It was written by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, and reached number two on the Billboard R&B chart and number 13 on the Hot 100. The song is written in the first person, from the point of view of someone who has "laid such a tender trap" to catch a lover. Lead singer Wanda Young-Rogers (wife of Miracles member Bobby Rogers) talks about how she had been stalking her lover, having to learn his "ways and habits" so she could plan how to catch him. But "certain things rearrange" and she finds herself caught, presumably, in love with her 'game'.
Personnel:
Lead vocals by Wanda Young Rogers
Background vocals by Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, and The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
The Marvelettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sudden things rearrange, and this whole world seems like a new place
Oh yeah, secretly I been tailing you
Like a fox that prays on a rabbit
Had to get you and so I knew
I had to learn your ways and habits
Oh, you were the catch that I was after
But I looked up and I was in your arms and I knew that I was captured
What's this whole world comin' to
Things just ain't the same
Any time the hunter gets captured by the game
I had to lay such a tender trap
Hoping you might fall into it
Love hit me like a sudden slap
One kiss and then I knew it
Oh, my plans didn't work out like I thought
'Cause I had laid my trap for you but it seems like I got caught
What's this whole world comin' to
Things just ain't the same
Any time the hunter gets captured by the game
The Marvelettes' "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" is a song about an individual who has fallen in love unexpectedly. The song begins with the realization that the world is constantly changing, and things are never as they seem. The singer is in love with someone who they have been secretly following and trying to learn about. They are like a fox praying on a rabbit, trying to get close enough to capture their love interest. The hunter becomes the hunted as they fall in love and realize that they have been captured.
The song speaks to the unpredictability of love and how it can change the course of one's life. It highlights the importance of being open to the unexpected and how sometimes the best things in life happen when one least expects it. The song also speaks to the vulnerability that comes with being in love and how it can leave one feeling exposed and caught off guard.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game" paint a picture of a person who has fallen in love against their own will. They have laid out a plan to capture their love interest but instead find themselves the one who has been captured. It's a relatable story about the unpredictable nature of love and how it can change the course of one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyday brings change, and the world puts on a new face
With each day that passes, the world we know goes through changes and presents itself in a unique manner
Sudden things rearrange, and this whole world seems like a new place
Things can change instantly, and it can feel like the entire world has become unfamiliar
Oh yeah, secretly I been tailing you
I've been following you without your knowledge
Like a fox that prays on a rabbit
Similar to how a fox hunts rabbits, I've been tracking and pursuing you
Had to get you and so I knew
It was imperative that I capture you and I realized this
I had to learn your ways and habits
In order to capture you, I had to become familiar with your routines and behavior
Oh, you were the catch that I was after
You were the target of my pursuit and capture
But I looked up and I was in your arms and I knew that I was captured
Despite my intention to capture you, I found myself being caught by you instead
What's this whole world comin' to
The state of the world seems uncertain and unpredictable
Things just ain't the same
The way things were before is no longer the case
Any time the hunter gets captured by the game
Whenever the pursuer becomes the pursued, the world becomes a more uncertain and unfamiliar place
I had to lay such a tender trap
I carefully planned a trap that would be appealing to you
Hoping you might fall into it
I was anticipating that you would fall into my trap
Love hit me like a sudden slap
I was unexpectedly struck by love
One kiss and then I knew it
A single kiss was enough to make me realize my feelings for you
Oh, my plans didn't work out like I thought
My strategy to capture you did not go according to plan
'Cause I had laid my trap for you but it seems like I got caught
Although I had intended to capture you, I found myself falling into the trap of love instead
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind