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 Loved And I Lost
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who had told you so?
It makes no difference
The whole world can know
I loved and I lost
It happens to the best
So I loved and I lost
She was so beautiful
Like flowers full bloom in May
Her kiss was like the rolling wind
It left me speechless with nothing to say, no no
I loved and I lost
The fire would not ignite
So I loved and I lost
And I wish her back with all my might
'cause she was so very good to me
I loved and I lost, baby
It happens to the best
So I loved and I lost
And I might as well confess
I loved and I lost, mmm mmm mmm
I loved and I lost, ooh
I loved and I lost
The Impressions' "I Loved And I Lost" is a song about the heartache of losing a love that was once so beautiful and promising. The lyrics speak to the universal experience of loving someone deeply, only to have it end in heartbreak. The opening lines, "What do you know about it? Who had told you so? It makes no difference, the whole world can know," suggest that the singer is resigned to the fact that their love has ended and they are now willing to share their pain with the world.
The lyrics then go on to describe the love that was lost: "She was so beautiful, like flowers full bloom in May. Her kiss was like the rolling wind, it left me speechless with nothing to say, no no." The imagery of the beautiful woman and the deep connection the singer felt with her is juxtaposed with the reality that the love was lost and the fire would not ignite.
The chorus, "I loved and I lost, it happens to the best. So I loved and I lost, and I might as well confess," is a sobering reminder that even the best of us can experience heartbreak and loss in love. The singer wishes desperately to have their love back, but knows that it is unlikely. The final lines of the song, "I loved and I lost, baby. It happens to the best. So I loved and I lost," are repeated several times over, driving home the message that heartbreak is a part of life, but it is possible to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you know about it?
What knowledge or information do you possess regarding this matter?
Who had told you so?
Who was the individual who informed you of this matter?
It makes no difference
It holds no significance or importance
The whole world can know
Everyone can have knowledge of the matter at hand
I loved and I lost
I experienced the feeling of love towards another, but it ultimately ended or wasn't reciprocated
It happens to the best
This type of experience is common even among the most exceptional individuals
And I might as well confess
I may as well admit or reveal my true feelings in this matter
She was so beautiful
She possessed an alluring physical appearance
Like flowers full bloom in May
She was comparable to the blossoming flowers during the month of May
Her kiss was like the rolling wind
The way she kissed was reminiscent of the movement of the wind
It left me speechless with nothing to say, no no
The experience of her kiss caused me to feel speechless and unable to express myself
The fire would not ignite
I was unable to spark or reignite the passion within the relationship
And I wish her back with all my might
I desire for her to return with all of my strength or energy
'cause she was so very good to me
Due to her excellent treatment towards me, I hold a positive perception of her
I loved and I lost, baby
I experienced the emotions of love and loss in regards to another, my dear
mmm mmm mmm
An expression of feelings without verbalizing them
ooh
An exclamation of surprise or emotion
Contributed by Cole E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keith Fuqua
on People Get Ready
Amen brothers. Get ready people