The Flying Machine is best known for its major hit single in 1969, "Smile A Little Smile For Me", which peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart (on Kapp Records' Congress record label) Their first record which was self titled was released by Janus Records in 1969. By 12 December that year they had sold a million copies of the record, and it was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. [1] The song was penned by the songwriting pairing of Tony Macaulay and Geoff Stephens. Despite originating from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, the record had no presence at all on the UK Singles Chart, despite its initial release there on Pye Records.
A follow-up single, a cover version of "Baby Make It Soon", first recorded by Marmalade, achieved the U.S. Hot 100 the following year, but the group reportedly grew frustrated with their pop-oriented style. A final single, "The Devil Has Possession Of Your Mind", suggested a change of direction, but the Flying Machine split up following its release.
Bassist Colman went on to a successful career as a session musician, record producer and BBC Radio disc jockey.
Band members
* Tony Newman (born 1947, Rugby, Warwickshire, England) - vocals, guitars
* Steve Jones (born 1946, Coventry) - guitars, vocals
* Sam Kempe (born 1946, Rugby) - vocals
* Stuart Colman (Ian Stuart Colman, Harrogate, Yorkshire, 19 December 1944 - 19 April 2018) - bass, electric piano
* Paul Wilkinson (born 1948, Coventry) – drums
* Edie Andrews (born 1945, Detroit, Michigan) - background vocals
Maybe We've Been Loving Too Long
The Flying Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But still I can't see
Where we're going wrong
Where we're going wrong (where we're going wrong)
Maybe I was wrong from the start
To even believe
That I had your heart
Didn't I give you every little thing girl
Wasn't I there when you used to ring girl
Didn't I make your little heart sing girl
Time and again (time and again)
Maybe we've been lovin' too long
But still I can't see
Where we're going wrong
Where we're going wrong (where we're going wrong)
We've been lovin' too long (too long)
Too long (too long)
Too long (too long)
Woooh
Didn't I always treat you just right girl
Didn't I take you out every night girl
As soon as our back was out of sight girl
You played around (you played around)
Maybe we've been lovin' too long
But still I can't see
Where we're going wrong
Where we're going wrong (where we're going wrong)
We've been lovin' too long (too long)
A too long (too long)
Too long (too long)
Woooh
Too long (too long)
Too long (too long)
Too long (too long)
Too long (too long)
Too long (too long)
Woooh
The Flying Machine's song "Maybe We've Been Loving Too Long" is a melancholic yet powerful drama of a failing relationship. The song is a poignant story of a love that has withered away, leaving the persons involved uncertain of what they are doing wrong but knowing that something is amiss. The song begins with the singer expressing his doubts that the relationship has gone on for too long, and he acknowledges that they might need to go separate ways. However, despite his disillusionment, he is unable to see where he has gone wrong. He asks his partner if he did everything he could to make her happy, stating that he was always there for her, gave her everything she wanted, and made her heart sing, but even so, their love could not survive.
The lyrics convey the complexity and the endless questions that arise in a long-term relationship. The song is a reflection of how love is never enough, and even the strongest relationships require more than just that to survive. It may be a situation where both the partners have lost interest or have stopped investing equally in their relationship. The song implies that this lack of mutual support develops misconceptions that tend to break a long-time partnership.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe we've been lovin' too long
Perhaps our love has been going on for too much time
But still I can't see
Nevertheless, I cannot perceive
Where we're going wrong
What is the aspect in which we are mistaken
Where we're going wrong (where we're going wrong)
What is the aspect in which we are mistaken (repeating)
Maybe I was wrong from the start
Possibly I was erroneous from the very beginning
To even believe
To trust or have faith in
That I had your heart
That your heart belonged to me
That I had your heart (that I had your heart)
That your heart belonged to me (repeating)
Didn't I give you every little thing girl
Did I not offer you every small thing, girl
Wasn't I there when you used to ring girl
Was I not present when you called, girl
Didn't I make your little heart sing girl
Did I not make your heart feel happy, girl
Time and again (time and again)
Many times (repeating)
We've been lovin' too long (too long)
Our love has been going on for an excessive amount of time
Too long (too long)
Excessively long (repeating)
Woooh
Vocalization (expression of emotion)
Didn't I always treat you just right girl
Did I not always treat you well, girl
Didn't I take you out every night girl
Did I not go out with you every night, girl
As soon as our back was out of sight girl
Right after we were not in sight, girl
You played around (you played around)
You fooled around (repeating)
A too long (too long)
An excessively long period (repeating)
Contributed by Oliver A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sumbi Sumbi
I've always wondered why this song never became a SUPER HIT?! It was one of the best B-side songs that should have been an A-side. Thanks for posting this, I thought I was the only one knowing this groovy track.
Doug Celeste
I agree with everything you said. I played this song much more than the "A" side on the 45 and yes, it should have been released as a single. What a shame and sadly, it was not even included on their first album that I have which disappointed me even more.
Joel Poitrax
This song had a huge impact on my life ,over and over on my turn table as kid,this still kicks asses almost 50 years later. Much better by far than the nowadays latest top 40's.
enoboye
First single I ever owned. Fabulous!!! Anyone wonder why I totally love Apples In Stereo, too?? Uh............gee.
Anthony S
wow..haven't heard this is 40+ years..great tune
Bjodi
YEEEEAAAAHHH!!!!! - finally i found m.w.b.l.t.l. on youtube :-))))) I've searched for so many years for it. I heard it the first time when I was a teenager. It's 20 years ago. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this song. It's one of the greatest songs in the world, but nobody knows m.w.b.l.t.l. -so sad! I've never heard it in the radio. And you're right: It's MUCH better than Smile A Little Smile For me!!!!! I hope someone will make a great remix someday. THANK YOU!!! :-)))
loralie59741
Once again the people who post here didn't disappoint! This is only the B side of Smile a Little Smile For Me, but I always like it a lot better than the other side. Can't tell you how glad I am to hear this one again. Thanks for the post.
SixTailights
This needs to be a hit
Ann Jacobs
Agreed this should have been a hit. I remember as a kid playing the wrong side of Smile a Little Smile and discovered this and it stayed in my head for over 40 years. I've turned a much younger generation onto the song and they agree it's a cool tune. steve J.
William
Ann Jacobs You should really stop letting your husband (i presume?) post comments on your youtube account. I've seen him post some very flirtatious and perverted comments towards women and girls. Just saying...