Among a number of groups who helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960s, including The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Temptations and The Supremes, The Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. The group was the main male vocal group for the songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who crafted for the group a stream of popular hit singles, including two #1 hits: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There". After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson. When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to Los Angeles, California, the Tops stayed in Detroit and moved over to ABC Records, where they continued to have charting singles into the late-1970s. Since the 1980s, The Four Tops have recorded for, at various times, Motown, Casablanca Records, and Arista Records.
As an unofficial record, it is believed that The Four Tops were the band to continue performing the longest without a lineup change. Levi Stubbs, Abdul Fakir, Renaldo Benson and Lawrence Payton sang together as the Four Tops from 1954 until 1997, when Lawrence Payton died of cancer. That's an astonishing 43 years without a lineup change. The three surviving members continued to tour as "The Tops."
Baby I Need Your Lovin'
The Four Tops Lyrics
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(Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh, uh, uh)
(Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh, uh, uh)
Baby, I need your lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Although you're never near
Your voice I often hear
I long to hold you tight
'Cause I'm so lonely
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all you lovin'
Some say it's a sign of weakness
For a man to beg
Then weak I'd rather be
If it means having you to keep
'Cause lately I've been losing sleep
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all you lovin'
Empty nights echo your name
Whoa, sometimes I wonder
Will I ever be the same?
Oh yeah!
When you see me smiling, you know
Things have gotten worse
Any smile you might see
Has all been rehearsed
Darling, I can't go on without you
This emptiness won't let me live without you
This loneliness inside, darling
Makes me feel half alive
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
Baby, I need your lovin'
Got to have all your lovin'
The Four Topsโ โBaby I Need Your Lovingโ is a classic love song that speaks to the emptiness and loneliness that can come with being without the person you love. The song begins with the singer expressing his need and desire for his partner to be close to him. Even though she is not physically present, he still hears her voice and feels her absence. He longs to hold her tight and is filled with loneliness and longing when she is not there.
The chorus is a repetition of the title, where he declares that he needs her love and affection. He is unashamed to beg and admit that he is weak for her love; for him, having her is worth any weakness he may feel. He continues to detail how her absence affects him, how it keeps him up at night and echoes her name during empty nights. The singer then admits that his smiles are all fake, and there cannot be true happiness without his partner. He ends by once again stating that he cannot live without her and that his loneliness makes him feel only half alive.
Overall, the song shows a deep, passionate love that overcomes any sense of weakness or shame. It details the pain that comes with missing someone and the longing for their love and affection. The lyrics are emotional and heart-wrenching, expressing an authentic experience of love and loss.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, I need your lovin'
The singer expresses a desperate need for the love of someone who is not currently near.
Although you're never near
The person the singer needs is not physically present.
Your voice I often hear
Despite the physical distance, the singer can still hear the voice of the person they need.
Another day, 'nother night
The artist's need is constant and unrelenting, day and night.
I long to hold you tight
The artist craves physical intimacy with the one they need.
'Cause I'm so lonely
The singer's loneliness is the driving force behind their need for the other person.
Got to have all your lovin'
The singer cannot settle for anything less than the complete love of the other person.
Some say it's a sign of weakness
The artist acknowledges that society may view their need as a weakness.
For a man to beg
The specific societal expectation is that men should not beg for love.
Then weak I'd rather be
Despite the societal pressure, the artist would rather be seen as weak and get the love they need.
If it means having you to keep
The end goal of the singer's weakness is to be able to keep the person they need in their life.
'Cause lately I've been losing sleep
The artist's need for the other person is causing them to lose sleep and suffer.
Empty nights echo your name
The absence of the other person creates emptiness and reminds the singer of their need.
Whoa, sometimes I wonder
The singer experiences doubt and uncertainty about whether they will ever have the other person's love.
Will I ever be the same?
The singer questions whether they will ever be complete without the other person's love.
When you see me smiling, you know
The artist puts on a facade of happiness to hide their true pain.
Things have gotten worse
Behind the smile, the artist's situation has actually worsened.
Any smile you might see
Even if the singer appears happy, it is not genuine.
Has all been rehearsed
The singer has rehearsed their fake happiness to hide their pain.
Darling, I can't go on without you
The artist acknowledges that they cannot live without the love of the person they need.
This emptiness won't let me live without you
The artist's emptiness is so profound that they cannot imagine a life without the other person's love.
This loneliness inside, darling
The artist's loneliness is consuming them from the inside.
Makes me feel half alive
Without the other person's love, the singer feels incomplete and only halfway alive.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Jr. Holland, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jeanneward1567
This 70 year old white lady still tears up at this song! From the greatest summer of my life because of my first real love. Motown forever.
@derrickjackson1759
Preach sister from a 70 year old black
@debbyharrison9198
Omg,me too!!! I was in love with a guy named Darryโค๏ธ
@reverendhb3759
Iโm 70 too. Motown the happiest time of my life in high school with my football star boyfriend. It brings me right back
@lutherdaniels2575
This 62-year-old white man loves this music hell of a lot better than the black music today which I don't even call music but it's nice you found Love and I hope you're doing well now Merry Christmas to you and yours and a Happy New Year
@demh7823
I'm 43 and I absolutely ADORE Motown!
I wish I could travel back to the"Summer of Soul" and be with you.
@soundthatpleasesme
I'm 72 years old. At this time, in this world, the only redeeming value of the human race is music. This is one beautiful example.
@terryono-ss8he
same age as you ,they were great
@BillODriscoll-jo2ve
This song will be 60 years old in 2024
It was released in July 1964
The four tops were a fantastic legendary motown band ๐ ๐
@billd8838
Just as GREAT AS EVER