Love Or Let Me Be Lonely
The Friends of Distinction Lyrics
Love me let me be lonely,
Part time love I can find any day.
So don't you defy mother nature's way, please
make it mine, a love for to stay
I can live without love,
If I wanted to in this lonely room.
But I don't want to so I leave it up to you
To wash away my gloom.
I, I can live without love,
But I don't want to so I leave it up to you
To wash away my gloom.
Do ooh. Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo doo doo doo.
Either you will or either you won't now.
It's up to you I've had my say.
So truly love, do love me completely.
Hey come on, come on come my way.
I can live without love,
If I wanted to in this lonely room.
But I don't want to so I leave it up to you
To wash away my gloom.
I, I can live without love,
If I wanted to in this lonely room.
But I don't want to so I leave it up to you
To wash away my gloom.
Do ooh. Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo doo doo doo,
Doo, doo, doo doo.
Ooh, yeah. My baby. Ooh ooh ooh yea,
ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma,
ma, ma, ma, ma, ma baby!
I can live without love,
If I wanted to in this lonely room.
But I don't want to so I leave it up to you
To wash away my gloom.
I, I can live without love,
If I wanted to in this lonely room.
But I don't want to so I leave it up to you
To wash away my gloom.
Do ooh. Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo doo doo doo,
Doo, doo, doo doo.
Love or let me be lonely.
Love, or let me be lonely.
(with ad lib to fade)
Love or let me be lonely
Love, or let me be loney
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Love Or Let Me Be Lonely - Digitally Mastered - May - June, 1988
One of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60s and early 70s, the Friends of Distinction are too often forgotten in retrospectives of that era, but their music has continued to live on. Formed by Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love in 1968, the group had a relatively short life in its original incarnation, but made some of the most memorable pop/soul music of all time.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. Read Full BioOne of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60s and early 70s, the Friends of Distinction are too often forgotten in retrospectives of that era, but their music has continued to live on. Formed by Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love in 1968, the group had a relatively short life in its original incarnation, but made some of the most memorable pop/soul music of all time.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. When that group split in 1966, members Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore went on to co-found the enormously successful Fifth Dimension and Elston started the Friends, whose sound was similar to, and often confused with, the Fifth Dimension -- both included tightly harmonizing men and women dressed in late 60s "hip" clothing -- though the Friends' music was generally more soulful.
The newly formed Friends of Distinction was managed by football great Jim Brown and signed with RCA Records. Hitting the popular music scene when Motown and Stax were dominating, the Friends arrived with a breezy California pop/soul sound. Great harmonies and crossover arrangements backed the individually strong lead vocals of the group members. Combined with top notch material (both originals and covers), the group, like the Fifth Dimension, sounded like a breath of fresh air on Pop radio in 1969.
Their first single, "Grazin' In the Grass," was a Elston-sung vocal remake of a Hugh Masekela instrumental cut, and hit the top 5 on both Pop and Soul charts in 1969. The group's follow-up, "Going In Circles," was a brilliant ballad that also charted high. Love took some time off to have a baby, and Charlene Gibson stepped in and sang lead on the group's third big hit, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely." She also sang on the wonderful album cut, "Crazy Mary."
The Friends were quite prolific from 1969-71, releasing 5 albums (a sixth appeared in 1973). They also released a number of great singles, including "Check It Out" (later remade by Tavares) and a terrific cover of Neil Sedaka's "Time Waits for No One." Their best cuts are excellently compiled in The Best of the Friends of Distinction, which was released in 1996.
As popular music changed in the mid-70s, the Friends' fortunes declined. Jessica Cleaves was featured with Earth Wind and Fire,first appearance on the"Last Days and Time" release. A grueling touring schedule and the lack of a hit for several years led the group to call it quits in 1975. Elston and Butler continued to write and perform for a few years, then ultimately went their separate ways, taking jobs outside of music.
Over the next two decades, there was a rediscovery of the great music that the Friends had made together, and their biggest hits were remade by several artists, with "Going In Circles" charting for the Gap Band and Luther Vandross and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" for pop artist Paul Davis. Most recently, "Grazin In the Grass" was released by Disney star Raven.
