The history of the group starts with the instrumental outfit, The Nite-Liters which had originally been formed in 1963 in Louisville, Kentucky by Tony Churchill and Harvey Fuqua, and featured, in its heydey, besides Churchill on tenor sax and vibes, Charlie Hearndon on guitar, James Baker on keyboards, Robin Russell on drums, Robert "Lurch" Jackson on trumpet, Austin Lander on baritone sax, Leroy Taylor on bass, and, later, Carl McDaniel on guitar. (Earlier members included Johnny Graham, later of Earth, Wind & Fire) and Jerry Bell. Under this name the group had a few hits before the formation of New Birth proper. In 1969, Vernon Bullock had thought of creating an ensemble of groups for a touring company, and Harvey Fuqua and Tony Churchill soon took an interest. After discovering a male vocal group, The Now Sound, which featured Bobby Downs, Ron Coleman, Gary Young and an individual known as "Slim," and a female vocal group, known as Mint Julip, which featured Londee Loren, Tanita Gaines, Janice Carter and Pam Swent, they brought them together with The Nite-Liters and additional vocalist, Alan Frye and called the newly formed ensemble New Birth. The band came together in 1970 with their self-titled debut on RCA. Their second album, Ain't No Big Thing, But It's Growing, yielded a minor hit with their cover of Perry Como's "It's Impossible", in 1971.
Later that year, Bullock discovered a group from Detroit, Michigan called Love, Peace & Happiness which featured former Marvelettes singer Ann Bogan and brothers Leslie and Melvin Wilson. Finding that they had the spark that was missing from the New Birth ensemble, he paired them with the Nite-Liters and original members of New Birth, Londee Loren, Bobby Downs and Alan Frye. In 1972, the reorganized group (as a seventeen-piece ensemble) hit the R&B top ten with their cover of Bobby Womack and The Valentinos' "I Can Understand It", which paved the way for the band's future success. By the time the song hit the stores, however, Ann left to devote time to her family, leaving Londee Loren as the sole female member. Due to a brief dispute with their management company, their next hit, "Until It's Time for You to Go" featured, instead of the group members, future Supremes member Susaye Greene as lead vocalist.
In 1974, the group issued their hit album, It's Been a Long Time, which spawned the hits including the title track and their cover of the psychedelic single "Wildflower", which became a top ten hit in the UK singles chart. After the release of their sixth RCA album, Comin' From All Ends, the group split from RCA, Fuqua and their management company and signed with Buddah.
New Birth's Buddah debut, Blind Baby, featured the group's only number-one R&B single, a cover of the Jerry Butler classic, "Dream Merchant". After the release of the 1977 album, Behold The Mighty Army, the Wilson brothers split from the group following in-fighting and growing tensions in the group.
The group returned in 1979 James Baker, Tony Chruchill and Austin Lander introduce Jerry Bell as their new lead vocalist with Platinum City and in 1982 with the I'm Back album. Leslie Wilson had left the group to replace Jeffrey Osborne in L.T.D.. Jerry Bell left the group in 1981 to become the lead vocalist for Motown's Dazz Band.
The Wilsons toured with a new ensemble as New Birth in 1994, and released a few albums under the new name in the decade since. Drummer Robin Russell released a solo CD entitled Drum Beats in 2004 and Jerry Bell re-recored there hit "It"s Been Such A Long Time" 2010 for Lotus Records/ Bunglo/ Universal Records Music Group.
Since the group's initial split, their songs have been covered from the likes of Jamie Foxx, who sampled their cover of "Wildflower" for his 2005 hit, "Unpredictable". R&B group Something for the People sampled their "It's Been a Long Time" for their 1996 hit, "My Love is the Shhh". Rap artist Lil' Wayne sampled "You Don't Have to Be Alone" from their self-titled album in his song "La La" and Jerry Bell "It"s Been Such A Long Time 2010.
Singer Gary Young died in 2018.
