During their nineteen year run on the American music charts, The Miracles charted over fifty hits and recorded in the genres of doo wop, soul, disco, and R&B. Twenty-six Miracles songs reached the Top Ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including four R&B number ones. Sixteen of the Miracles' songs charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven songs charting within the Top Ten and two - 1970's "The Tears of a Clown" and 1975's "Love Machine" (Part 1) - reaching number-one.
Original members:
Ronald "Ronnie" White (1955–1978, 1980–1983, 1993–1995 (died 1995)
Warren "Pete" Moore (1955–1978) (died 2017)
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (1955–1972)
Claudette Robinson (1956 - 1972, 2005 -2011)
Marvin "Marv" Tarplin (1958 - 1973) (died 2011)
Speak Low
The Miracles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Our summer day withers away
Too soon, too soon.
Speak low when you speak, love,
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
We're swept apart too soon.
Love is a spark lost in the dark,
Too soon, too soon,
I feel wherever I go
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
And always too soon.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
We're late darling, we're late,
The curtain descends, ev'rything ends
Too soon, too soon,
I wait darling, I wait
Will you speak low to me,
Speak love to me and soon.
The Miracles's song Speak Low speaks to the fleeting nature of love and the impending end that often accompanies it. The lyrics urge the listener to speak quietly when expressing love, as the moments we have are swift and soon to be gone. The line "Our summer day withers away too soon" illustrates this idea, as we see the vibrancy and beauty of the summer season fade and disappear just as quickly as a love affair. The concept of time as a thief is also explored, as love, represented by "pure gold," is at risk of being stolen away before we even have time to comprehend its presence.
The lyrics also convey a sense of anticipation for what is to come. The repeated phrase "too soon, too soon" illustrates the fear that tomorrow may very well be near, and in the blink of an eye, it is already here. The listener is left to question when the end will arrive, and whether it will be an ending that is sweet or sorrowful. The final lines of the song emphasize the desire to hold onto the moments of love while they still exist, and the urgency to receive them before it is too late.
Line by Line Meaning
Speak low when you speak, love,
When you speak of your affection, let your tone be hushed and mild.
Our summer day withers away
Our time together is dwindling like a fading summer day.
Too soon, too soon.
Our time together is passing too quickly and ending too soon.
Our moment is swift, like ships adrift,
Our time together seems fleeting and aimless, like ships without a destination.
We're swept apart too soon.
We are going to be separated from each other too soon.
Speak low, darling speak low,
Talk softly, my love.
Love is a spark lost in the dark,
Love can be elusive and easily lost in the obscurity of life.
I feel wherever I go
No matter where I am, or what I do, I can't escape the feeling that time is running out.
That tomorrow is near, tomorrow is here
It feels like the future is already here and rapidly approaching.
And always too soon.
No matter how much time there may be, it never seems like it's enough.
Time is so old and love so brief,
Time is a long-established and dominating force, while love is fleeting and transient.
Love is pure gold and time a thief.
Love is precious, while time will always rob us of it too quickly.
We're late darling, we're late,
We are lacking time, my love.
The curtain descends, ev'rything ends
Just like a play that comes to an end, everything ends eventually.
Too soon, too soon,
It's happening too quickly, even though it shouldn't be this way.
I wait darling, I wait
I am waiting for you, my love.
Will you speak low to me,
Will you talk to me softly and tenderly?
Speak love to me and soon.
Tell me you love me, and do it soon before it's too late.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KURT WEILL, OGDEN NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bob
Wonderful version. The whole group was really quite good.
- Om
Masterpiece is the only way to describe this with the possible exception of Smokey's solo of this same song. GREAT
- Om
Too few people are up on this song, but it really is PURE GOLD. a MASTERPIECE COMMEMORATING A TIME THAT IS ENDLESS.
Jackie Burns
I used to practice this recording after finally managing to make a crude copy on a cassette tape from the dusty record radio show that I listened to back then. At one time I had it down pretty good. I can't sing but I appreciate the chance I got to try.
paris rain
Too few know of this jam; we're privileged people here. ~old but gold :)
smoothrage1
This is the version I grew up on...classic Smokey.
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