The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.
Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.
Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)
Discography
Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire
As Long As You Love Me
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to see you
And to hear, your voice alone
And with your company,
Knowing that, our love is strong
Just these few things my dear
You don't what they mean to me
For your precious love
Ah ah ah hah hah hah
And darling, all my life I've wanted this
All of my life of, love and happiness
And then you came along
And made my loneliness a song
And that's why I'm singing
Ah ah ah hah hah hah
For as long as you, as long as you
As you love me (love me)
C'mon and love me (love me)
Want you to love me (love me)
That you love me
I'll keep on singing, ah ah ah ah ah ah
Keep on singing, ah ah ah ah ah ah
eh-ooh
woo woo woo woo woo
eh-ooh
The Impressions's song "As Long as You Love Me" is a love song that expresses the deep, emotional feelings that the singer has for their significant other. The song begins with the singer expressing their desire to see and hear their partner, emphasizing the importance of their company and the strength of their love. The singer goes on to explain that their partner's love is precious and means everything to them, highlighting the depth of their emotional connection.
As the song continues, the singer reflects on their past, expressing their longing for love and happiness prior to meeting their partner. The lyrics imply that the singer experienced loneliness in the absence of love and affection, but that their partner has provided them with a renewed sense of joy and fulfillment. The repetition of the phrase "ah ah ah hah hah hah" serves as a musical expression of the singer's feelings of joy and contentment.
Overall, the song conveys a message of the transformative power of love, as well as the importance of connection and companionship. The Impressions's smooth, soulful sound perfectly captures the emotional depth of the lyrics, making "As Long as You Love Me" a timeless classic that continues to resonate with audiences today.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah ah ah hah hah hah
The sound of joy and happiness filling me up.
Just to see you
The mere sight of you brings me happiness.
And to hear, your voice alone
The sound of your voice gives me comfort and joy.
And with your company,
Being with you makes me feel complete.
Knowing that, our love is strong
The strength of our love helps me feel secure and grounded.
Just these few things my dear
These small things may not seem important but they mean the world to me.
You don't what they mean to me
You may not realize how much these simple things mean to me.
For your precious love
Your love is valuable and important to me.
It means everything to me
Your love is the source of my happiness, joy, and contentment.
And darling, all my life I've wanted this
All my life, all I've ever wanted is to find someone to love.
All of my life of, love and happiness
All I've ever wanted is a life filled with love and happiness.
And then you came along
But then you came into my life.
And made my loneliness a song
You brought happiness and joy to the emptiness I felt.
And that's why I'm singing
This is why I'm filled with joy and singing.
For as long as you, as long as you
As long as you continue to love me,
As you love me (love me)
As long as you continue to show me your love and affection.
C'mon and love me (love me)
Please continue to love me.
Want you to love me (love me)
I want you to continue to love me.
That you love me
Knowing that you love me helps me feel happy and content.
I'll keep on singing, ah ah ah ah ah ah
As long as you love me, I'll keep on singing and being happy.
Keep on singing, ah ah ah ah ah ah
I'll keep on singing and being happy as long as I have your love.
eh-ooh
A joyful, exuberant sound indicating my happiness.
woo woo woo woo woo
Another joyful sound, expressing the happiness I feel.
eh-ooh
Another exuberant sound, conveying the joy I feel because of your love.
Contributed by Kaitlyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JJ G
I grew up listening, my mom was a fan. I’m in my sixties and it never gets old! 👏🏽
pat covington
Perfection!!!