Check Yourself
The Temptations Lyrics
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By and by, you knew that you make me cry. (By and by, knew you'd make me cry)
And my love for you will never die. (My love will never, never die)
But I had to find out on my own.
(Check yourself, check yourself)
[Paul:]
I paid no mind. (Check yourself, check yourself)
I kept on breaking hearts, (Check yourself, check yourself)
All down the line. (Check yourself, check yourself)
Sometimes you just got to lose.
That's when you pay your dues.
I guess I was a fool, I guess I was a fool,
To think that... you'd stayed so true.
Aww, I really played in the game. (Check yourself, check yourself)
I'd always win. (Check yourself, check yourself)
Now the tables turn. (Check yourself, check yourself)
And I'm on the losing end. (Check yourself, check yourself)
Oh don't, feel sorry.
I had it coming, it's true.
'Cause I'm losing, yes, I'm losing, I'm losing you.
Before I go, I'd like for you to know.
You've had my heart from the very start.
But there's one more thing, before we part.
And that's I'm sorry, sorry, sorry to my heart.
Aww, I'm on my sad way. (Check yourself, check yourself)
Because I know I'd lost your love. (Check yourself, check yourself)
I'll kick it, like a pass. (Check yourself, check yourself)
But I'll be thinking of....
The good times. (The good times)
The bad times. (The bad times)
But good or bad, happy or sad,
Of memories. (Memories)
Sweet, sweet memories. (Memories)
Aww, memories... are all I have.
Aww, that's what they told me. (Check yourself, check yourself)
That's what they told me. (Check yourself, check yourself)
That's what they... what they told me. (Check yourself, check yourself)
Hmmm...
The Temptations' song Check Yourself tells the story of the regretful aftermath of a failed relationship. Otis and Melvin speak in the beginning of the song, expressing their disappointment in the person who hurt them. The lyrics then transition to Paul, who reflects on his own actions and how he blindly ignored advice and continued to break hearts. He acknowledges that he was a fool to believe that his partner would stay committed to him. The chorus, "check yourself," is a warning to listeners to examine their own behavior before it's too late. The song ends with Paul accepting the fact that he's lost his love and apologizing to his heart.
The lyrics to Check Yourself may have been inspired by the group's own personal experiences with failed relationships. However, the song has resonated with listeners over the years because it's a common human experience to look back on past mistakes and wonder what could have been done differently. The song has also been covered by other artists, including The Undisputed Truth.
Line by Line Meaning
By and by, you knew that you make me cry.
Eventually, you became aware that your actions were making me upset.
And my love for you will never die.
Despite the pain you've caused me, my love for you will never disappear.
But I had to find out on my own.
I needed to learn for myself the consequences of being with you.
Aww, that's what they told me. (Check yourself, check yourself)
Others warned me to reconsider my relationship, hence the advice to check myself.
I paid no mind. (Check yourself, check yourself)
I ignored the warnings from others because I was too caught up in my feelings.
I kept on breaking hearts, (Check yourself, check yourself)
Despite people telling me to be careful, I continued to hurt those I was with.
All down the line. (Check yourself, check yourself)
This pattern of behavior continued throughout all of my relationships.
Sometimes you just got to lose.
Losing something important can be a necessary wakeup call.
That's when you pay your dues.
Hardship can be an opportunity for growth and learning.
I guess I was a fool, I guess I was a fool, To think that... you'd stayed so true.
I realize now that I was naive to trust you completely.
Now the tables turn. (Check yourself, check yourself)
I'm experiencing the same pain I caused others, and must now check myself.
And I'm on the losing end. (Check yourself, check yourself)
I'm now the one being hurt in this relationship.
Oh don't, feel sorry. I had it coming, it's true.
I don't want your pity, because I understand that my actions led to this outcome.
'Cause I'm losing, yes, I'm losing, I'm losing you.
I'm losing you, and it's painful but I understand that this is the consequence of my actions.
Before I go, I'd like for you to know. You've had my heart from the very start.
Before we part, I want you to know that I loved you deeply from the beginning.
But there's one more thing, before we part. And that's I'm sorry, sorry, sorry to my heart.
I deeply regret the hurt I've caused myself and others in this relationship.
I'll kick it, like a pass. (Check yourself, check yourself)
I'll move on like a sports player bounces back from a missed opportunity, and check myself along the way.
But good or bad, happy or sad, Of memories. (Memories)
Regardless of the ups and downs, all I have now are memories of our time together.
Sweet, sweet memories. (Memories)
These memories are bittersweet, because they remind me of what I had and lost.
Aww, memories... are all I have.
Ultimately, all I'm left with are memories, and I must learn from my mistakes to make better choices in my future relationships.
That's what they... what they told me. (Check yourself, check yourself)
The song ends where it began - with advice to check oneself before making the same mistakes.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AL BRYANT, BERRY GORDY JR, BERRY JR GORDY, BRYANT AL, DAVID ENGLISH, OTIS C WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind