Zapp is best known for its 1980 funk hit More Bounce to the Ounce (produced by Bootsy Collins). The group recorded five albums as 'Zapp' & Roger recorded five others under his own name.
Roger & Zapp are known for the distinctive synthesized sound produced by recording vocals through a Talk box fed by an electonic synthesizer. Roger's voice can be heard on the Dr. Dre-produced 1996 Tupac Shakur hit "California Love". Roger also appeared on songs by Johnny Gill, Keith Sweat, Eric Benet and H-Town amongst others.
On Sunday, April 25, 1999, Roger Troutman was found shot and critically wounded outside a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio; he died during surgery at a local hospital. Roger's brother Larry was found dead in a car a few blocks away with a single gunshot wound to the head. It is likely that a personal dispute had developed between the two brothers; as far as can be determined, Larry shot Roger, then shot himself.
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
Zapp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Bout your plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before
Between the two of us guys
You know I loved you more
It took me by surprise I must say
When I found out yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah.
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine baby
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
But these tears I can't hold inside
Losin' you would end my life you see
'Cause you mean that much to me
You could have told me yourself
That you loved some one else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine
And I'm just about to lose my mind
Honey, honey yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby
People say believe half of what you see
Son and none of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don't you know I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
I heard it through the grapevine
I'm just about to love my mind
Honey, honey, yeah
I heard it through the grapevine,
Not much longer would you be mine, baby yeah
The lyrics to Zapp's song "Grapevine" tell the story of a man who learns through the rumor mill, or the "grapevine," that his partner is planning to leave him for another man. The singer is hurt and confused by this news, as he believed that their love was mutual and strong. He laments the fact that he had to hear the news secondhand, and suggests that his partner should have been honest with him from the beginning. Despite his heartbreak, he still loves his partner deeply and would be devastated to lose them.
One interesting aspect of these lyrics is their use of the metaphor of the grapevine. While this phrase often has negative connotations (as rumors and gossip can be hurtful), in this context it represents the singer's only source of information about what's going on in his partner's life. The use of the grapevine as a symbol of communication adds an element of nostalgia to the song, as it suggests a time before constant connectivity and social media, when people had to rely on word of mouth to stay in the loop.
Another noteworthy aspect of the lyrics is the singer's vulnerability. He admits that he is crying and that losing his partner would "end [his] life." This level of emotional openness is relatively rare in pop music and makes the song feel more authentic and relatable. Additionally, the way the singer begs for clarity from his partner ("If it's true please tell me dear") is a sentiment that many people can identify with.
Line by Line Meaning
I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
I realize that you must be wondering how I found out
'Bout your plans to make me blue
I am aware of the schemes you have to make me sad
With some other guy you knew before
You have decided to be with some man you've met previously
Between the two of us guys
You chose between me and him
You know I loved you more
You are aware that I love you more than he does
It took me by surprise I must say
It was quite unexpected and surprising for me
When I found out yesterday
I just got to know about it yesterday
Don't you know that I heard it through the grapevine
I got to know about your decision from someone who heard about it from others
Not much longer would you be mine
I don't have much time left with you
Oh I heard it through the grapevine
I got the news indirectly
Oh I'm just about to lose my mind
It's driving me crazy
Honey, honey yeah.
An affectionate way of addressing you
I know a man ain't supposed to cry
Traditionally men are not supposed to show their emotions by crying
But these tears I can't hold inside
But my tears are uncontrollable and I can't stop them from falling
Losin' you would end my life you see
Losing you would make my life meaningless
'Cause you mean that much to me
Because you mean so much to me
You could have told me yourself
It would have been better if you had told me yourself
That you loved some one else
That you have feelings for someone else
Instead I heard it through the grapevine
But I got to know about it through others
People say believe half of what you see
People suggest that you should only trust fifty percent of what you observe
Son and none of what you hear
And trust nothing of what you hear
But I can't help but be confused
But it still confuses me
If it's true please tell me dear
If it's true, then please honestly tell me
Do you plan to let me go
Are you intending to break up with me
For the other guy you loved before?
In favor of the man you loved in the past?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lindagoins736
THAT GRAPE VINE AINT NEVER BEEN MUCH GOOD,MORE LIKE THE NO LIFE GOSSIP LIFE... WOULD CRUSH IT IF I COULD.
BUT I RATHER SPEND MY TIME WRAPPED UP WITH YOU.
GRAPEWINE... GREAT CONVERSATION TRUST AND PASSION TO.
SHUTTING OUT THE NOISE OF THE WORLD FOR A MINUTE...IF THERE WERE TALKS OF PLANS TO LEAVE YOU...
THAT LIE WAS INVENTED.
- BELIEVE THAT-😘
@blakebrown84
RIP Roger Troutman!!! He took it to the next level with funk music. This is old school music that we can listen to forever. Thanks Roger Troutman & Zapp for making great music!
@MissVikkiAnn2011
Man this song right here!!!!! Teenage life in the 80s! We LOVED ZAPP&Roger!!! RIP Roger!!! You and Zapp made some funky hits that we'll always dance and skate to!
@talkdattrashimmapullyacard4396
Marry me to this song 😘
@jeffreywilliams5027
Roger zapp said it best that " grown man suppose to cry "
@jeffreywilliams5027
It was the summer of 1983 here in Birmingham alabama at the historical fairgrounds known as the cross plex that roger and zapp took city of Birmingham by heart and hasn't loosen its grip yet; a grown man ain't suppose to cry but when I look back over the year and consider love I still have for( Roger's) zapp my eyes swells with tears of joy and sadness "untimely" live on Master of funk.
@sylvia7656
I can relate...class of 1983!
@sherettepayne5624
2022 and i still listen to zapp Roger RIP ❤🥰
@cherylgrim7624
2023 rip
@lionelkennedy1394
There will never .. ever .. EVER .. Be a better remake of a Classic Song than this ONE riiiiight here!! Roger was a GENIUS.
@rakeemblakley9594
Gotta thank my parents for this type of music 🎵