While "The Love You Save" is the least-known of the four Jackson 5 number-ones, it has one of the most distinctive melodies and is the most musically complex of the four singles. The song's lyrics feature Michael and Jermaine Jackson warning a "fast" girl to slow down and "stop!" because "the love you save may be your own!"
The opening exclamation of "stop" and the footstomps that complement the rhythm during the latter part of the song are allusions to the 1965 number-one Motown single by The Supremes, "Stop! In the Name of Love". The Jackson 5 essentially replaced The Supremes as Motown's main focus in the early 1970s, although Diana Ross, who left the group for a solo career not long before the release of this single, was publicized as having discovered the Jackson 5.
Like most of the other early Jackson 5 hits, "The Love You Save" was written and produced by The Corporation, a team composed of Motown chief Berry Gordy, Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell, and Deke Richards and recorded in Los Angeles, California, away from the old Motown studio at Hitsville USA in Detroit, Michigan.
One verse contains some rather smart lyrics. Michael mentions some boys who his girlfriend used to flirt with, but the names of the boys used within the verse together with the descriptions of what they did make it clear that they are in fact references to important inventors and discoverers. The references are to Isaac Newton, who is said to have discovered gravity while lying beneath an apple tree; to Benjamin Franklin, who discovered the use of electricity; to Alexander Graham Bell, who invented the telephone and to Christopher Columbus who, while travelling to India, discovered land way earlier than expected because he had landed in America instead of India,
The song ends with repitions of the lyrics sung by various members of the band.
"The Love You Save" was the second single from the second Jackson 5 album, ABC.
The Love You Save
The Jackson 5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stop, stop, stop, you'd better save it!
When we played tag in grade school
You wanted to be It.
But chasing boys was just a fad
You crossed your heart you'd quit.
Your promise for my ring
Now just like back to grade school
You're doing the same old thing!
Stop, the love you save may be your own!
Darling, take it slow
Or some day you'll be all alone.
You'd better stop, the love you save may be your own!
Darling, look both ways before you cross me
You're headed for the danger zone.
I'm the one who loves you!
I'm the one you need!
Those other guys will put you down
As soon as they succeed!
They'll ruin your reputation!
They'll label you a flirt!
The way they talk about you
They'll turn your name to dirt, oh!
Isaac said he kissed you
Beneath the apple tree
When Benji held your hand he felt
Electricity
When Alexander called you
He said he rang your chimes.
Christopher discovered
You're way ahead of your times!
Stop, the love you save may be your own!
Darling, take it slow
Or some day you'll be all alone.
You'd better stop, the love you save may be your own!
Darling, look both ways before you cross me
You're headed for a danger zone.
Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.
Slow down.
S is for "Save it"
T is for "Take it slow"
O is for "Oh, no!"
P is for "Please, please, don't go!"
The love you save may be your own
Some day you may be all alone
Stop it!
Save it, girl!
Baby, ooh!
You better stop, the love you save may be your own
Please, please
Or some day, some day baby,
You'll be all alone
I'm the one who loves you!
I'm the one you need!
Those other guys will put you down
As soon as they succeed. (Ah!)
Stop, the love you save may be your own, baby
You'd better stop it, stop it, stop it girl!
Or someday you'll be all alone.
The way they talk about you
They'll turn your name, turn your name to dirt.
Stop, he love you save may be your own!
Don't you know don't you know.
Some day baby you'll be all alone. (Wait a while)
Those other guys will put you down
As soon as they succeed.
Stop, the love you save may be your own!
The Jackson 5's "The Love You Save" is a song about a girl who compulsively chases after boys, just like she used to do when she played tag in grade school. The song warns her that she risks ruining her reputation and becoming lonely if she doesn't slow down and be more careful with her love. The lyrics reference several boys who have already fallen for her, including Isaac, Benji, Alexander, and Christopher. The song's chorus employs an acrostic device, spelling out the word "STOP" as an acronym for "Save it", "Take it slow", "Oh no", and "Please don't go".
The first verse of the song sets up the narrative, describing the girl's initial desire to chase after boys in grade school. The second verse shows how she has continued that pattern into adulthood, trading her promises of loyalty for a ring and still chasing after the boys who pay her attention. The chorus warns her that she needs to slow down and save her love for someone who truly deserves it, or else risk being alone in the end. The lyrics throughout the song are quite straightforward and use relatable metaphors like falling down a rabbit hole or getting stuck in a spider web.
Line by Line Meaning
Stop na na na, you'd better save it!
Stop what you're doing and think twice about your actions.
When we played tag in grade school, you wanted to be It.
You used to be playful and free-spirited.
But chasing boys was just a fad, you crossed your heart you'd quit.
You made a promise to yourself that you would stop engaging in fleeting romantic interests.
When we grew up you traded, your promise for my ring. Now just like back to grade school, you're doing the same old thing!
As you got older, you gave up on your promise and committed to a more permanent relationship, but you're still repeating past mistakes.
Stop, the love you save may be your own! Darling, take it slow, or some day you'll be all alone.
Be careful with love, as you could end up hurting yourself in the end. Take things slow and think about your actions.
You'd better stop, the love you save may be your own! Darling, look both ways before you cross me, you're headed for the danger zone.
If you don't change your ways, your actions will lead to danger and potential heartbreak.
I'm the one who loves you! I'm the one you need!
The singer is reminding their love interest who truly cares for them.
Those other guys will put you down, as soon as they succeed!
The artist warns their love interest about the intentions of other romantic interests, who will betray and disappoint them.
The way they talk about you, they'll turn your name to dirt, oh!
The artist warns their love interest that other romantic interests will tarnish their reputation and image.
S is for 'Save it', T is for 'Take it slow', O is for 'Oh, no!', P is for 'Please, please, don't go!'
The artist is urging their love interest to 'Save it' for a true, meaningful relationship, 'Take it slow', 'Oh, no!' to avoid heartache, and 'Please, please, don't go!' to stay committed to them.
Stop, the love you save may be your own, baby! You'd better stop it, stop it, stop it girl! Or someday you'll be all alone!
The singer is emphasizing the importance of maintaining a healthy and respectful relationship in order to avoid loneliness and heartbreak.
Don't you know, don't you know! Some day baby, you'll be all alone.
The artist warns their love interest that if they continue on their current path, they will end up alone and regretful.
Stop, the love you save may be your own!
The refrain of the song emphasizes that one must be careful with their love and actions, as it may lead to unintended consequences.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Perren, Alphonso Mizell, Deke Richards, Berry Gordy Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xscapemjlover9209
Michael Jackson is the greatest entertainer the world has ever seen
@annieray8964
Facts
@JohnnyAngel8
Ah, no.
@billiejeanies7041
PURRR
@r.o1449
@@iceychill2125 he didn't...
@iceychill2125
@@r.o1449 he did
@cdmbooks1493
There will never be another one like him. The great Michael Jackson.
@imetaboyiusedtoknow8308
The energy of this song still hits 50+ years later
@ign1096
Yea
@Gwen3344
@@ign1096 I was thinking and feeling the exact same thing!