Peak
13
Weeks
17
Score
2,143
Chart Year
1966
This was written by Motown writers Norman Whitfield and Eddie Holland. Holland, who was part of the Holland/Dozier/Holland writing team, wrote the lyrics. Like many Motown hits, it's a very emotional song, as the singer is pleading for his lover not to leave, but almost in a demanding way, as it's his last chance. He will do whatever it takes to get his girl back, even if he has to beg. Smokey Robinson was The Temptations' main writer at the time. Motown decided to release his "Get Ready" instead of this song, which drove Whitfield nuts. After "Get Ready" didn't meet expectations, "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" was released as The Temptations next single. From there, Whitfield became the regular producer of the Temptations. Whitfield went on to write other Motown classics, including "Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You." He became the chief songwriter for The Temptations. The "ain't too proud to beg" concept showed up two years earlier in the Four Tops hit "Baby I Need Your Loving": Some say it's a sign of weakness For a man to beg Then weak I'd rather be If it means having you to keep That one was also co-written by Eddie Holland as part of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Whitfield also produced this song. He had Temptations singer David Ruffin sing slightly higher than his normal range, resulting in the pained vocal that went with the lyrics. Whitfield had Marvin Gaye do the same thing on "Heard It Through The Grapevine." "Norman was hell-bent on taking us in a new direction," The Temptations' Otis Williams told Uncut magazine. "Norman pushed David to vocal heights we hadn't heard before. David was sweating like crazy through the entire session." This was a hit for The Rolling Stones when they covered it in 1974, taking it to #17 in America. Other notable covers of this song include Phil Collins, TLC, and the one and only Rick Astley, whom the Internet's never gonna give up. This was very popular among US soldiers who were fighting in Vietnam.
I know you wanna leave me But I refuse to let you go If I have to beg, plead for your sympathy I don't mind 'cause you mean that much to me Ain't too proud to beg and you know it 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) Now I've 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 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) If I have to sleep on your doorstep all night and day Just to keep you from walkin' away Let your friends laugh, even this I can stand 'Cause I wanna keep you any way I can 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) Now I've got a love so deep in the pit of my heart And each day it grows more and more I'm not ashamed to call and plead to you, baby If pleading keeps you from walking out that door Ain't too proud to beg and you know it 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) Baby, baby, baby (sweet darlin') Please don't leave me
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 28, 1966 | 67 | 59 |
| 2 | Jun 4, 1966 | 44 | 82 |
| 3 | Jun 11, 1966 | 36 | 90 |
| 4 | Jun 18, 1966 | 27 | 99 |
| 5 | Jun 25, 1966 | 20 | 106 |
| 6 | Jul 2, 1966 | 15 | 111 |
| 7 | Jul 9, 1966 | 14 | 112 |
| 8 | Jul 16, 1966 | 13 | 113 |
| 9 | Jul 23, 1966 | 15 | 111 |
| 10 | Jul 30, 1966 | 24 | 102 |
| 11 | Aug 6, 1966 | 25 | 101 |
| 12 | Aug 13, 1966 | 34 | 92 |
| 13 | Aug 20, 1966 | 42 | 84 |
| 14 | Aug 27, 1966 | 66 | 60 |
| 15 | Sep 3, 1966 | 74 | 52 |
| 16 | Sep 10, 1966 | 84 | 42 |
| 17 | Sep 17, 1966 | 87 | 39 |