I Could Never Love Another
The Temptations Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Girl, I can't believe my ears
Are you really telling my goodbye?
See, you've taken away my reason for livin'
And you won't even tell me why
Before you walk out the door
There's something I want you to know

That I could never, ever love another, after loving you
Oh ho
No other love will I share 'cause none could compare
After loving you

It was only yesterday
Your words are still fresh in my mind
Baby, you said
Long as rivers flow
Each day you'd love me more
Now you want to leave me behind
Listen baby, I don't know what it's gonna take to make you stay
I just know I've got to find a way

'Cause I could never, never, never ever love another, after loving you
Oh ho
No other love will I share 'cause none, none could compare
After loving you

So baby, please stay beside me
I need your sweet love to guide me
Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Oh, after loving you

Baby, baby, baby
It was only, only, only, only yesterday
Your words are still fresh in my mind
I remember you said
Long as rivers flow
Each day you'd love me more
Now you want to leave, leave me behind
Listen baby, I don't know what it's gonna take to make you stay
I just know I've got to find a way

'Cause I could never
Never, never, never, ever love another, after loving you
Oh ho
No other love will I share 'cause none, none could compare
After loving you

Oh, baby
On my bended knees
I'm begging you to stay here with me
Oh, oh, baby, baby, baby, baby

I could never, never, never, never love another, after loving you
Oh ho
No other love will I share 'cause none could compare




After loving you
Baby, baby, baby, baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Temptations' song, "I Could Never Love Another", tell the story of a man pleading with his lover to stay with him. Unfortunately, she is leaving him without any explanation, and he cannot understand why. He expresses that she is his reason to live and that no other love could compare to the love he has for her. He reminisces about the promises she made to love him more each day, and begs her to stay. He says that he could never love another after loving her. He ends the song on bended knees, begging her to stay with him.


This song portrays the desperation and agony of one-sided love, where one person loves the other deeply, but the other person does not reciprocate the same emotions. It highlights the importance of effective communication in any relationship, as it could prevent misunderstandings and prevent unnecessary heartbreak. The song's lyrics are simple but powerful, eliciting strong emotions from the listener.


Line by Line Meaning

Girl, I can't believe my ears
The singer can't believe that the girl is saying goodbye


Are you really telling my goodbye?
The singer is confirming if the girl is really saying goodbye


See, you've taken away my reason for livin'
The girl leaving has left the singer without hope or purpose


And you won't even tell me why
The girl is not giving a reason for leaving


Before you walk out the door
The artist has something to say before the girl leaves


There's something I want you to know
The singer has something important to say


That I could never, ever love another, after loving you
The singer will never be able to love another person after loving the girl


No other love will I share 'cause none could compare
The artist will not share his love with anyone else because no one else can compare to the girl


It was only yesterday
It feels like just yesterday that the girl promised to love the artist forever


Your words are still fresh in my mind
The girl's words are still memorable to the artist


Now you want to leave me behind
The girl is leaving the singer


Listen baby, I don't know what it's gonna take to make you stay
The artist doesn't know how to make the girl stay


I just know I've got to find a way
The singer is determined to find a way to make the girl stay


'Cause I could never, never, never ever love another, after loving you
The singer reiterates that he will never be able to love anyone else after loving the girl


No other love will I share 'cause none, none could compare
The singer will not share his love with anyone else because no one else can compare to the girl


So baby, please stay beside me
The artist pleads for the girl to stay with him


I need your sweet love to guide me
The artist needs the girl's love to keep him strong


On my bended knees
The singer is begging the girl to stay with him


I'm begging you to stay here with me
The singer is pleading for the girl to stay by his side


Oh, baby, baby, baby, baby
The artist expresses his love for the girl




Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JR., SR., BARRETT STRONG, CARL CHRISTIANSEN, HELGA PENZABENE, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD, RODGER PENZABENE, RODGER, SR. PENZABENE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

sauquoit13456

On this day in 1968 {June 30th} "I Could Never Love Another" by the Temptations peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart...
It would be David Ruffin's last charted record as a member of the Temptations...
Sadly, the song's lyricist, Rodger Penzabene*, passed away at the young age of 23 on December 31st, 1967...
Between 1964 and 1975 the Detroit-super group had fifteen #1 records on the Hot R&B Singles chart, in addition, they also had seven records peak at position #2...
May both Mr. Ruffin {1941 – 1991} and Mr. Penzabene R.I.P.
* Rodger Penzabene also penned the Temps' #1 record "I Wish It Would Rain"...
And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the Hot R&B Singles' Top 10 on June 30th, 1968:
At #2. "Licking Stick" by James Brown and His Famous Flames
#3. "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles and Co.
#4. "Grazin' In The Grass" by Hugh Masekela
#5. "Think" by Aretha Franklin
#6. "Never Give You Up" by Jerry Butler
#7. "Here Comes The Judge" by Shorty Long
#8. "Lover's Holiday" by Peggy Scott and Jo Jo Benson
#9. "Yester Love" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
#10. "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell



All comments from YouTube:

Willie Purdom

There will never be another singing group like The Temptations. Their music is eternal.

JohnIrish

Well said

Melvin Pruitt

@Septia Woman .




.



...
.


.






.







..

.
. .











.
.








.


..
.





.






.
.

.
.




.





..




.
.



















.























.


.

..

Septia Woman

"Amen."

WackCity

Willie Purdom πŸ”₯πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Jason Heard

The Temptations had many signature songs with David Ruffin on lead but this one in my opinion is by far one of the best!!πŸ’―β€

Mary Jenkins

David MEANT every word in this song especially when he breaks it down at the end...."I could never love another lover" and "On my bended knees I am begging you please"...Now that is what you call sanging!!!

Mary Jenkins

@Joseph Alicea Thank you for the info. I do know that the gentleman who wrote "I Wish it Would Rain" committed suicide when the song was released.

Joseph Alicea

This song is a sequel to I wish it would rain written by another man . I don’t know his name by heart but look up the story .

Sarakiah Mebemeye

I can still remember my uncle and his group singing this song as a youngster, it still reaches your soul like it has
as though it was just produced today!! Nobody like the Temptations!!

More Comments

More Versions