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
You've Been Cheatin'
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That you've been cheating
Wishin' you I'd never met
'Cause you've been cheating
Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes
And from wrong you'll never be free
While you sit cryin', you've been lyin'
Yeah, you made me suspect and I know (who-who)
You don't want me (you don't want me)
Cookies crumble, and that's how it goes (who-who)
You don't want me (you don't want me)
Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes
And from wrong you'll never be free
While you sit cryin', you've been lyin'
You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me
Another lover you discover
Our love's gone and I don't know why
It's just as well, though at last I do know
All you said was just a lie
So I'm trying hard to forget
That you've been cheating
Wishin' you I'd never met
'Cause you've been cheating
Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes
And from wrong you'll never be free
While you sit cryin', you've been lyin'
You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me
Ooh, ooh, baby (you've been cheating)
You must not love me (you've been cheating)
You must not want me (you've been cheating)
You just don't care [Repeat until fade]
The Impressions' song "You've Been Cheatin" is a classic example of soul music that narrates the pain of infidelity. The song is about a man who knows that his lover has been cheating on him, but he is still trying hard to forget those painful memories. He wishes he could go back in time and never have met her. The song highlights the idea that a person's lies and infidelity can be seen in their eyes and that they will never be free from their wrongdoings.
The lyrics of the song express that the woman's cheating has deeply hurt the man. He knows that she is lying and crying, and that makes him feel even worse. He has become suspicious and has discovered that she has another lover. He feels that their love is gone, and everything she said was just a lie.
In the final verse of the song, he accepts the fact that the woman has been cheating on him and decides to move on. He acknowledges that she does not love him and does not care for him anymore.
Overall, the song is a heartbreaking story of a man who is betrayed by his lover. The melody, the harmonies, and the lyrics are so powerful that they can portray the pain of infidelity in the most beautiful way.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been trying hard to forget
I have been making an effort to allow myself to forget about you
That you've been cheating
That you have been unfaithful to me
Wishin' you I'd never met
Wishing that I had never met you at all
'Cause you've been cheating
Because you have been unfaithful
Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes
It's obvious that you are lying because it can be seen in your eyes
And from wrong you'll never be free
You will never be free from the consequences of doing wrong
While you sit cryin', you've been lyin'
As you sit and cry, it's clear that you have been lying
You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me
You have been unfaithful to me
Yeah, you made me suspect and I know (who-who)
You caused me to become suspicious, and I now know the truth
You don't want me (you don't want me)
You do not desire me in the same way that I do you
Cookies crumble, and that's how it goes (who-who)
Things fall apart, that's just how life is
Another lover you discover
You have found another lover
Our love's gone and I don't know why
Our love is over and I do not understand the reason why
It's just as well, though at last I do know
However, it is for the best as I now understand the truth
All you said was just a lie
Everything you told me was a falsehood
Ooh, ooh, baby (you've been cheating)
Oh, oh, baby, you have been unfaithful
You must not love me (you've been cheating)
You must not love me if you have cheated on me
You must not want me (you've been cheating)
You must not want me if you have cheated on me
You just don't care [Repeat until fade]
You simply do not care about me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gun Of A Preacher Man
You’ve Been Cheatin’
I'm trying hard to forget
That you've been cheating
Wishin' you I'd never met
'Cause you've been cheating
Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes
And from wrong you'll never be free
While you sit cryin', you've been lyin'
You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me
Yeah, you made me suspect and I know
You don't want me
Cookies crumble, and that's how it goes
You don't want me
Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes
And from wrong you'll never be free
While you sit cryin', you've been lyin'
You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me
Another lover you discover
Our love's gone and I don't know why
It's just as well though, at last I do know
All you said was just a lie
So I'm trying hard to forget
That you've been cheating
Wishin' you I'd never met
'Cause you've been cheating
Can't you know lies can be seen in your eyes
And from wrong you'll never be free
While you sit cryin', you've been lyin'
You've been cheatin', cheatin' on me
Ooh, ooh, baby (you've been cheating)
You must not love me (you've been cheating)
You must not want me (you've been cheating)
You just don't care...
Linda Dee
One of the Impressions greatest songs. A little different for them because of the fast tempo but still a masterpiece. One of the greatest "trios" to ever sing R&B. Never tire of hearing the wonderful music they made.
Archie S
what a tune , goosebumps every time..
catirerubio
When Curtis played, nobody sat down. You laughed, sometimes cried, but you never sat down. A genius.
Stephen C
Aw this is just fabulous. Mayfields falsetto at it's best on one my all time favourites .For god knows what reason I had not played this for so long until this clip brought it back to mind. Already made this day a good one so thanks for putting it up.
Sheven718
did you know lies could be seen in your eyes ? and from wrong you'll never be free, no use in crying, you been lying, you been cheating, cheating on me ! , what a banging tune ! another timeless classic from the impressions, had their singles back in the day and they still sound as fresh when i play them now as they did back then! regards dave
Sheven718
@Steven Stahl ???
Steven Stahl
On on on
my bed A to
fargeeks
Sheven718 holy moly
I just saw this comment just a split second before this lyric began to be sung
Ronald Robinson
Sheven718
Eric Langevin
September 2021
What a Group.
These guys were amazing.
The harmonies, lead vocals, soul, groove.
The Golden Era of Music.