He started his career as a gospel singer touring Texas with The Spiritual Five in the 1950's but started gigging solo in Dallas in local R&B clubs with the bands of Big Bo Thomas and Frank Shelton. By the mid 60's he was recording soulful rock n roll with an emphasis on bluesy balladry. Z.Z Hill's style is somewhat reminiscent of other southern blues & soul singers like Percy Sledge, Bobby Bland and his biggest influence B.B King, which is supposedly where he got the idea to shorten his name to Z.Z.
He started hitting his commercial stride with early 70's hits including Chokin' Kind, Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes, and Faithful and True. While signed to Columbia, "Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It," spent 18 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart in the summer of 1977. Cheatin' In The Next Room was released in early 1982 and broke into the top 20 nationally, spending a total of 20 weeks on the charts.
His song Down Home Blues helped propel a 1982 album of the same name to stay on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years. Songs like "Someone Else Is Steppin In" and "Open House" have become R&B/Southern soul standards. During his career his songs were generally produced, arranged and/or provided by other talented writers and R&B legends including Lamont Dozier, Swamp Dogg, Dan Penn, Gary U.S Bonds, Denise LaSalle and Allen Toussaint.
Z. Z Hill's career was cut short when he died suddenly of a heart attack, after a road accident in 1984[ at the age of 48.
That Ain't the Way You Make Love
Z.Z. Hill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whenever I fall
Tellin your brother
To say you're gone
You've been trippin around uptown
With some fancy clown
Gimme that confusion
Breakin up, and makin up
When will you get enough?
That ain't the way you make love, sweet darlin
That ain't the way you make love
When will you get enough?
Lately, I don't know
Where you're coming from.
Now you're acting strange
(?)
You seem to change
(What's wrong with you, now mama? Tell me
What's wrong with you, girl?)
At my expense, you've been having fun
Girl, what did I say to you?
What have I done?
Oh, no
(That ain't the way you make love)
That ain't the way you make love, baby
(That ain't the way you make love)
That ain't the way you make love
When will you ever get enough?
If it's over, baby
All you've gotta do is let me know
No, no, no, no, baby
Honey I won't try to hold you
All you gotta do is
Tell me so
And I'd let you go
Cause life is too short
And we came all this way
Fussing and fighting
Night and day
Tryna be a temptress
And bein a flame
But kind of foolin around, mama
is gonna get you hurt
(That ain't the way you make love)
That ain't the way to make love, babe
That ain't the way
(That ain't the way you make love)
That ain't the way to make love
Oh, baby, when will you get enough?
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
The lyrics of Z.Z. Hill's song "That Ain't the Way You Make Love" tell a story of betrayal and confusion in a relationship. The singer is questioning his partner's actions and whereabouts, saying he hears her in the background "whenever I fall." He knows that she's been "trippin around uptown with some fancy clown" and that she's causing confusion with her behavior. The singer is fed up with the constant breaking up and making up, and he questions whether his partner will ever get enough of this type of love. He pleads with her to be honest and let him know if the relationship is over because he's tired of the fussing and fighting.
The song captures the emotional journey of a partner who has been hurt in a relationship. The lyrics reveal a sense of frustration and agony, but also a longing for honesty and clarity. The way the singer repeats the phrase "that ain't the way you make love" emphasizes how he believes that his partner's behavior is not how love is supposed to be.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear you in the background
I am aware that you are still around, even when I am down.
Whenever I fall
Whenever I encounter tough situations.
Tellin your brother
Informing someone I know.
To say you're gone
To pretend you are not available.
You've been trippin around uptown
You've been traveling around the city center.
With some fancy clown
With a wealthy partner.
Gimme that confusion
Providing me with ambiguity.
That's no solution
That does not provide an answer.
Breakin up, and makin up
Breaking and making up the relationship over and over.
When will you get enough?
When will you become satisfied with this cycle?
Oh, no
An expression of frustration.
Lately, I don't know
Recently, I am unsure.
Where you're coming from.
The source of your perspective or opinion is unclear.
Now you're acting strange
Your behavior is unusual.
(?)
The lyrics are unclear or unintelligible.
You seem to change
You appear to be different or altered.
What's wrong with you, now mama? Tell me
Please explain what is troubling you.
What's wrong with you, girl?
Please explain what is troubling you.
At my expense, you've been having fun
You have been enjoying yourself at my cost.
Girl, what did I say to you?
What did I do or communicate to cause this situation?
What have I done?
What action did I take that led to this situation?
If it's over, baby
If our relationship has ended.
All you've gotta do is let me know
Inform me clearly of the situation.
Honey I won't try to hold you
I do not wish to restrain you.
Tell me so
Communicate the truth to me.
And I'd let you go
I would not stop you from leaving.
Cause life is too short
Life is brief and finite.
And we came all this way
We have traveled a long distance together.
Fussing and fighting
Arguing and quarreling.
Night and day
Throughout all hours of the day.
Tryna be a temptress
Attempting to seduce others.
And bein a flame
Being passionate or attractive.
But kind of foolin around, mama
Engaging in deceptive behavior, possibly by pretending to be someone else.
is gonna get you hurt
Such actions are likely to cause harm or injury to you.
That ain't the way
That is not the correct approach or behavior.
The way to make love
The appropriate method of expressing love.
When will you ever get enough?
When will you be satisfied?
Contributed by Sadie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@gerrybro6243
I hear you in the background
Whenever I fall
Tellin your brother
To say you're gone
You've been trippin around uptown
With some fancy clown
Gimme that confusion
That's no solution
Breakin up, and makin up
When will you get enough?
That ain't the way you make love, sweet darlin
That ain't the way you make love
When will you get enough?
Lately, I don't know
Where you're coming from.
Now you're acting strange
(?)
You seem to change
(What's wrong with you, now mama? Tell me
What's wrong with you, girl?)
At my expense, you've been having fun
Girl, what did I say to you?
What have I done?
Oh, no
(That ain't the way you make love)
That ain't the way you make love, baby
(That ain't the way you make love)
That ain't the way you make love
When will you ever get enough?
If it's over, baby
All you've gotta do is let me know
No, no, no, no, baby
Honey I won't try to hold you
All you gotta do is
Tell me so
And I'd let you go
Cause life is too short
And we came all this way
Fussing and fighting
Night and day
Tryna be a temptress
And bein a flame
But kind of foolin around, mama
Is gonna get you hurt
That ain't the way to make love, babe
That ain't the way
(That ain't the way you make love)
That ain't the way to make love
Oh, baby, when will you get enough?
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
That ain't the way
The way to make love
@matthewhilliard8424
Rest in peace to the supervillain
@pigslave3
He gone? 😢
@LetThereBeLightxx
@@pigslave3mf doom? Its Been years now
@braddittme8807
@@LetThereBeLightxx 2 of em
@DsouthsideVet
@@pigslave3 that man first name could’ve been Polite and people still would be trying to figure out how he maintained the damn thang!!
@obscurebandfan
I'm here because of Madlib and I thank him. this is a gem of a song.
@traciem08
Yes, it is.
@coreyriley1094
put ya sista on the phone
@Michael-Rosen
am i the only one that said this in my head
@emptyboxesandrooms
I knew you was f kin around