Don't Leave Me This Way

Thelma Houston

About Don't Leave Me This Way

"Don't Leave Me This Way" is a song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Cary Gilbert. First charting as a hit for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes featuring Teddy Pendergrass, an act on Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label in 1975, "Don't Leave Me This Way" was later a disco hit for Motown artist Thelma Houston in 1977. The song was also a hit for British duo The Communards in 1986.


Year:
1997
3:39
1,068 
#2

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Don't leave me this way
I can't survive, I can't stay alive, without your love
Oh baby, don't leave me this way, no
I can't exist, I'll surely miss your tender kiss
Don't leave me this way

Ahh, baby! My heart is full of love and desire for you
Now com'on down and do what you gotta do
You started this fire down in my soul
Now can't you see it's burning outta control
Com'on, satisfy the need in me
'Cause only your good lovin' can set me free (set me free, set me free)

Don't, don't you leave me this way, no
Don't you understand I'm at your command
Oh baby please, please, don't leave me this way
No baby

Don't leave me this way, no
I can't survive, I can't stay alive without your love
Baby, don't leave me this way

Ahh, baby! My heart is full of love and desire for you
So com'on down and do what you got to do
You started this fire down in my soul
Now can't you see it's burning out of control
So com'on, satisfy the need in me
'Cause only your good lovin' can set me free (set me free, set me free)

Need you lovin', baby need it, need it

Satisfy the need in me
Satisfy the need in me

Well baby, come and satisfy the need in me
Whoa baby, come and satisfy the need in me
Oh baby, don't leave me this way
Don't leave me this way
No, don't leave me this way
No, don't leave me this way, baby
Don't baby, don't leave me this way babe
Oh, baby
Oh, don't leave me this way, no
Don't leave me this way

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Thelma Houston

Thelma Houston (née Jackson; born May 7, 1946, Leland, Mississippi) is an American singer and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1977 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. more »

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Written by: Cary Grant Gilbert, Leon Huff, Kenny Gamble

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Release
"Don't Leave Me This Way" was first made popular by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes in 1975. It was initially released on their album "Wake Up Everybody."
Teddy Pendergrass' Vocals
The original version of the song featured Teddy Pendergrass as the lead vocalist. He was the lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes at the time.
Thelma Houston's Version
Thelma Houston remade the song in 1976 and it became her most successful hit. Her version reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S.
Grammy Award
Thelma Houston's version of "Don't Leave Me This Way" won the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1977.
CBS Promotion Strategy
CBS, which owned the rights to Houston's and The Communards' versions, chose not to promote the former in the UK, giving the latter a chance to thrive and it became a major hit.
The Communards' Version
British synth-pop duo The Communards covered the song in 1986 and it remains one of their biggest hits. It reached number 1 in the UK and several other countries.
Length of the Communards' Version
The Communards' version of "Don't Leave Me This Way" is particularly notable for its length, with some versions of the song lasting more than 10 minutes.
LGBTQ+ Anthem
Over time, "Don't Leave Me This Way" has been embraced by many as an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community, especially the version by The Communards which was a gay duo.
Usage in Films and TV Shows
The song has been used in numerous films and TV shows, including "Milk," "Looking," "Queer as Folk," and "The Martian."
Various Covers
Aside from Thelma Houston and The Communards, the song has been covered by numerous other artists, including Cher, Diana Ross, and Sheena Easton.
Song's Theme
Regardless of the version, "Don't Leave Me This Way" is universally understood as a song of desperation and longing, told from the perspective of someone who doesn't want their lover to leave.

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    "Don't Leave Me This Way Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/394663/Thelma+Houston/Don%27t+Leave+Me+This+Way>.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1977

    Billboard #1


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