You're Throwing A Good Love Away
The Spinners Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You had your fill,
And now you′re on your way.
Searchin' for what,
Nobody knows.

You think you can go,
Just anywhere.
And toy with any willin′ soul.

You play with love,
As though it's a game.
Leavin' a string of broken hearts,
Heart beats stoppin′, oh, oh. (?)

But soon the day,
Will come and you′ll learn,
The love that you waste,
You're gonna need it,
Again and again and again.

(You′re throwing a good love away)

Oh baby,
You don't know it now,
You′re gonna know it someday,
You're throwing a good love away.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You don′t know it now,
You're gonna know it someday,

You led me to believe.
Walking together,
Down the aisle.

And now you're telling me,
It′s all a big mistake.
I′m not the apple
Of your eye.

Baby,
You play with love,
As though it's a game.
Leavin′ a string of broken hearts...
Now we're down the road,
But, don′t wanna love me...

But soon the day,
Will come and you'll learn,
The love that you waste,
You′re gonna need it,
Again and again and again.

(You're throwing a good love away)

Oh baby,
You don't know it now,
You′re gonna know it someday,
You′re throwing a good love away.

I'm a good man.
You don′t know it now,
But you'll know it someday,
You′re throwing a good love away.

You play with love,
As though it's a game.
Leaving a string of broken hearts...
Uh huh, mmm huh.

But soon the day,
Will come and then you′ll learn,
The love that you waste,
You're gonna need it,
Again and again and again.

(You're throwing a good love away)

Woah,
You don′t know it now,
But you′ll know it someday,
You're throwing a good love away.

Baby,
You don′t know it now,
Don't ya know it someday,
You′re throwing a good love away.

I know...
I'm gonna miss ya woman.
(You don′t know it now)
(But you'll know it someday)
Till your well runs dry,
Girl, you're gonna cry, one day.

Ahhh baby,
(You don′t know it now)
You know life is funny sometimes,
(But you′ll know it someday)
The same one that said 'I love you, ′
Can refuse ya,
Try to use you, sometime.

I gotta know,
Will you stick with me, baby?
Woah,
Hey, I know that you're a young girl.
Freedom′s new to your world,
But honey, you're throwing a good man down the drain...
A good man away... hey!

You don′t know it, baby.
(You're throwing a love man away)
(You don't know it now)
(But you′ll know it someday)
(You′re throwing a good love away)
(You don't know it now)
(But you′ll know it someday)
(You're throwing a good love away)
(You don′t know it now)
(But you'll know it someday)
(You′re throwing a good love away)

(You don't know it now)
(But you'll know it someday)
(You′re throwing a good love away)
(You don′t know it now)
(But you'll know it someday)
(You′re throwing a good love away)
(You don't know it now)
(But you′ll know it someday)
(You're throwing a good love away)

Yes, yes you are!
Yes you are!
Yes you are, baby!

You′re throwin' my love away!
Save it for a rainy day.
Ahhh,
I wonder...
I wonder...
If I showed you the way,
Would you love me today,
Somewhere in your future?

Ahhhh baby,
Ahh, yOu don't′ know,
YOu don′t' know,
YOu don′t' know,
No no no no no no, no.

I′m a good man.
I love you you, ahh ahh ahh.

Woah, I'm a good man,
Ask your friends.
You? see me when,
Walkin′ around?

Well I love you,
And I'll settle down.
Hey,
Ah, somewhere in the future,

Hey! Hey! Ey!
Yes you are!
Yes you are!
Yes you are!

Throwing our love away!
Don't want me around,
I′ve been a good man,
A good good good good man.

I′ll love ya,
Woah oh oh oh!
Baby, I'm your lover.
Nobody′ll

Oh baby,
I pray for you night and day.
Don't ever go away.

You′re a young girl,
And I my
And I know what I gotta do.

I-I-I love ya,
Ah...

