“Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” is a popular song that was released in 1966 by The Temptations, a Motown group from Detroit, Michigan. The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr., and it quickly became a hit. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was later included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”. In this article, we will take a closer look at the lyrics of this classic Motown tune.
Verse 1
“I know you wanna leave me, but I refuse to let you go. If I have to beg and plead for your sympathy, I don’t mind ’cause you mean that much to me.” These are the opening lines of “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”. The lyrics speak of a man who is desperate to keep his lover from leaving him. He is willing to do whatever it takes to make her stay, even if it means begging and pleading for her sympathy.
Chorus
The chorus of the song is simple but catchy. “Ain’t too proud to beg, sweet darlin’. 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.” The man is not too proud to beg and plead for his lover to stay with him. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes his desperation and how much he values his relationship with his lover.
Verse 2
“Now I 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.” In the second verse, the man admits that he is willing to cry if it means keeping his lover by his side. He is not afraid to show his vulnerability and how much he cares for her.
Bridge
The bridge of the song features a spoken-word section where the man addresses his lover directly. “I don’t mind beggin’ you, baby. But for your love, I’ll stand, yeah, yeah, yeah.” The spoken-word section adds a personal touch to the song and makes the listener feel like they are a part of the man’s plea to his lover.
Verse 3
“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 want to keep you any way I can.” The final verse of the song shows just how far the man is willing to go to keep his lover from leaving him. He is willing to sleep outside her door and endure ridicule from her friends if it means keeping her in his life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” is a classic Motown tune that has stood the test of time. The lyrics speak of a man’s desperation to keep his lover from leaving him, and the catchy chorus emphasizes his willingness to do whatever it takes to make her stay. The song is a testament to the power of love and how it can make us do things we never thought we were capable of.
