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
I'm A Telling You
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
I got up, I go to work
I try real hard to do my job.
But before the day is done
I find out I done something wrong.
(I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
Days are getting longer
And my nights are getting shorter
And my way gets softer
And my work gets harder.)
Now when I get home, the wife is mad
The little girl, she's feeling bad.
Little junior, he's got the blues
Says he needs a pair of baseball shoes.
Repeat chorus
Now in everything that I do
I'm trying to make one dream come true
And maybe someday, Lord I'll find
Satisfaction and peace of mind...whoa
Repeat chorus
Now.....hooom hooom fade out
In the song "I'm A Telling You" by The Impressions, the lyrics reflect the struggles and frustrations of the singer's daily life. The repetition of the phrase "I'm a-telling you" emphasizes the urgency and importance of the message the singer wants to convey.
The first verse expresses the singer's efforts to go to work and do a good job, but despite their best attempts, they often make mistakes and face the consequences. This can be seen as a metaphor for the challenges and setbacks one faces in life, where despite one's best efforts, things don't always go as planned.
The chorus highlights the increasing difficulties the singer faces, with days feeling longer and nights becoming shorter. This can be interpreted as a representation of the mounting pressures and stresses of everyday life, which gradually wear them down. The phrase "my way gets softer and my work gets harder" suggests that as time goes on, the singer's resolve weakens while their workload intensifies.
The second verse portrays the additional burdens awaiting the singer at home. The wife is angry, the daughter is upset, and even the son, Little Junior, is experiencing troubles. The mention of Little Junior needing baseball shoes can symbolize the singer's struggle to provide and meet the needs of their family, while feeling overwhelmed by their own challenges.
The repetition of the chorus throughout the song emphasizes the ongoing difficulties the singer faces, and their longing for something better. The concluding lines suggest that the singer's ultimate goal is to find satisfaction and peace of mind, implying that they are striving for a better future where their efforts pay off and they can find contentment.
Overall, "I'm A Telling You" portrays the universal struggles of daily life, capturing the frustration and challenges experienced by many individuals who strive to do their best but are often confronted with setbacks and hardships.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
I want to emphasize and convey my message to you
I got up, I go to work
I wake up every day and go to my job
I try real hard to do my job
I put in a lot of effort to fulfill my responsibilities
But before the day is done
However, by the end of the day
I find out I done something wrong.
I realize that I made a mistake or messed up
(I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
Again, I want to emphasize and convey my message to you
Days are getting longer
The days feel longer
And my nights are getting shorter
While my nights seem shorter
And my way gets softer
My path or journey becomes smoother
And my work gets harder.)
However, my work becomes more challenging
Now when I get home, the wife is mad
Upon arriving home, my wife is upset
The little girl, she's feeling bad.
My daughter is feeling upset or down
Little junior, he's got the blues
My son is feeling sad or low
Says he needs a pair of baseball shoes.
He expresses his desire for a pair of baseball shoes
Now in everything that I do
In every aspect of my life
I'm trying to make one dream come true
I am striving to achieve a particular aspiration
And maybe someday, Lord I'll find
And perhaps one day, I will discover
Satisfaction and peace of mind...whoa
Fulfillment and tranquility for myself
Now.....hooom hooom fade out
Now, as the song fades out with vocal sounds
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAYFIELD, J. BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keith Fuqua
on People Get Ready
Amen brothers. Get ready people