The Impressions were an American music group from Chicago, Illinois, active… Read Full Bio ↴The Impressions were an American music group from Chicago, Illinois, active from 1958 until 1983, whose repertoire included doo-wop, gospel, soul, and R&B.

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

Say You Love Me
The Impressions Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Just one moment, I like to be
Is for you to say to me
Say you love me, say you love me

Say you love me, say you love me

Just to see you, and to hear ya
Your voice alone

And with your company
Knowing that our love is strong
Just these few things, my dear
You don't know what they mean to me
For your precious love
It means everything to me

And darling, all of my life I've wanted this
All of my life, love and happiness
And then you came along
And made my loneliness disolve
And that's why I'm saying

And as long as you, as long as you
Say you love me, say you love me
Say that you love me, that you love me
I'll keep on singin'
(Keep on singin', keep on singin')
As long as you say you love me
I've got to just keep on singin' for ya, baby

Woo hoo, just say you love me
(Say you love me, say you love me)

Overall Meaning

The Impressions’s song ‘Say You Love Me’ is a beautiful love song with heartfelt lyrics that express the emotions of a person in love. The song starts with the singer expressing his desire to hear the words ‘say you love me’ from his beloved. The singer reiterates this desire throughout the song, emphasizing the importance of his beloved’s love to him. The words ‘say you love me’ are repeated multiple times in the song, emphasizing the depth of the singer’s emotions.

The lyrics of the song also express the singer’s love and admiration towards the person he is singing to. He says that just seeing her and hearing her voice is enough for him. He also expresses his joy in the knowledge that their love is strong. He goes on to say that her love is precious and means everything to him.

The song is a beautiful expression of love and the importance that it holds in people’s lives. The singer’s emotions are palpable throughout the song, making it an unforgettable performance.

Line by Line Meaning

Just one moment, I like to be
I wish to experience a fleeting moment of affection

Is for you to say to me
I desire you to express your feelings towards me

Say you love me, say you love me
Verbalize your love for me

Just to see you, and to hear ya
The mere sight and sound of you is all I crave

Your voice alone
The sound of your voice alone suffices

And with your company
Being in your presence is a joy

Knowing that our love is strong
Having the knowledge that our bond is unbreakable

Just these few things, my dear
These simple pleasures, my love

You don't know what they mean to me
You have no idea of their significance to me

For your precious love
I treasure your love

It means everything to me
Your love is my whole world