Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
Stop! In the Name of Love
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Before you break my heart
Baby, baby
I'm aware of where you go
Each time you leave my door
I watch you walk down the street
Knowing your other love you'll meet
Leaving me alone and hurt
(Think it over) After I've been good to you?
(Think it over) After I've been sweet to you?
[Chorus]
Stop! In the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop! In the name of love
Before you break my heart
Think it over
Think it over
I've known of your
Your secluded nights
I've even seen her
Maybe once or twice
But is her sweet expression
Worth more than my love and affection?
But this time before you leave my arms
And rush of to her charms
(Think it over) Haven't I been good to you?
(Think it over) Haven't I been sweet to you?
[Chorus]
I've tried so hard, hard to be patient
Hoping you'd stop this infatuation
But each time you are together
I'm so afraid I'll be losing you forever
Stop! In the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop! In the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop! In the name of love
Before you break my heart
Baby, think it over
Think it over, baby
Oh, think it over, baby
The Hollies's Stop! In the Name of Love is a heart-wrenching plea from a lover to their partner, begging them to stop seeing someone else and to think about the love and affection that they already share. The underlying message in the song is about loyalty and the fear of losing someone you deeply care for to another, which is an issue in many relationships.
The opening lines set up the context of the song and the situation that our protagonist is facing - they are aware of their partner's infidelity and are watching them leave their home to meet their other lover. The chorus "Stop! In the name of love, before you break my heart" is a plea for mercy and a desperate attempt to hold on to the love that they have built together.
The second verse talks about how the singer has seen their partner with the other person, but they still believe that their own love and affection are worth more than anything else. The question "But is her sweet expression worth more than my love and affection?" is a heart-breaking moment in the song because it shows how much love and affection the singer has for their partner.
The third verse speaks about how the singer has been patient, hoping their partner would stop seeing the other person, but they keep meeting up despite the pain it causes. The song ends with a final plea to "think it over" and save their relationship before it's too late.
Overall, Stop! In the Name of Love is a masterful plea from one lover to another, highlighting the complexities of relationships and the pain caused by infidelity.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop! In the name of love
I'm begging you to stop doing what you're doing
Before you break my heart
I don't want my feelings to be hurt anymore
Baby, baby
I'm trying to get your attention
I'm aware of where you go
I know you're seeing someone else
Each time you leave my door
When you leave, I'm worried about what you're going to do
I watch you walk down the street
I see you leaving and I don't know how to stop you
Knowing your other love you'll meet
I know you're going to see the other woman
But this time before you run to her
Please stop and think about what you're doing
Leaving me alone and hurt
I don't want to be left alone again
(Think it over) After I've been good to you?
I have been kind to you, so why would you betray me?
(Think it over) After I've been sweet to you?
I have shown you love and affection, so why would you hurt me?
[Chorus]
Reiterating the plea for the person to stop their actions
I've known of your
I have been aware
Your secluded nights
I know you're spending time with the other woman
I've even seen her
I've caught glimpses of her with you
Maybe once or twice
I'm not exactly sure how often
But is her sweet expression
But is the other woman's kindness worth it?
Worth more than my love and affection?
Is she more important than me?
But this time before you leave my arms
Please don't leave me again
And rush of to her charms
Don't be too quick to fall under her spell
(Think it over) Haven't I been good to you?
I have been kind and caring to you, so why hurt me?
(Think it over) Haven't I been sweet to you?
I have loved and cared for you, so why betray me?
[Chorus]
Reiterating the plea for the person to stop their actions
I've tried so hard, hard to be patient
I've been trying my best to be understanding
Hoping you'd stop this infatuation
I was hoping you'd end this unhealthy relationship
But each time you are together
But every time I know you're with the other woman
I'm so afraid I'll be losing you forever
I'm worried that you'll choose her over me and our relationship will be over
Stop! In the name of love
I'm begging you to stop doing what you're doing
Before you break my heart
I don't want my feelings to be hurt anymore
Baby, think it over
Please take time to reflect on your actions
Think it over, baby
Please reconsider your actions, for the sake of our relationship
Oh, think it over, baby
Please reflect on what you're doing and how it's affecting us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
n00se
Oh baby I'm aware
Of where you go
Each time you leave my door
Watching you walking down the street
Knowing there's another guy you meet
This time before you run to him
Leaving me alone again
Think it over
Haven't I been good to you babe
Think it over
[Chorus:]
Stop in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop in the name of love
Before you tear it apart
I'm trying hard
Hard to be patient
Wish you'd stop
This infatuation
But each time I think of you together
I see myself losing you forever
This time before you leave my heart
And rush back into his arms
Think it over
Haven't I been good to you babe
Think it over
Haven't I been sweet to you baby
[Chorus 3x:]
Stop in the name of love
Before you break my heart
Stop in the name of love
Before you tear it apart
Deise Nascimento
Que som maravilhoso 😍😍😍😍. Eu ouvi isso ,na Antena 1, no domingo passado
DJ 57
Great song by a Great band, The Hollies we’re lucky to have a vocalist like Allan Clarke.
Paula Rodrigues
Que voz linda esse homem tem.
Deise Nascimento
Uma voz linda , que casou com essa guitarra fora de série
oughton oughton
WOW What a fantastic version of a most wonderful song ,,,i love these guys so much ,, what voices and harmonies they have ,,,,long live the 60s era We were their lol x
Jo Ann Kripper
Absolutely love the Hollies....great song..💝✌️
vagner fonseca
Não é surpresa pra ninguém, acabou a época de maravilhosas música, como essa da Banda The Hollies, como eu já havia citado anteriormente, aqui no Brasil nós tivemos época de ouro de música, quando antigamente as rádios só tocavam músicas internacionais, até nossos cantores da época mudavam seu nome artístico colocando nomes em inglês para a música pegar aqui no Brasil, tudo porque como havia falado, 80% das músicas aqui tocada eram internacionais, e essa época aqui pra nós, foi uma das melhores épocas musicais, época da rádio Mundial, Tamoio, Eldourado e outras, lembro do radialista da rádio Mundial o Nosso saudoso Big Boy, época dos Beatles, lindo demais, hoje só temos lixos musicais, Funk e Sertanejo, minha nossa como nós caímos musicalmente, você hoje assisti um cantor e cantoras sem qualidade musical nenhuma. PABLO VITTAR, ANITTA, LUDMILA, NEGO DO BOREL, E outras mais porcarias do Funk, no Sertanejo, Nossa Senhora, duplas Sertanejas, homens e mulheres, só lixo musical, e ainda tem pessoas que vão assistir isso. Me Poupem!!!!!!
Joaquim francisco de oliveira
the hollies... um vocalista excepcional como Alan Clark... com uma banda... com o ótimo batera Bob Elliot... e o excelente Tony Hicks nas guitarras... show de bola!!!!!
Roberto Bortolo
Esqueceu do grande guitarrista Grahan Nash
Augusto Carlos Da Silva
Verdade.