Discography
As The Nite-Liters
* Nite-Liters (RCA Records, 1970)
* Morning, Noon & the Nite-Liters (RCA, 1971) US #167, US Black Albums #31
* Instrumental Directions (RCA, 1972) US #198, US Black Albums #41
* Different Strokes (RCA, 1972)
* A-Nal-Y-Sis (RCA, 1973) US Black Albums #34
Love, Peace & Happiness-
* Love Is Stronger (RCA, 1971)
* Here 'Tis (RCA, 1972)
As New Birth
* The New Birth (RCA, 1971)
* Ain't No Big Thing, But It's Growing (RCA, 1971) US #189, US Black Albums #50
* Comin' Together (RCA, 1972) US Black Albums #40
* Birth Day (RCA, 1973) US #31, US Black Albums #1
* It's Been a Long Time (RCA, 1974) US #50, US Black Albums #7
* Comin' From All Ends (RCA, 1974) US #56, US Black Albums #20
* Blind Baby (Buddah Records, 1975) US #57, US Black Albums #17
* Love Potion (Warner Bros. Records, 1976) US #168, US Black Albums #22
* Behold the Mighty Army (Warner Bros. Records, 1977) US #164, US Black Albums #28
* Disco (RCA, 1977)
* Reincarnation (RCA, 1977)
* Platinum City (Capitol Records, 1979)
* I'm Back (1982)
* God's Children (PNEC Records, 1998)
* I Am Blessed (Trio Records, 2004)
* Lifetime (Orpheus Records, 2005)
[edit] Singles
Year Title Chart Positions
U.S. Pop Singles U.S. Black Singles
1971 "It's Impossible" 52 12
"K-Jee" 39 17
1972 "(We've Got to) Pull Together" - 27
"Afro-Strut" 49 24
"I Don't Want to Do Wrong" - 41
1973 "I Can Understand It" 35 4
"Until It's Time for You to Go" 97 21
1974 "I Wash My Hands of the Whole Damn Deal, Part I" 88 46
"It's Been a Long Time" 66 9
"Wildflower" 45 17
1975 "Comin' From All Ends" - 76
"Dream Merchant" 36 1
"Grandaddy (Part I)" 95 28
1976 "The Long and Winding Road"
Until It's Time For You To Go
The New Birth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah?
It's time.
I know. But it's been so nice.
Yeah, it has been groovy.
But there's something I have to tell you first
And it's a long story.
You're not an angel
You're a man
I'm not a queen
I'm a woman
Please take my hand
We'll make a space
In our lives that we planned
And here we'll stay
Yeah, here we'll stay
Until it's time for you to go
Yes, we're different, we're worlds apart
We're not the same
We laughed and play from the start
Just like you were in the game
You could have stayed
Outside my heart
But no, no, no, no, in you came
And here you'll stay
Yes, here you'll stay
Until it's time for you to go
(ooh ooh ooh ooh, oo-oo-oo-ooh)
(time to go)
Don't ask me why (ask me why)
Don't you dare don't ask me how
(don't ask me how)
Don't ask forever
Just love me, baby
Love me
Love me now
Ahhhh, this love of mine (love of mine)
(had no beginning, ooh ooh)
It has no end
I was an oak
Now I'm a willow (willow)
And you know, baby, I can bend
And though you'll never
Never, never, never, ever see me again
(never, never, never, never)
It's too late, baby
Yeah, it's too late
Too late, now
It's time for you to go, oh oh oh oh
And here, here
Here I'm gonna stay
Until it's time for you to go, oh oh
Go-o-o, ooh
It's too late, baby, yes
I hate to see you go, boy
Hey-ey-ey-ey
I know you have to go on
Stay, love
Just stay don't go
Please
Please, please, please
The New Birth's Until It's Time For You To Go is a heartwarming song that speaks about the timeless issue of love between two people who differ in their attributes and backgrounds, yet found love in each other's company. The song begins with a dialogue between two lovers as they realize that their time together is up, though it's hard to let go. However, there is something the singer wants to convey that is a "long story." The following lines imply that this story concerns an important revelation that the singer wants to make to the lover before departing, which perhaps speaks about the nature of his/her love.
The song then gets into its central lyrics, expressing the deep love that both partners share for each other. They acknowledge the differences in their identities - the lover is not a king or an angel or a queen, but a man and a woman, respectively - and accept it. However, they don't let these differences impede the love they share and instead promise to make space in their lives for each other, where they'll stay until it's time for the lover to go. The next verse further emphasizes the notion of differences between the lovers but notes that it does not matter as they had fun together from the start.
The lyrics that follow speak of the singer's individuality and how love transformed them into a new person. They use the analogy of a willow that can bend to refer to how love has made them flexible and opened up to their partner's influence. The final verse sees the singer acknowledge that their time together has come to an end, yet they want to hold on, to keep their love alive, asking the lover not to go and pleading with them to stay a little longer.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey? Honey?
The singer is trying to grab Honey's attention.
It's time.
It's time to have a conversation about something important.
I know. But it's been so nice.
The singer is reluctant to have the conversation because things have been going well so far.
Yeah, it has been groovy.
The artist agrees that things have been great.
