Ain't Too Proud To Beg
temptations [the] Lyrics


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I know you wanna leave me
But I refuse to let you go
If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy
I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)

Now I've heard a cryin' man
Is half a man with no sense of pride
But if I have to cry to keep you
I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side

Ain't too proud to beg, sweet darling
Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)

If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
Just to keep you from walking away
Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand
'Cause I wanna keep you any way I can

Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby
Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go), ooh hoo

Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart
And each day it grows more and more
I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby
If pleading keeps you from walking out that door

Ain't too proud to beg, you know it
Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)
Ain't too proud to plead, baby, baby




Please don't leave me, girl (don't you go)
Baby, sweet darling (please don't go)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" by The Temptations express the desperate plea of a man trying to prevent his lover from leaving him. He acknowledges the fact that she wants to go, but he is determined to hold onto the relationship. The singer is willing to do anything to keep her and this is apparent in the chorus where he emphasizes that he is not too proud to beg or plead for her to stay. He is aware of the potential consequences of his actions, but he is willing to deal with them just to be with her. The verses, stanzas that are separated by the chorus, primarily focus on the various tactics he is willing to deploy to keep her from leaving. These tactics include crying, sleeping on her doorstep, and enduring laughter from her friends. The song's message is clear: the man is deeply in love and he will do whatever it takes to keep his relationship from falling apart.


One interpretation of the song is that it is a plea for forgiveness. The man is begging his lover to overlook any mistakes he has made and to give him another chance. He is willing to put his pride aside and plead for her understanding because he recognizes how much she means to him. Another interpretation is that the song is a commentary on the power dynamics of relationships. The man is the one who is begging and pleading, while the woman holds the power to leave or stay. This dynamic is further highlighted in the line "I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby." He is acknowledging the traditional gender roles that place women in a position of powerlessness in relationships and is actively challenging them.


Line by Line Meaning

I know you wanna leave me
I am aware that you want to leave me


But I refuse to let you go
I won't let you leave me


If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy
I'm willing to beg and plead for your compassion


I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me
I don't care if I have to plead because you mean everything to me


Ain't too proud to beg and you know it
I am not too embarrassed to beg and you're aware of it


Please don't leave me girl (don't you go)
I am asking you to stay, don't leave me


Now I've heard a cryin' man
I've heard that a man who cries is viewed as weak


Is half a man with no sense of pride
He has no pride and is considered incomplete.


But if I have to cry to keep you
However, if I have to cry to keep you around


I don't mind weepin' if it'll keep you by my side
I will happily cry if it means you won't leave me


If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day
I will do anything, even sleep on your doorstep, to keep you from leaving


Just to keep you from walking away
I'll do anything so that you don't leave


Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand
Even if your friends laugh at me, I can handle it


'Cause I wanna keep you any way I can
I want to keep you, no matter what


Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart
My love for you is so deep and strong


And each day it grows more and more
It continues to get stronger with each passing day


I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby
I am not embarrassed to call and beg you to stay


If pleading keeps you from walking out that door
I'll continue to plead if it means you won't leave


Baby, sweet darling (please don't go)
Please don't leave me, my sweet darling




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD JR. HOLLAND, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

E A

Rest easy David. You are iconic even now in 2022! You will be admired and missed for years to come. Rest in peace the rest of the temptations. They all hold such a special place in my heart.

Mercy Butler

I couldn't have said it any better! THANKS!

Travis Andrews

Rip David

LaToya McVay

Listening 2023 ‼️

Kim Winston

Eddie voice was breathtaking Paul was mesmerizing Melvin was magical. That David Ruffin just took it to another level this man voice is definitely in a class by himself... this group of 5 was awesome...I wished I was coming up in their era so I could've seen them perform in person.....

Athena Aphrodite

And “Ain’t NOBODY coming to see you OTIS!”🤣🤣🤣🤣

robin mcgrady

Real talk

Jamell Foster

@JusWendell Lol...

Willie Freeman

@Jaslyn Jones I've come to the realization say what you will about him but maybe just maybe David had a point when he said "AINT NOBODY COMIN TO SEE YOU OTIS!!" 🤣

bctrackboi11 gaming

@Jaslyn Jones ain't nobody comin to see Otis

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