[Skat]

[Backups till fade...]
(You don't know it now)




(But you′ll know it someday)
(You're throwing a good love away)

Overall Meaning

"You're Throwing A Good Love Away" by The Spinners is a song about a woman who is reckless with her love. The singer has had enough of her games and warns her that she's wasting her love and will eventually regret it. He starts off by saying that she had her fill and is now searching for something that nobody knows. He then accuses her of playing with love like it's a game and breaking the hearts of those who fall for her. He informs her that the day will come when she'll learn that the love she's wasting is something she'll need again and again, but she just throws it away.


The song continues with the singer pleading with the woman to realize that she's throwing away a good love. He reminisces about the times when they walked down the aisle and now she's telling him it was all a mistake. He reminds her that she's playing with love and leaving behind a string of broken hearts.


The song has a slow and soulful rhythm that emphasizes the lyrics. The choir-like harmonies between the lead and backup singers add depth to the song. The Spinners, a Detroit-based soul group, were known for their smooth, soulful harmonies and catchy tunes. The song was written by Van McCoy, a songwriter and producer who had a number of hits in the 60s and 70s, including "The Hustle."


Line by Line Meaning

You had your fill,
You have experienced enough of love.


And now you′re on your way.
You are leaving, exploring life.


Searchin' for what,
You are looking for something new.


Nobody knows.
However, you are clueless about what you are seeking.


You think you can go,
You believe you can travel anywhere.


Just anywhere.
You aimlessly wander without a destination.


And toy with any willin′ soul.
In the process, you play with the emotions of those who care about you.


You play with love,
For you, love is just a game.


As though it's a game.
You value love lightly and don't take it seriously.


Leavin' a string of broken hearts,
You hurt people who gave you love, leaving them heartbroken.


Heart beats stoppin′, oh, oh. (?),
Your actions cause people pain and heartbreak.


But soon the day,
However, eventually, there will come a time.


Will come and you′ll learn,
You will realize one day that.


The love that you waste,
The love you thought was expendable.


You're gonna need it,
You will understand that the love you threw away is valuable.


Again and again and again.
You will require love time and time again.


(You′re throwing a good love away)
You are letting go of valuable love.


Oh baby,
Oh dear.


You don't know it now,
Currently, you are oblivious to this realization.


You′re gonna know it someday,
In time, you will discover this truth.


Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Yes, certainly.


You don′t know it now,
Currently, you cannot fathom this truth.


You led me to believe.
At first, you made me think that you wanted to be with me.


Walking together,
We used to walk together.


Down the aisle.
We were once committed.


And now you're telling me,
But now you reveal to me that.


It′s all a big mistake.
It was all a momentary lapse in judgement.


I′m not the apple
I am not your preferred choice.


Of your eye.
Not the one who captured your fancy.


Baby,
My dear.


Leavin′ a string of broken hearts...
Just as you hurt me, you broke other hearts.


Now we're down the road,
Now that we are apart.


But, don′t wanna love me...
You don't want to love me anymore.


Will come and you'll learn,
But eventually, you will discover that.


You′re gonna need it,
You will come to need my love once again.


(You're throwing a good love away)
You are letting go of something valuable.


I'm a good man.
I am a good person.


But you'll know it someday,
You will realize that I'm a decent person someday.


Leaving a string of broken hearts...
As you leave me, you also left others hurt and heartbroken.


Uh huh, mmm huh.
An expression of acknowledgement.


Don't ya know it someday,
You will come to acknowledge.


I know...
I understand.


I'm gonna miss ya woman.
I will miss you, my dear.


(You don′t know it now)
Currently, you are unaware of this fact.


(But you'll know it someday)
In time, you will realize this fact.


Till your well runs dry,
Until you run out of resources.


Girl, you're gonna cry, one day.
You will feel the pain that you caused others someday.


Ahhh baby,
Oh dear.


You know life is funny sometimes,
Life can be unpredictable.


The same one that said 'I love you, ′
The person who once professed love.


Can refuse ya,
Can reject and abandon you.