But there's something I have to tell you first
The artist has something important to say before anything else.
And it's a long story.
The singer warns Honey that it may take a while to fully explain.
You're not a king
The singer is acknowledging that Honey is not perfect or infallible.
You're not an angel
The artist is acknowledging that Honey is not perfect or infallible.
You're a man
The artist is acknowledging that Honey is human, with flaws and limitations.
I'm not a queen
The artist is acknowledging that they are not perfect or without flaws.
I'm a woman
The singer is acknowledging that they are human, with flaws and limitations.
Please take my hand
The artist is asking Honey to be there for them.
We'll make a space
The singer is suggesting that they make room for each other in their lives.
In our lives that we planned
The singer is suggesting that they work together to make their lives fit together better.
And here we'll stay
The singer is suggesting that they stay together in this moment.
Yeah, here we'll stay
The artist is emphasizing that they should stay together.
Until it's time for you to go
The artist is acknowledging that Honey will have to leave at some point.
Yes, we're different, we're worlds apart
The singer is acknowledging that they have differences and may come from different backgrounds.
We're not the same
The singer is emphasizing that they are not identical and may have different preferences or needs.
We laughed and play from the start
The artist is recalling their early relationship and how they enjoyed each other's company.
Just like you were in the game
The artist is emphasizing that Honey was always there for them and supportive.
You could have stayed
The artist is acknowledging that Honey had a choice to leave or stay.
Outside my heart
The singer is suggesting that Honey had the option to not get involved with them on a deeper level.
But no, no, no, no, in you came
The artist is recalling how Honey chose to be there for them regardless of any struggles or issues they had.
Yes, here you'll stay
The singer is emphasizing that Honey has stayed with them for a while.
Until it's time for you to go
The singer is acknowledging again that Honey will have to leave at some point.
(ooh ooh ooh ooh, oo-oo-oo-ooh)
This is an instrumental portion with no explicit meaning.
(time to go)
The artist is reiterating that Honey will have to leave.
Don't ask me why (ask me why)
The artist is suggesting that Honey shouldn't ask why something is happening.
Don't you dare don't ask me how
The singer is emphasizing that they don't want to talk specifics about why Honey has to leave.
(don't ask me how)
This is a repetition of the previous line.
Don't ask forever
The artist is suggesting that Honey shouldn't expect to get answers or explanations for everything.
Just love me, baby
The artist is asking Honey to focus on loving them in the present moment.
Love me
The artist is reiterating their request for Honey to love them.
Love me now
The singer is emphasizing that Honey should focus on loving them in the present moment.
Ahhhh, this love of mine (love of mine)
The artist is recalling their feelings of love for Honey.
(had no beginning, ooh ooh)
The singer is suggesting that their love for Honey has always existed.
It has no end
The singer is suggesting that their love for Honey will always exist in some form.
I was an oak
The singer is using a metaphor to describe themselves as strong and inflexible.
Now I'm a willow (willow)
The artist is using a metaphor to describe themselves as more flexible and adaptable now.
And you know, baby, I can bend
The artist is suggesting that Honey has helped them become more flexible and adaptable.
And though you'll never
The singer is acknowledging that Honey will eventually have to leave them.
Never, never, never, never
The singer is emphasizing that Honey will never see them again.
It's too late, baby
The artist is acknowledging that it's too late to change the fact that Honey has to leave.
Yeah, it's too late
The artist is emphasizing that it's too late to change anything.
Too late, now
The artist is emphasizing that they should focus on the present moment instead of dwelling on the past or future.
It's time for you to go, oh oh oh oh
The singer is acknowledging that Honey has to leave.
And here, here
The artist is emphasizing that they will stay where they are.
Here I'm gonna stay
The singer is emphasizing that they want to stay where they are.
Until it's time for you to go, oh oh
The singer is acknowledging again that Honey will have to leave eventually.
Go-o-o, ooh
The singer is emphasizing that Honey will have to leave.
It's too late, baby, yes
The artist is acknowledging once again that Honey has to leave.
I hate to see you go, boy
The artist is expressing sadness about the fact that Honey has to leave.
Hey-ey-ey-ey
This is an instrumental portion with no explicit meaning.
I know you have to go on
The singer is acknowledging that Honey has to continue with their life.
Stay, love
The artist is asking Honey to stay with them for a little while longer.
Just stay don't go
The artist is asking Honey not to leave just yet.
Please
The artist is emphasizing their request for Honey to stay a little while longer.
Please, please, please
The singer is emphasizing their request for Honey to stay a little while longer.
Contributed by Nathan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.