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
Your Precious Love
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than any love could ever be
For when I wanted you
I was so lonely and blue
For That's what love will do
And darling, I'm so surprised
Oh, when I first realized
That you were fooling me
But I just want to tell them they don't know
For as long as you're in love with me
Our love will grow wider
Deeper than any sea
And of all the things that I want
In this whole wide world, is
Just for you to say that you'll be my girl
Wanting you, I'm so lonely and blue
That's what love will do
In this song, The Impressions sing about the importance of their lover's love, which they cherish more than any other love in the world. The singer notes that when they were feeling lonely and sad, the presence of their lover and their love for them made everything better. The singer also mentions that at one point, they thought their lover was unfaithful, but now they realize that their love is enduring and will only continue to grow stronger each day.
Throughout the song, the singer asks their lover to be theirs forever, emphasizing that they are the only one they ever want to be with. The lines "For as long as you're in love with me our love, / Will grow wider deeper than any sea" capture the depth of their emotions and the unyielding nature of their love for each other.
Overall, "Your Precious Love" is a beautiful testament to the power of love and the importance of being with the person you cherish most in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Your precious love means more to me than any love can ever do
I value your love more than any other love I have experienced
For when I wanted you,
When I desired your affection
I was so lonely and so blue,
I felt incredibly isolated and sad
'Cause that's what will do.
That's the result of unrequited love
And darling I,
Dearest, I
Oh when I first realized that you were fooling me
The moment I discovered that you were deceiving me
And darling, they say that our love wont grow,
People claim that our love will not prosper
I just want to tell them they don't know.
I disagree with them
For as long as you're in love with me our love,
As long as you continue to love me
Will grow wider deeper than any sea.
Our love will grow immeasurably
And all the things that I want in this whole wide world
Everything I desire in life
Is just for you to say you'll be my girl and
Is simply for you to agree to be my girlfriend
Ooh (Wanting) oh I'm lonely (You so lonely)
Expressing deep yearning and loneliness
And blue that's what love will do
That's the effect love can have on a person
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Brooks, Jerry Butler, Richard Brooks
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@garyj1709
One of the best all time do-wop songs ever! It brings back so many memories of slow dancing in high school. Wow!
@katherinegates1559
✌️🥰 Yes...Me too!! Those were the days of so much love in our hearts for one another... 💞 Wonderful times and the best era growing up as a young teenage.💞
@littiepowell1075
Love 💕 you gays
@apriljones2491
If only I could have experienced that, that era. I was born in the 80's 😢
@apriljones2491
Absolutely beautiful song
@conniewilliams2587
This song is still pretty this kind of music will never die
@williammccrary1881
Do-wop lives forever!
@cjtoolit4112
Anyone in 2023 listening to this ? Or just me
@anos60
🇧🇷 Eu ouvindo em 2023.
@marksheiman1538
On the 4th of July.