I've Been Good To You

Brenda Holloway

About I've Been Good To You

"I've Been Good to You" is a 1961 R&B song by The Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla label. It was released as the B-side of their Billboard Top 40 hit, "What's So Good About Goodbye", and was included on their album I'll Try Something New the following year. This sad, melancholy ballad charted #103 on the Billboard Pop chart. Despite its relatively modest chart placing, this song has been hugely influential, and is noted as Beatle John Lennon's favorite Miracles tune, and was the inspiration behind The Beatles' song, "Sexy Sadie". Written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson, the song begins with the lyric, "Look what you've done... You've made a fool out of someone..." which Lennon later paraphrased in his song as, "What have you done... You've made a fool of everyone." The song was performed live by the group on their album, The Miracles Recorded Live on Stage, and has inspired cover versions by Marshall Crenshaw, Joe Meek, The Temptones, Ray, Goodman & Brown (The Moments), The Ones, and fellow Motown artists, Brenda Holloway, and The Temptations. The Temptations' version would also be released as a "B" side and would chart at #124 on the Pop charts in 1967 (as well be released on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready). In addition to being on their first Live album, The Miracles' original version of "I've Been Good to You" actually appears on two other of their early 1960s albums; 1962's I'll Try Something New, and 1963's The Fabulous Miracles. 


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Look what you've done; you've made a fool out of someone 
Who thought love was true & found out that you 
Were just having fun 
Oh why do you wanna make me blue? 
After all, I've been good to you 
Oh yes I have 

For a long long time, you needed someone & I made you mine 
You needed a friend, so I took you in 
& I treated you kind 
Oh why do you wanna make me blue? 
After all, I've been good to you 

I have always been around 
& I have never, I've never let you down 
So now you're telling me that you must go 
You know that it's hurting me so, yeah 

But there'll come a time, one day, one day you'll wake up & find 
You'll come back to me on bended knees 
You're gonna be cryin' 
Oh why do you wanna make me blue? 
After all, I've been good to you 
I've been good to you, oh yes I have 
I've been good to you, yes I have 
...& fade 

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Brenda Holloway

Brenda Holloway (born June 21, 1946) is an American singer and songwriter, who was a recording artist for Motown Records during the 1960s. Her best-known recordings are the soul hits, "Every Little Bit Hurts" , When I'm Gone , and "You've Made Me So Very Happy." The latter, which she co-wrote, was later widely popularized when it became a Top Ten hit for Blood, Sweat & Tears. She left Motown after four years, at the age of 22, and largely retired from the music industry until the 1990s, after her recordings had become popular on the British "Northern soul" scene. more »

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Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Origin
"I've Been Good To You" is a musical piece originally performed by "The Miracles" in 1961.
Album Release
The song was included in "The Miracles" 1961 album "Hi... We're The Miracles".
Writing Credits
Smokey Robinson, the lead vocalist of The Miracles, is credited as the song's writer.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by numerous artists including Brenda Holloway and The Temptations. - Brenda Holloway's version was included in her 1965 album "Every Little Bit Hurts". - The Temptations' rendition was featured in their 1967 album "With A Lot o' Soul".
Record Label
All versions of "I've Been Good To You" were released under the Motown Records label, a record label renowned for its significant role in the racial integration of popular music.
Motown Sound Influence
"I've Been Good To You" is a classic example of the "Motown Sound" which blend of soul music and pop music, characterized by its use of tambourine, drums, bass, and orchestral strings.
Chart Performance
Despite its popularity and multiple covers, "I've Been Good to You" did not chart; however, it remained a staple in the discographies of the artists who recorded it.
Impact on Artists' Career
The song has been instrumental in the careers of the artists, particularly The Miracles and Smokey Robinson. The song's success set the stage for Robinson's future accomplishments as a songwriter and solo artist.
Song Style
The song is a slow, heartfelt ballad that is expressive of an emotion of disappointment in love. With coated lyrics, it effectively encapsulates the essence of the '60s era soulful rhythm and blues.
Signature Motown Traits
"I've Been Good To You" exhibits some signature traits of Motown Records songs, like the "call-and-response" singing style, catchy melodic hooks, and an upbeat rhythm masked by emotional, often heartbroken lyrics.

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