2) The Intruders is a former American soul music group most popular in the 1960s and 1970s. As one of the first groups to have hit songs under the direction of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, they had a major influence on the development of Philadelphia soul.
Formed around 1960, the group originally consisted of Sam "Little Sonny" Brown, Eugene "Bird" Daughtry, Phillip "Phil" Terry and Robert "Big Sonny" Edwards.[1] In 1969, Sam Brown was replaced as lead singer by Bobby Starr, only to rejoin the group in 1973.
In 1965, when songwriters and record producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff first contemplated leaving the Cameo-Parkway record label to risk launching their own label, the vocalists on which they pinned all their hopes and venture capital were The Intruders. Like many other subsequent acts the duo produced, which includes the popular Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes and The O'Jays, The Intruders had already developed a vocal sound that was both theirs and uniquely Philadelphian.
Brown, Daughtry, Terry and Edwards had been recording and performing one-off singles together since 1961, blending Philly's street corner doo-wop tradition with black gospel fervor. The result was neither as pop-infected as Motown, nor as funky and blues-inflected as Stax. The sound which The Intruders refined for the Excel, Gamble and Philadelphia International imprints reflected a different attitude than either Stax or Motown.
Gamble and Huff's success with The Intruders helped convince Columbia Records to grant them the money to launch Philadelphia International. Gamble and Huff acknowledged that their work with The Intruders was the very foundation of what they called "The Sound Of Philadelphia".
The Intruders, meanwhile, were undergoing some internal turmoil. When the group resurfaced on the 1970 Gamble LP, When We Get Married, lead singer Brown was replaced by nightclub singer, Bobby Starr (born Robert Ferguson). The title song, "When We Get Married" (R&B #8, Pop #45), a Dreamlovers cover, became a hit on the charts, as was the follow-up "(Win, Place Or Show) She's A Winner". Starr's tenure with the group was short-lived; Brown returned to the group in 1973 for the album Save The Children, which spawned The Intruders' last two big hits, "I'll Always Love My Mama" (R&B #6, Pop #36) and "I Wanna Know Your Name" (R&B #9, Pop #60).
"Cowboys To Girls" (R&B #1, Pop #6) remains the only chart topping single of their career. It was awarded an R.I.A.A. gold disc for one million sales in mid May 1968.[1] It was recently covered by the Hacienda Brothers. Other covers of their hit singles include Tiarra's cover of "Together", which was also done by Gladys Knight & The Pips on their Silk'N'Soul LP.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, in the West Coast, their music was popular among Latino, specifically Chicano, youth.[citation needed] Daughtry died of cancer in 1994, and Brown committed suicide in 1995. The Intruders continues to exist in 2 forms: The Philly Intruders, who appear on "the Big Show" DVD, and the Bobby Starr-led Intruders, who feature on the "My Music DVD hosted by Patti LaBelle on PBS.
Baseball Game
The Intruders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three strikes you're out
Up to bat
I thought I hit a love run
But to my surprise
I found I didn't hit none
She put me in a daze
Never knew that love
Could come so many ways
Strike one she took me by surprise
Strike two right in front of my eyes
Strike three oh, I was out without a doubt
Oh, I was out
Love is just like a baseball game
Three strikes you're out
Whether you win or lose
Love is just like a baseball game
Three strikes you're out
Everybody's got to pay some due
Oh, I'm up to bat
I'm gonna try love one more time
I really love this girl
And I'm gonna make her mine
I ain't never won
When I played a baseball game
Now it seems that love
And baseball are just the same
Strike one oh, she did it again
Strike two looks like I'm never gonna win
Strike three oh, I was out without a doubt
I was out
Love is just like a baseball game
Three strikes you're out
Whether you win or lose
Love is just like a baseball game
Three strikes you're out
Everybody's got to pay some due
You got to pay some due
Love is just like a baseball game
Three strikes you're out
Three strikes you're out whether you win or lose
Love is just like a baseball game
Three strikes you're out
Everybody's got to pay some due
Got to say it again
Love is just like a baseball game
Three strikes you're out
Three strikes you're out whether you win or lose
In "Baseball Game", The Intruders use a playful and catchy metaphor to liken love to a game of baseball. The three strikes rule in baseball is used to illustrate the idea that, just like in a game, you can only make so many mistakes in love before you're out. The song's lyrics describe the ups and downs of a romantic relationship, and the singer's attempts to make it work with his love interest. The first verse sets the scene, with the singer comparing his effort to win his love interest's affection to hitting a love run. However, he realizes that he’s not doing as well as he thought and got struck out. The second verse has a similar theme, with the singer vowing to try again to win his love interest's heart.
