The song has been covered by a wide variety of artists since, including The Rolling Stones (in a highly successful single from their 1974 album 'It's Only Rock 'n' Roll'), Rick Astley, Willie Bobo, and many others. Considered an iconic part of the Motown canon, the tune has appeared in a wide variety of TV shows and films as well.
Ain't Too Proud To Beg
The Temptations Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I refuse to let you go
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Now I've heard a cryin' man is half a man
With no sense of pride
But if I have to cry to keep you, I don't mind weepin'
If it'll keep you by my side
Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darlin'
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
Just to keep you from walkin' away
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand
'Cause I wanna keep you any way I can
Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darlin'
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart
And each day it grows more and more
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Baby, baby, baby (sweet darlin')
Please don't leave me
In "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," The Temptations sing about their willingness to beg and plead with their significant other to stay in the relationship. The song is a plea to his girlfriend not to leave him, even if he has to embarrass himself by begging and pleading for her to stay. The lyrics demonstrate the depth of the singer's love and their willingness to go to great lengths to maintain the relationship.
The song's first verse makes it clear that the singer's girlfriend wants to leave him, but he refuses to let her go. In the second verse, the singer refers to the idea that a crying man is half a man with no sense of pride, but insists he will weep if it will keep her by his side. The third verse shows the desperation and willingness on the singer's part to go the extra mile to keep his lover; he would even sleep on her doorstep if it would make a difference. The last verse emphasizes the depth of the singer's love and his willingness to plead to keep her from walking out the door.
Line by Line Meaning
I know you wanna leave me
I understand that you want to end the relationship
But I refuse to let you go
However, I am determined to keep you in my life
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy
I am willing to beg and plead for your love and attention
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me
I am willing to put in effort because you are very important to me
Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
I am not too ashamed to plead for your affection
Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)
Please don't break up with me
Now I've heard a cryin' man
I have heard that a man who cries is considered weak
Is half a man with no sense of pride
He is seen as less of a man, lacking in dignity and self-respect
But if I have to cry to keep you
However, if crying will make you stay with me
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side
I am willing to cry if it means you will stay with me
If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
I am willing to sleep outside your door day and night
Just to keep you from walking away
If it means you won't leave me
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand
I don't care if your friends laugh at me
'Cause I wanna keep you any way I can
Because I want to keep you in my life by any means necessary
Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart
I have a very strong love for you that comes from deep within me
And each day it grows more and more
My love for you continues to strengthen with each passing day
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby
I am not embarrassed to call and beg you to stay with me
Baby, sweet darling (please don't go)
Oh darling, please don't leave me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind