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."
It's The Same Old Song
The Four Tops Lyrics
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But like a honey bee stings
You've gone and left my heart in pain
All you left is our favorite song
The one we danced to all night long
It used to bring sweet memories
Of a tender love that used to be
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Now it's the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
And it breaks me up to hear it
I, oh I
Sentimental fool, am I
To hear a old love song and wanna cry
But the melody keeps calling me
Reminding me how in love we used to be
Keep hearing the part that used to touch our heart
Saying together forever, breaking up never
(It's the same old song) Can't bear to hear it
(But with a different meaning since you been gone) Since you've been gone
But it's the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Precious memories keep a lingering on
Every time I hear our favorite song
Now you're gone, left this emptiness
I only reminisce the happiness we spent
We used to dance to the music (we used to dance to the music)
Make romance through the music (make romance through the music)
Now it's the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Now it's the same old song (same old song)
But with a different meaning since you been gone
I, oh I can't bear to hear it
It's the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Ooh, it breaks me up to hear it
It's the same old song but with a different meaning
The Four Tops' "It's The Same Old Song" is a song about the painful memories of a past love. The honey bee metaphor suggests the sweet memories of a past love that have suddenly turned into a painful sting. The singer expresses how an old love song that used to bring back happy memories now only serves to highlight the emptiness and pain of the present. The lyrics convey the sorrow and heartbreak felt from the loss of a relationship that once brought so much joy.
The repetition of the phrase "It's the same old song, but with a different meaning since you been gone" emphasizes the deep emotional impact that the end of a relationship can have on one's perception of the world around them. The singer longs for the past and the happiness that they once shared with their former lover, but now only hears the painful echoes of their memories.
Overall, the song portrays the frustration and sadness felt from clinging to the memories of a past love, and the difficulty in moving on and finding closure.
Line by Line Meaning
You're sweet as a honey bee
You used to be so loving and affectionate, just like a honey bee is known for producing sweet honey.
But like a honey bee stings
However, your actions hurt me deeply, just like a honey bee sting causes pain.
You've gone and left my heart in pain
You have left me feeling miserable and heartbroken.
All you left is our favorite song
The only thing left between us is the song that we used to love dancing to together.
The one we danced to all night long
The song that reminds me of the good times we shared dancing and being in love all night long.
It used to bring sweet memories
In the past, this song used to evoke happy and fond memories of our love.
Of a tender love that used to be
It reminds me of the gentle love we used to share with each other.
Now it's the same old song
However, now when I hear this song, it feels like a repetitive tune that has lost its charming appeal.
But with a different meaning since you been gone
The lyrics of the song may be the same, but it now has a different emotional effect on me since you left.
And it breaks me up to hear it
Listening to this song now brings me great sorrow and tears me apart.
I, oh I
This emotion is so intense that it is difficult for me to find the right words to express it.
Sentimental fool, am I
I realize that I am a hopeless romantic and a fool for still feeling attached to someone who left me in this state.
To hear a old love song and wanna cry
The nostalgia of this old love song makes me cry and feel emotional now that you are gone.
But the melody keeps calling me
Despite the bittersweet memories this song evokes, I keep returning to it time and time again because of its irresistible melody.
Reminding me how in love we used to be
The song serves as a reminder of how deeply in love we were in the past.
Keep hearing the part that used to touch our heart
I keep replaying the part of the song that used to touch both our hearts and remind us of our love.
Saying together forever, breaking up never
The lyrics of this part of the song speak of loyalty and everlasting love, which sadly did not last for us.
(It's the same old song) Can't bear to hear it
I struggle to listen to this song because of the pain and heartbreak it now represents.
(But with a different meaning since you been gone) Since you've been gone
Ever since you left, this song has taken on a new meaning for me, and I cannot escape the emotional attachment to our past love.
Precious memories keep a lingering on
Although our relationship is over, the memories of our love linger on in my mind and heart.
Every time I hear our favorite song
I cannot help but feel the weight of our past relationship every time I hear this song.
Now you're gone, left this emptiness
Your absence has left a gaping hole in my life, and I feel empty and unfulfilled without you.
I only reminisce the happiness we spent
All I have left now is memories of our once-happy relationship, and I cherish these memories dearly.
We used to dance to the music (we used to dance to the music)
Dancing together to this song was once a joyful and cherished memory for us both.
Make romance through the music (make romance through the music)
Our love was expressed passionately and intimately through our shared love of dancing to this song.
Ooh, it breaks me up to hear it
Despite the fond memories, hearing this song now only tears me apart emotionally.
It's the same old song but with a different meaning
This song that once brought us so much joy and romance now represents our failed relationship and heartbreak.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Edward Holland Jr., Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ronnieosullivan7928
Can't believe Duke Fakir is the only surviving original member at 86. RIP to all members. The Tops music will live on forever.
@robinwilson1433
I agree - love to hear their music again, thanks to the computer!
@seventy4jns855
And still performing - saw him last year in the U.K. , amazing to be in the presence of such an iconic band and in particular Duke .
@oooooo1535
I can't believe you still have one surviving brain cell left. RIP to common sense. There always one moron like you in every nostalgic post.
@janicelivett8892
They really were the Tops of Motown
@mecx7322
Long live Duke Fakir !
@mannyflores751
I've said it once and I'll say it again, Four Tops are The heart and soul of Motown (period).
@jonathanstrong4812
DITTO!
@mecx7322
Absolutely !!!
@returnofthebrotha
I don't know. I read that they were the only Motown act to come in with their own name and were an established act, while all others got their names changed so that Gordy could own their recordings, names, groups and everything.