Throughout the song, the singer describes the different ways that love can make you feel, from being taken by surprise to getting thrown into a daze. The catchy chorus repeats the message that love is like a baseball game with the three strikes rule, emphasizing that everyone has to pay their dues in both love and baseball.
Overall, "Baseball Game" is a light-hearted and fun song that uses a relatable metaphor to explore the ups and downs of love and relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Love is just like a baseball game
Falling in love is similar to playing baseball
Three strikes you're out
If you make three mistakes, you're done
Up to bat
Trying to start a relationship
I thought I hit a love run
I thought I found true love
But to my surprise
I was wrong
I found I didn't hit none
I didn't find the love I was looking for
Threw her love so fast
She fell for me quickly
She put me in a daze
I was infatuated with her
Never knew that love
I didn't expect love
Could come so many ways
Love can manifest itself in different ways
Strike one she took me by surprise
She did something unexpected
Strike two right in front of my eyes
Another setback happened
Strike three oh, I was out without a doubt
I failed in my pursuit of love
Love is just like a baseball game
Falling in love is similar to playing baseball
Whether you win or lose
You might succeed or fail
Everybody's got to pay some due
Everyone has to put in effort
Oh, I'm up to bat
I'm trying again
I'm gonna try love one more time
I'm giving love another chance
I really love this girl
I truly care for her
And I'm gonna make her mine
I want to be in a relationship with her
I ain't never won
I've never been successful
When I played a baseball game
When I played a game
Now it seems that love
I see similarities between love and baseball
And baseball are just the same
They both involve taking risks
Strike one oh, she did it again
She hurt me once more
Strike two looks like I'm never gonna win
I'm not making progress in my pursuit of love
Strike three oh, I was out without a doubt
I failed to make a connection with her
Everybody's got to pay some due
No one gets a free pass in love
Got to say it again
Repeating the theme of the song
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jacques Mesrine
The Intruders, The Delfonics, The Monophonics.... Each and every single of their songs gives me the chills... Chills that no current music can bring me no more...
David Steele
This is one of those songs whose memory blesses me for all of these years and as long as I exist. These lyrics are about something meaningful. And, of course, these artists, The Intruders, sang this and so many other songs so soulfully. Gotta love it. %% Love is Like a Baseball Game ... Three Strikes Your Out ... Whether You Win or Lose... %%
Lynette Ford
I could not have put that, any better. It blesses you, when you hear it. I love this song, so much, Still have the 45. LOL
bumperin
Growing up in Houston, Texas, this song was very popular. The album "Cowboys to Girls" was great!
Zimbalist Davis
I feel you! I was in south park village going to Sterling!!
Corey Sheppard
I've always love this song. Cleverly written, played and sang.
debbiesdv1
Reminds me of summer of '68. I was 14 years old. Love the Intruders!
Pecoztube
So many "GREAT" groups came out of Philly... All of these groups touched our lives in a special way.
Dolores Jones
In Chicago we loved the philly groups they were right up there with Detroit's Motown. We'd ding all the songs love, love, love
,
Greg Rice
Gamble & Huff.... what a duo. These guys cranked out some awesome tunes. And Sonny was the "man" to follow it through.