1. The Temptations … Read Full Bio ↴The Temptations may refer to at least two groups
1. The Temptations are an American Motown singing group whose repertoire has included doo-wop, soul, psychedelia, funk, disco, rnb, and adult contemporary. Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 as The Elgins. The group, known for its finely tuned choreography, distinct harmonies, and stylish suits, has been said to be as influential to soul as The Beatles are to rock. Having sold an estimated 22 million albums by 1982, The Temptations are one of the most successful groups in black music history and were the definitive male vocal group of the 1960s. In addition, they have the second-longest tenure on Motown (behind Stevie Wonder), as they were with the label for a total of 40 years: 16 years from 1961 to 1977, and 24 more from 1980 to 2004 (from 1977 to 1980, they were signed to Atlantic Records). As of 2005, The Temptations continue to perform for Universal Records with only one original member, founder Otis Williams, in its lineup.
Like its sister group The Supremes, The Temptations' lineup has changed frequently over the years. The original group included members of two local Detroit vocal groups: second tenor/baritone Otis Williams, first tenor Elbridge Bryant and bass Melvin Franklin from The Distants; and first tenor/falsetto Eddie Kendricks and second tenor/baritone Paul Williams (no relation to Otis) from The Primes. Among the most notable future Temptations were lead singers David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards (both of whom became successful Motown solo artists after leaving the group, as did Kendricks), Richard Street (another former Distant), Damon Harris, Ron Tyson, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Theo Peoples, and G.C. Cameron.
Over the course of their career, The Temptations have released four number-one pop hit singles and 14 number-one R&B hit singles, and their material has earned them three Grammy Awards. Most of the early Temptations hits, including "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "My Girl", and "Get Ready" were written and produced by Smokey Robinson and other members of The Miracles, while composer/producer Norman Whitfield and lyricists Eddie Holland and Barrett Strong crafted most of the group's later hits, including "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "I Wish It Would Rain", "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".
2. There was also a 50s doo-wop group from New York named the Temptations. They are best remembered for their 1960 top 40 hit "Barbara. After this hit, lead singer Neil Stevens went solo.
Keep Holding On
The Temptations Lyrics
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chorus 1:memories, memories/ sweet, sweet memories/ of days gone by/ that make me cry/ memories, memories, memories/ sweet memories/ that make me sad/ they take me back/ to you/ (memories, memories/ ah ah ah ah ah ah ah/ ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
verse 2: watching falling stars/ on the grass by my own car/ making love there in the dark/ thinking we're alone/ old man shined his light/ trying not to act suprised/ he left hard and all uptight/ told us to get on home
chorus 2:memories, memories/ sweet sweet memories/ of love we shared/ of love we shared/ memories memories/ sweet memories/ of love we shared/ we will never/ share them again/ (memories memories/ ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah/ ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
In the first verse of The Temptations's song Keep Holding On, the singer wishes he could go back in time to be close to his loved one once again. He imagines winding like a spiral through time, traveling back to a time when his body was next to hers, and they were both warm and satisfied. He longs to catch a night train to the past and hear her ask him to come inside. These lyrics express the desire to revisit the past when things were good, and the singer is clearly hoping that memories of happier times can help him hold on through difficult times.
The second verse deals with more specific memories. The singer recalls watching falling stars with his loved one, making love in the dark, feeling like they were alone in the world. Suddenly, an old man shines his light on them, and they try not to act surprised. The old man leaves, telling them to go home, and the singer is left with a bittersweet memory of a moment that can never be repeated. The chorus repeats the idea that memories are both sweet and sad, taking the singer back to the happy times when he was with his loved one, but reminding him that they will never share those moments again.
Overall, this song is about the power of memory, both to provide comfort and to cause pain. The singer wishes he could go back in time and be close to his loved one once again, but he knows that those moments are gone forever. The lyrics are wistful and nostalgic, with a hint of sadness that suggests that the singer is struggling to hold on through a tough time.
Line by Line Meaning
wish that i could wind/ like a spiral spare through time/ to your body next to mine/ warm and satisfied
I wish I could travel back in time and be with you, lying next to you, feeling warm and satisfied.
wish that i could catch/ a night train to the past/ climb aboard and hear you ask/ darling come inside
I wish I could catch a train to the past, hear you ask me to come inside, and be together again.
chorus 1: memories, memories/ sweet, sweet memories/ of days gone by/ that make me cry/ memories, memories, memories/ sweet memories/ that make me sad/ they take me back/ to you/ (memories, memories/ ah ah ah ah ah ah ah/ ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
These memories of you and our love from the past make me cry and feel sad, but at the same time they also take me back to you, reminding me of what we once had.
watching falling stars/ on the grass by my own car/ making love there in the dark/ thinking we're alone/ old man shined his light/ trying not to act suprised/ he left hard and all uptight/ told us to get on home
I remember the time when we watched falling stars while making love on the grass by my car, but an old man shined his light on us and told us to leave, making us feel embarrassed and ashamed.
chorus 2: memories, memories/ sweet sweet memories/ of love we shared/ of love we shared/ memories memories/ sweet memories/ of love we shared/ we will never/ share them again/ (memories memories/ ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah/ ba ba ba ba ba ba ba)
These memories of our shared love are sweet, but at the same time they make me sad because we will never be able to share them again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JR., BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, JR.
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