
@christinemcgough8111
One of the best songs to come out of the Motown stable .The contours were so under rated by the powers that be .Joe Billingslea voice was made for Motown songs .Love him .
@markus8696
If you are here it means you have impeccable taste for good music!
@paulnash7630
Greatest musical era ever, thank god we have YouTube to remind us all these great tunes.
@carrienixon6663
Still sounds good in 2022. Look at the young Dennis Edwards.