In 1990, Elston and Butler decided to bring the Friends back together. Tragically, Butler died (at Elston's side) before the group reunion could be realized. After Butler's death, Elston spent several years forming a new Friends group, ultimately bringing together Geno Henderson, Wendy Bruné and Berlando Drake to sing with Elston. That lineup currently tours and continues to entertain audiences nearly 40 years after the world first heard the Friends of Distinction.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. Read Full BioOne of the most likeable and vocally cohesive singing groups of the late 60s and early 70s, the Friends of Distinction are too often forgotten in retrospectives of that era, but their music has continued to live on. Formed by Harry Elston, Floyd Butler, Jessica Cleaves and Barbara Love in 1968, the group had a relatively short life in its original incarnation, but made some of the most memorable pop/soul music of all time.
Elston had been singing with the Hi-Fi's in the mid-60s, warming up for Ray Charles in tours across the country. When that group split in 1966, members Marilyn McCoo and Lamont McLemore went on to co-found the enormously successful Fifth Dimension and Elston started the Friends, whose sound was similar to, and often confused with, the Fifth Dimension -- both included tightly harmonizing men and women dressed in late 60s "hip" clothing -- though the Friends' music was generally more soulful.
The newly formed Friends of Distinction was managed by football great Jim Brown and signed with RCA Records. Hitting the popular music scene when Motown and Stax were dominating, the Friends arrived with a breezy California pop/soul sound. Great harmonies and crossover arrangements backed the individually strong lead vocals of the group members. Combined with top notch material (both originals and covers), the group, like the Fifth Dimension, sounded like a breath of fresh air on Pop radio in 1969.
Their first single, "Grazin' In the Grass," was a Elston-sung vocal remake of a Hugh Masekela instrumental cut, and hit the top 5 on both Pop and Soul charts in 1969. The group's follow-up, "Going In Circles," was a brilliant ballad that also charted high. Love took some time off to have a baby, and Charlene Gibson stepped in and sang lead on the group's third big hit, "Love or Let Me Be Lonely." She also sang on the wonderful album cut, "Crazy Mary."
The Friends were quite prolific from 1969-71, releasing 5 albums (a sixth appeared in 1973). They also released a number of great singles, including "Check It Out" (later remade by Tavares) and a terrific cover of Neil Sedaka's "Time Waits for No One." Their best cuts are excellently compiled in The Best of the Friends of Distinction, which was released in 1996.
As popular music changed in the mid-70s, the Friends' fortunes declined. Jessica Cleaves was featured with Earth Wind and Fire,first appearance on the"Last Days and Time" release. A grueling touring schedule and the lack of a hit for several years led the group to call it quits in 1975. Elston and Butler continued to write and perform for a few years, then ultimately went their separate ways, taking jobs outside of music.
Over the next two decades, there was a rediscovery of the great music that the Friends had made together, and their biggest hits were remade by several artists, with "Going In Circles" charting for the Gap Band and Luther Vandross and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely" for pop artist Paul Davis. Most recently, "Grazin In the Grass" was released by Disney star Raven.
In 1990, Elston and Butler decided to bring the Friends back together. Tragically, Butler died (at Elston's side) before the group reunion could be realized. After Butler's death, Elston spent several years forming a new Friends group, ultimately bringing together Geno Henderson, Wendy Bruné and Berlando Drake to sing with Elston. That lineup currently tours and continues to entertain audiences nearly 40 years after the world first heard the Friends of Distinction.
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swerzer
I was hoping this was going to be one of the songs you would do! Excellent job as always
Sandra Lawson
When I think of that song, I think of a Country Farm in South Central LA.
XCLent0
@mosogotam Hey man just checking on you. You haven't posted in 4 months. I hope all is well.
mosogotam
Swerzer....thanks!! It is a favorite. I appreciate it!
Lyndell Jones
Awesome song. The chorus, that bridge, and especially the conclusion!! Those instruments are hittin' it!! So soulful!!!
Brutha Dnubian
YESSSSS LAWD.
Kenneth Hayes
Great pick! Back to my early high schools days, BEFORE life got complicated!!!
mosogotam
Thanks, Kenneth!
DJ Moch
Love this Friends Of Distinction song, great extension (as always, my friend!)
Tim Slauter
Great bass work on this song! Thanks, John, for extending and improving many of these great old songs - maybe they will be more appreciated by younger generations who missed out on them earlier!