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."
Still Water
The Four Tops Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take my hand
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
(Still water)
Still water
Ah, ah, ah
Never you mind if I
Don't tell strangers passing by
If I don't brag
If I don't brag or boast
Click my glass and say a toast
About my love for you
How it runs so deep and true
And yet it's so
'Cause don't you know, oh
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Walk with me
Take my hand
Still waters
Still water
Walk with me
Take my hand
Whoa, whoa, whoa now
Still waters run deep
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Whoa, whoa, whoa now
Still waters run deep
The Four Tops's song "Still Water" is about a deep and true love. The lyrics "never you mind if I don't tell strangers passing by" represent how the love between the two individuals is so private that they don't even feel the need to boast or brag about it. The line "click my glass and say a toast about my love for you" shows that even if they were to celebrate, it would be a private celebration for just the two of them. The repetition of "still water" represents how beneath the surface, their love and emotions run deep like still waters.
The chorus "still waters run deep" is a metaphor for how the love between the two individuals is profound and strong, like deep still waters that run in a quiet and calm way. The line "how it runs so deep and true" emphasizes the depth of their love, which is not superficial or fleeting, but rather genuine and long-lasting. The lyrics also suggest that their love is not easy to understand, as it is portrayed to be private and deeply personal. The song ends with the repetition of the chorus, "still waters run deep," which leaves the listener with the impression that true depth and profundity are to be found beneath the surface, both in love and in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Walk with me
Come with me, keep me company.
Take my hand
Hold onto me, trust me.
Oh, oh oh
Expressing strong emotion, excitement or enthusiasm.
Still water
Calm and peaceful body of water.
Ah, ah, ah
Pause before singing, typical of soul music.
Never you mind if I
Don't worry about me, don't pay attention to me.
Don't tell strangers passing by
I don't need to tell others about my love life.
If I don't brag
I'm not showing off, I'm not drawing attention to myself.
If I don't brag or boast
I'm not boasting or exaggerating about my love.
Click my glass and say a toast
Make a toast in honor of someone or something.
About my love for you
Celebrating the love that I have for you.
How it runs so deep and true
Expressing strong depth of feeling and sincerity.
And yet it's so
Despite appearances, my love for you is so true and deep.
'Cause don't you know, oh
Explain the reason behind the strong feelings that I have.
Still waters run deep
People who are calm and quiet on the surface often have a strong inner depth and complexity.
Oh, oh oh
Expressing strong emotion, excitement or enthusiasm.
Walk with me
Come with me, keep me company.
Take my hand
Hold onto me, trust me.
Whoa, whoa, whoa now
Expressing intense emotion, surprise or sudden change.
Still waters run deep
People who are calm and quiet on the surface often have a strong inner depth and complexity.
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Expressing exclamation or joy.
Whoa, whoa, whoa now
Expressing intense emotion, surprise or sudden change.
Still waters run deep
People who are calm and quiet on the surface often have a strong inner depth and complexity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Frank Edward Wilson, William Jr. Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@beautifulsClone
Walk with me
Take my hand
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Oh, oh oh
Still water
Ah, ah, ah
Never you mind if I
Don't tell strangers passing by
If I don't brag
If I don't brag or boast
Click my glass and say a toast
About my love for you
How it runs so deep and true
And yet it's so
'Cause don't you know, oh
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
@miamiwax5504
There will never be another era of music like this. Just wow..
@morrisparrish76
& never is a long time!
@gazrgazr2394
Too right, love this era.
Gaz UK.
@willaboyd8596
OH Yeah !!! A time of REAL Music and Real MEN!… those two went hand in hand for sure , if only I could go back in time to that music ERA!! Music had a meaning, Muscic had a Message, Music had a purpose!!! But those days are behind us now , and those DAYS are Forever GONE from are past🥲🥲🥲😭😭😰
@chully53
Absolutely 💯
@morrisparrish76
Nobody left the group
Nobody changed names
STUBBS-BENSON-FAKIR & PAYTON
@lencobb1177
One of the most atmospheric records ever made, melodic magic
@margiegreen5084
When I was 15 I listen to this song over and over again I loved it then, love it now, I'M 62 years old today in 2020 Amen
@shirleybutler2623
Happy Belated Birthday Margie wish you many more. I'm 64 yrs ode, I'm so happy that I grew up in such a wonderful era of beautiful music this kind of music never goes out of style Do you agree? Margie I will always have ode skool music in my blood 4EVER!!! can't have it no other way 4SURE!!! Real music with meaningful lyrics 4SURE!!! Still listenin how about August 06 2020 A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE GOOD ODE DAYS 4REAL!!!!!
@kerrazee
I was about the same age. I have to hear it everyday. I'm 64 now. It has helped me deal with cancer a couple times 🌺