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.
What Now My Love
The Temptations Lyrics
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How can I live through another day
Watching my dreams turn into ashes
And my hopes into bits of clay
Once I could see, once I could feel
Now I am numb, so numb, I've become unreal
I walk the night, without a goal
What now my love, now that it's over
I feel the world closing in on me
Here come the stars, baby, tumbling around me
There's the sky, where the sea should be
What now my love, now that you're gone
I'd be a fool, I'd be a fool to go on and on and on and on
I know that no one would care, baby, no one would cry
If I should live or die, no one would care, if I should live or die, oh, oh
What now my love, now that there is nothing
Only my last, my last goodbye
What now my love, what now my love
What now my love
The lyrics of The Temptations' song "What Now My Love" convey the despair and heartbreak of a person whose lover has left. The singer is struggling to cope with the pain of loss, and is searching for meaning and purpose in life after being abandoned. The chorus "What now my love, now that you've left me" is repeated several times throughout the song, each time with increasing desperation and hopelessness.
The singer is haunted by the memories of their time with their lover, as they watch their dreams crumble and their hopes turn to dust. The lines "Once I could see, once I could feel, now I am numb, so numb, I've become unreal" suggest that the pain of the loss has left them emotionally numb and unable to connect with the world. The singer wanders aimlessly, stripped of their heart and soul, searching for direction and purpose.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges the futility of their existence without their lover. "I'd be a fool, I'd be a fool to go on and on and on and on, I know that no one would care, baby, no one would cry, if I should live or die, no one would care if I should live or die, oh, oh" conveys that they believe they have nothing left to live for and that they are alone in the world. The final lines "Only my last, my last goodbye, What now my love, what now my love" suggest that the singer has come to terms with the end of their relationship and is saying their final goodbye to their lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
What now my love, now that you've left me
The singer asks what he should do now that his love has left him.
How can I live through another day
The singer wonders how he can continue living without his love, as each day feels unbearable.
Watching my dreams turn into ashes
The singer feels hopeless as he watches his dreams fall apart.
And my hopes into bits of clay
The singer's hopes have been crushed, leaving him feeling empty and powerless.
Once I could see, once I could feel
The singer is reminiscing about a time where he was able to see and feel things deeply.
Now I am numb, so numb, I've become unreal
The singer feels numb and out of touch with reality since his heart has been broken.
I walk the night, without a goal
The singer now wanders through his days aimlessly, with no clear direction or purpose.
Stripped off my heart and my soul
The singer feels as though he has been completely stripped of his emotional core.
What now my love, now that it's over
The singer wonders what he is supposed to do now that the relationship is over.
I feel the world closing in on me
The singer feels as though the world is collapsing in on him, suffocating him with its weight.
Here come the stars, baby, tumbling around me
The singer feels disoriented and overwhelmed, as everything feels out of control.
There's the sky, where the sea should be
The singer's world feels turned upside down, as the sky and sea now seem to be in the wrong places.
What now my love, now that you're gone
The singer repeats his question about what to do now that his love has left him.
I'd be a fool, I'd be a fool to go on and on and on and on
The singer feels as though it would be foolish to try to continue living without his love.
I know that no one would care, baby, no one would cry
The singer feels as though he is alone and that no one would care if he lived or died.
If I should live or die, no one would care, if I should live or die, oh, oh
The singer repeats that he feels that no one would care about his fate, whether he lived or died.
What now my love, now that there is nothing
The singer feels as though he has nothing left without his love.
Only my last, my last goodbye
The singer feels as though all he has left to give is a final goodbye.
What now my love, what now my love
The singer repeats his question about what to do now that his love is gone, emphasizing his confusion and despair.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Carl Sigman, Gilbert Becaud, Pierre Delanoe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind