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.
You Beat Me To The Punch
The Temptations Lyrics
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I wanted, to know your name but I was much too shy
I was looking at you so hard
Until you must have had a hunch
Baby, you beat me to the punch
You beat me to the punch
You beat me to the punch, baby
After, I had known you for what seems like a long, long time
I wanted, wanted to ask you would you please, please be mine
Whenever you came around, my heart would pound
So you must have had a hunch
So you came up to me and asked me to be yours
Baby, you beat me to the punch
Beat me to the punch
You beat me to the punch
Since I loved you, I thought you would be true
And love me tender, I let my heart surrender to you, yes I did
But I found out beyond a doubt one day girl
You were a play girl to walk away and leave me so blue
So I ain't gonna wait around for you to put me down
This time I'm gonna play my hunch
And walk away this very very day
And beat you to the punch
Baby, I'll beat you to the punch
Baby, I'll beat you to the punch
"You Beat Me To The Punch" by The Temptations tells a story of a shy guy who admires a girl from afar and desperately wants to get to know her. However, he's too afraid to make a move. One day, she approaches him first, and he's overjoyed. He falls in love with her and eventually asks her to be his. Unfortunately, after he surrenders his heart, he discovers that she's not faithful and decides to break up with her before she has a chance to hurt him anymore. In the end, he decides to beat her to the punch and leave her instead of waiting around to be hurt again.
The lyrics of "You Beat Me To The Punch" reveal the all-too-familiar phenomenon of being too hesitant to take risks in relationships, which could result in missed opportunities. The singer in the song spends too much time gazing at the object of his affection, not realizing that she might have been interested in him all along. However, in the end, he learns from his mistake and decides to take control of his future by leaving her before he gets hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
That day, I first saw you passing by
The singer recalls the day they first laid eyes on their love interest
I wanted, to know your name but I was much too shy
Although the singer desired to discover their love interest's name, they were too nervous to approach them
I was looking at you so hard
The singer was intensely gazing at their love interest
Until you must have had a hunch
The artist believes that their love interest noticed their prolonged stare
So you came up to me and asked me my name
The love interest took the initiative to approach the artist and inquire about their name
Baby, you beat me to the punch
The love interest beat the singer to the punch by initiating conversation
After, I had known you for what seems like a long, long time
The singer has spent significant time with their love interest after the initial encounter
I wanted, wanted to ask you would you please, please be mine
The artist desired to ask the love interest to be their significant other
Whenever you came around, my heart would pound
The artist's heart would race when their love interest was present
So you must have had a hunch
The artist believes that the love interest could sense their feelings
So you came up to me and asked me to be yours
The love interest asked the singer to be in a relationship with them
Baby, you beat me to the punch
Again, the love interest made the first move, beating the artist to the punch
Since I loved you, I thought you would be true
The singer assumed that their love interest would be faithful since they loved them
And love me tender, I let my heart surrender to you, yes I did
The singer was vulnerable and surrendered their heart to the love interest
But I found out beyond a doubt one day girl
The singer had a realization, confirming that their love interest was not as devoted as they had hoped
You were a play girl to walk away and leave me so blue
The love interest turned out to be a player, leaving the artist feeling sad and abandoned
So I ain't gonna wait around for you to put me down
The artist is no longer willing to wait for the love interest to hurt them
This time I'm gonna play my hunch
The singer will trust their instincts and make a move for themselves
And walk away this very very day
The singer intends to leave the relationship immediately
And beat you to the punch
The artist will beat the love interest to the punch, ending their relationship before they can cause more hurt
Baby, I'll beat you to the punch
The artist reiterates their intention to end things before the love interest can hurt them again
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ronald White, William Robinson Jr
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind