Undisputed Truth has always been regarded as some sort of forever-and-ever warm up band, and not as a real group. Even if Norman saved his goodies for The Temptations to record, it's not fair to put the Undisputed Truth off as guinea-pigs. All three members had voices that cannot be neglected. Calvin's and Joyce's harmonies were like two singing birds around Harris' great lead. In fact, Temptation's monster hit Papa Was A Rolling Stone was first recorded by the Undisputed Truth. But their version never reached the same commercial success as Temptation's Grammy award winning version.
Norman Whitfield was responsible for the radical change in The Temptations' sound. He brought in some adventure and innovation to Motown. The idea with the Undisputed Truth was problably to try out new stuff and experiment. At least you get this feeling when you look at the sleeves of Cosmic Truth and Higher Than High. The members of the group are not listed, only the studio musicians.
http://www.the-undisputed-truth.com
Down By The River
Undisputed Truth Lyrics
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There is no reason for you to hide
It's so hard for me staying here all alone
When you could be taking me for a ride.
Yeah, she could drag me over the rainbow, send me away
Down by the river I shot my baby
Down by the river,
You take my hand, I'll take your hand
Together we may get away
This much madness is too much sorrow
It's impossible to make it today.
Yeah, she could drag me over the rainbow, send me away
Down by the river I shot my baby
Down by the river,
Dead, oh, shot her dead.
Be on my side, I'll be on your side,
There is no reason for you to hide
It's so hard for me staying here all alone
When you could be taking me for a ride.
Yeah, she could drag me over the rainbow, send me away
Down by the river I shot my baby
Down by the river,
Dead, oh, shot her dead.
The lyrics to Undisputed Truth's song "Down by the River" are both haunting and introspective. The opening lines of the song suggest that the singer is trying to establish some sort of connection with another person, and they are willing to be supportive and understanding. However, the lyric that follows this seems to suggest that the singer is feeling lonely and neglected, perhaps because this other person is not reciprocating these feelings of attachment or intimacy. They long to be free from their mundane existence and be "taken for a ride" instead of being stuck in this state of isolation.
The chorus is where the tone of the song takes a sudden, dark shift. The line "Yeah, she could drag me over the rainbow, send me away" seems to indicate that the singer is experiencing deep emotional turmoil and is struggling to find a way to cope. This is further emphasized in the next line "Down by the river I shot my baby" which showcases that the characters are going through a difficult phase. The idea of shooting their baby creates an image of murder and intense emotions that the person in the song is going through. The phrase "down by the river" adds a sense of finality or closure to this tragic event.
The final verse returns to the opening words of the song, with the singer continuing to extend an offer of support and stability. However, the thought of what has transpired keeps bleeding through with the stark repetition of "Down by the river, dead, oh, shot her dead." The song’s lyrics are powerful, moving and tragic.
Line by Line Meaning
Be on my side, I'll be on your side, baby
Let's support each other and work as a team.
There is no reason for you to hide
You don't need to keep any secrets from me.
It's so hard for me staying here all alone
Being alone is difficult for me.
When you could be taking me for a ride.
I would rather spend time with you and have fun.
Yeah, she could drag me over the rainbow, send me away
I am willing to be led and follow my emotions.
Down by the river I shot my baby
I did something terrible, I killed someone I loved.
Down by the river,
The location where the tragic event occurred.
Dead, oh, shot her dead.
The person I killed is now dead and gone.
You take my hand, I'll take your hand
We should hold hands and stick together during trying times.
Together we may get away
We can escape our troubles and problems when we are together.
This much madness is too much sorrow
There is too much chaos in our lives which leads to sadness.
It's impossible to make it today.
The situation is too difficult for us to handle right now.
Contributed by Layla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.