You've Really Got A Hold On Me

Album

Fabnulous Miracles

Label

Tamla

Genre

Soul

Composer(s)

William "Smokey" Robinson

Entered Chart

Dec 8, 1962

Peak Date

Feb 9, 1963

Released

Unknown

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Tamla 54073

B-Side

Happy Landing

Miracles leader Smokey Robinson wrote this song while thinking about Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home To Me." Cooke would sometimes perform at Robinson's church with his group the Soul Stirrers, and Smokey was a big fan. Cooke's song finds the singer apologizing to his girl after casting her off, promising to treat her right if she comes back. "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" is the same sentiment but with the roles reversed: the girl mistreats the guy, but he loves her unconditionally. Smokey Robinson wrote this song when he was in New York City negotiating a publishing deal, and not pleased with the way the talks were going. He says that he wrote the song in his hotel room with the intention of writing something controversial, which he accomplished with the first line: "I don't like you, but I love you." Such a conflicted and unhealthy sentiment was rarely heard in songs of this era. When Motown was growing into a dominant label in 1962, they set up a tour where many of their acts performed together around the United States. For many people, this was their first look at Motown acts like The Supremes, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. This was the biggest Motown hit at the time, so The Miracles closed the shows with it. The Beatles recorded this in 1963 and performed it in their last movie, Let It Be. The Beatles were the first big British band to come to America and admit they were influenced by black music. Robinson admired this admission, and felt they helped black artists by covering their songs. It wasn't the only Motown song The Beatles covered: they also recorded "Money (That's What I Want)" and "Please Mr. Postman" along with "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" on their U.K. release The Beatles' Second Album. Berry Gordy of Motown gave The Beatles a reduced rate for the rights to cover the songs, as it was a huge deal for him to have the most popular band in England recording songs from his roster. Charting cover versions of this song in America were released by Gayle McCormick (#98, 1972) and Eddie Money (#72, 1979). Bob Seger included the song in his live shows when he was starting out in the early '60s. Report an ad Smokey Robinson sang this song on the children's show Sesame Street in a sketch where a giant puppet "U" grabs onto him as he sings it and ultimately carries him away. >> Steven Tyler belted out a verse of this song when he was on stage with Smokey Robinson to present the Grammy Award for Record Of The Year in 2014. "Thanks Steven," that was beautiful, Robinson replied. This was used on Friends in the season 6 episode "The One With Mac And C.H.E.E.S.E" during a montage of Joey and Chandler hugging. It was also used in the TV shows Gossip Girl ("Last Tango, Then Paris" – 2010) and Cold Case ("Boy Crazy" – 2007), and in the movies Flipped (2010), Striptease (1996), I Love Trouble (1994), and Mermaids (1990).

I don't like you
But I love you
See that I'm always
Thinking of you

Oh, oh, oh,
You treat me badly
I love you madly
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby

I don't want you
But I need you
Don't want to kiss you
But I need you
Oh, oh, oh

You do me wring now
My love is strong now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby
I love you and all I want you to do
Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me

I want to leave you
Don't want to stay here
Don't want to spend
Another day here

Oh, oh, oh, I want to split now
I just can quit now
You've really got a hold on me
You've really got a hold on me, baby
I love you and all I want you to do
Is just hold me, hold me, hold me, hold me
You've really got a hold on me