Try to use you, sometime.
They may selfishly take advantage of you at times.


I gotta know,
I want to know.


Will you stick with me, baby?
Do you want to be with me?


Hey, I know that you're a young girl.
I understand that you are young and restless.


Freedom′s new to your world,
You are still discovering what it's like to be free.


But honey, you're throwing a good man down the drain...
But, you are getting rid of a decent person who cherishes you.


A good man away... hey!
A good man is going away.


(You don't know it, baby.)
You are unaware of this fact currently.


(You're throwing a love man away)
You are letting go of someone who loves you.


Yes, yes you are!
Yes, you are doing it.


Yes you are, baby!
You are, my dear.


You′re throwin' my love away!
You are letting go of my love.


Save it for a rainy day.
Keep my love for another day.


Ahhh, I wonder...
Thoughtful reflection.


If I showed you the way,
If I lead you down the right path,


Would you love me today,
Would you choose to be with me now,


Somewhere in your future?
At some point in your future.


Ahhhh baby,
Oh dear.


Ahh, yOu don′t′ know,
You are unaware.


YOu don′t' know,
You do not understand.


No no no no no no, no.
Emphasis on ignorance.


I′m a good man.
I am a decent person.


I love you you, ahh ahh ahh.
I love you deeply.


Woah, I'm a good man,
I am a decent person.


Ask your friends.
Confirm with your close circle.


You? see me when,
Do you witness me when,


Walkin′ around?
I go for a walk?


Well I love you,
I have love for you.


And I'll settle down.
And I'm ready to commit.


Hey,
Listen up!


Ah, somewhere in the future,
At some point in the future,


Hey! Hey! Ey!
Emphasis on hope.


Throwing our love away!
Disregarding and letting go of our love.


Don't want me around,
You don't want to be near me.


I′ve been a good man,
I have been an upstanding person.


A good good good good man.
Repeated emphasis on being a good person.


I′ll love ya,
I will continue to cherish you.


Woah oh oh oh!
Vocalization adds emphasis.


Baby, I'm your lover.
I am your significant other.


Nobody′ll
No one will.


I pray for you night and day.
I constantly wish you well, day and night.


Don't ever go away.
Never leave me.


You′re a young girl,
You are still youthful.


And I my
And I myself.


And I know what I gotta do.
I am aware of what I need to do.


I-I-I love ya,
Emphasis on loving you.


Ah...
Expression of affection.


[Skat]
Vocalization with no specific meaning.


[Backups till fade...]
Backup singing to end the song.




Writer(s): S. Marshall, T. Wortham

Contributed by Eliana M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@lindokuhlenxumalo7821

I love how we South Africans just come in and own the comment section as if these Golden Oldies were made right here at home , says something about our taste in Music .

@siphomakhanya2138

Profound analogy

@nathanhaynes7412

South Africa let my people go. U Africans, WE AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE SOUL MUSIC. WE WERE FORCED HERE 400 YEARS AGO. IF U SEE HOW I LOOK U WOULD THINK MY ASS WAS FROM LAGOS. HOLLA❤

@Puleinsouthafrica

Felipe Wayne, a true legend indeed. I just love the Spinners. their music is still been loved in South Africa.

@zodwareeby2835

Pules in iZulu they say "ezingasoze zabuna" this one is typical I'm telling you

@Puleinsouthafrica

@@zodwareeby2835 absolutely. A masterpiece

@jamestruter2788

Big up to you. Song makes me miss my uncle and dad. May they rest in peace. South Africa.

@karenwilliam5596

Beautiful you hear the gospel in this song.One of my favorite by him.A singing man!!!Rest his soul

@kevinhamlet6752

@Karen Williams. Phillipe was one of the best lead singer of a group of all time. Had the pleasure of seeing the Spinners twice back in their heyday

@ryoung1551

In my opinion, the Spinners were one of the best to come out of Detroit and Wynne could sing like no one else. I listen to their music almost daily. It is timeless.

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