Standing in the Shadows of Love

The Four Tops

About Standing in the Shadows of Love

"Standing in the Shadows of Love" is a 1966 hit single recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s. A direct follow-up to the #1 hit "Reach Out I'll Be There" (even featuring a similar musical arrangement), "Standing in the Shadows of Love" reached #2 on the soul chart and #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967. It also reached #6 in the UK. Though the song was well-received, it has received some criticism. Author Martin Charles Strong notes that it rehashed the formula of "Reach Out I'll Be There" and achieved similar success by reaching the Top 10 in both the US and UK. It is ranked #470 on Rolling Stone 's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. AllMusic critic John Bush calls "Standing in the Shadows of Love" "dramatic" and "impassioned." Critic Andrew Hamilton calls it a "memorable, unforgettable, timeless blast" which would have made Motown "notable" even if it was the only song Motown ever produced. Hamilton remarks on the song's power to conjure up "mournful" emotions, and particularly highlights the coldness of lyrics such as "standing in the shadows of love getting ready for the heartaches to come." Hamilton praises the intensity of Levi Stubbs' lead vocal and how it can make the listener believe that he is about to have a nervous breakdown. Music critic Maury Dean describes the singer as waiting for his girlfriend to dump him and psyching himself for the blow and for getting ready for a new girlfriend. He uses the metaphor of Wile E. Coyote to describe the singer's emotions as he waits for the "anvil to drop on his fervent love."According to author Peter Benjaminson, "Standing in the Shadows of Love" is a reworked version of The Supremes' 1963 song "Standing at the Crossroads of Love", which was released as the B-side of their single "When the Lovelight Starts Shining Through His Eyes". The song was later covered by: 


Year:
1999
1:02
63 

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Standing in the shadows of love
I'm getting ready for the heart aches to come.
(Can't you see me) Standing in the shadows of love
I'm getting ready for the heartaches to come.

I want to run but there's no place to go
For heartaches will follow d me I know.
Without your love, a love I need
It's the beginning of the end of me.
Cause you've taken away all my reasons for living
When you pushed aside all the love I've been giving.
Now wait a minute!
Didn't I treat you right, now baby didn't I,
Didn't I do the best I could, now didn't I, didn't I?

(Don't you see me) Standing in the shadows of love
I'm getting ready for the heart aches to come.
(Can't you see me) Standing in the shadows of love
Doing my best to get ready for the heart aches to come.

All alone I'm destined to be with misery my only company.
It may come today, or it may come tomorrow
But it's for sure I've got nothing but sorrow.
I thought your conscience would kinda bother you
How can you watch me cry after all I've done for you?
Hold on a minute!
I gave you all the love I had, now didn't I,
When you needed me I was always there
Now wasn't I, wasn't I?

Standing in the shadows of love
I'm getting ready for the heartaches to come.
I'm trying not to cry out loud
Cause all this cryin' it ain't, it ain't gonna
Help me none!

Now what did I do, girl, to cause all this grief?
Now what did I say to make you want to leave?
Now wait a minute!
I gave my heart and soul to you now didn't I,
And didn't I always treat you good now didn't I, didn't I?

I'm standing in the shadows of love
I'm getting ready

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The Four Tops

The Four Tops are a vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan, USA, who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes. more »

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Written by: JR., BRIAN HOLLAND, EDWARD HOLLAND, EDWARD, JR. HOLLAND, LAMONT DOZIER, LAMONT HERBERT DOZIER

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Song Origin
"Standing in the Shadows of Love," released in 1966, is a hit single by The Four Tops, a Motown group from Detroit, Michigan.
Production Team
The song was recorded at Motown's Studio A and was produced by the acclaimed songwriting and producing team, Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Genre
"Standing in the Shadows of Love" is classified as a pop and soul song.
Chart Performance
The song became a Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching #6, and peaked at #2 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.
Lyrics
The song is a lament on lingering in a love situation where the relationship has ended, capturing the pain and fear of loneliness and rejection.
Album
"Standing in the Shadows of Love" was a track on the Four Tops' second album, titled "Reach Out."
Music Awards
In 1967, the song earned two Grammy nominations; Best Rhythm & Blues Recording and Best Rhythm & Blues Solo Vocal Performance, Male, for lead singer Levi Stubbs.
Jackson 5's Version
The Jackson 5 covered the song on their 1969 debut album, "Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5."
Tribute by Michael Jackson
As lead singer, young Michael Jackson guided this version with his raw, youthful vocal talent.
Commercial Success of the Cover
Although not released as a single, The Jackson 5's version of "Standing in the Shadows of Love" garnered significant airplay and is still favored on oldies radio stations.
B-Side
The B-side of the original Four Tops single was "Since You've Been Gone," another Holland-Dozier-Holland composition.
Cover Versions
Apart from The Jackson 5, the song has been covered by many artists, including Barry White, Delroy Wilson, and The Supremes. However, The Four Tops' version is considered the definitive recording of the song.
Movie Appearances
The song was featured in the original soundtrack of the movie "Cooley High" (1975) and was also used in the opening credits of Andrew Davis' film "Stony Island" (1978).

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