About The Song
On July 9, 1965, Motown released “It’s The Same Old Song” as the Four Tops’ follow-up to the pop and R&B No.1 “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).” But little did eager record-buyers know the deft footwork that had been required to get it into stores that day. (Seen above: the Dutch picture sleeve single).
Just two days earlier, when the Tops went into Studio A at Hitsville, the quartet knew the clock was ticking. So did Holland-Dozier-Holland, the writing and production masterminds who were there writing the words to accompany the instrumental track that had been recorded some eight weeks earlier.
The rush was caused by the fact that, with the Tops now a hot commercial property, Columbia was reissuing the only single they released by the group, “Ain’t That Love.” It was all of five years old, but Motown supremo Berry Gordy knew he had to get the company’s sequel to “I Can’t Help Myself” out immediately.
As Volume 5 of The Complete Motown Singles recounts, H-D-H wrote those words on the spot, the title and hook an open reference to the sonic similarities with its predecessor. Then the Motown production machine went into overdrive. Chief engineer Lawrence Horn oversaw the creation of some 300 hand-cut discs. Within 24 hours, about 1500 copies of the new single were in the hands of key radio DJs around the US.
“It’s The Same Old Song” won the ensuing chart race with the old Columbia reissue hands down. Both singles entered the Hot 100 on July 31, but whereas “Ain’t That Love” charted for just one week at No.93, the Motown 45 climbed to No.5. Furthermore, it spent four aggregate weeks at No.2 on the R&B chart, kept off the top only by James Brown’s “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag.”
Video
Lyrics
You’re sweet as a honey bee
But like a honey bee stings
You’ve gone and left my heart in pain
All you left is our favorite song
The one we danced to all night long
It used to bring sweet memories
Of a tender love that used to be
Now it’s the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Now it’s the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
And it breaks me up to hear it
I, oh I
Sentimental fool, am I
To hear a old love song and wanna cry
But the melody keeps calling me
Reminding me how in love we used to be
Keep hearing the part that used to touch our heart
Saying together forever, breaking up never
Can’t bear to hear it
(But with a different meaning since you been gone) Since you’ve been gone
But it’s the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Precious memories keep a lingering on
Every time I hear our favorite song
Now you’re gone, left this emptiness
I only reminisce the happiness we spent
We used to dance to the music (we used to dance to the music)
Make romance through the music (make romance through the music)
Now it’s the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Now it’s the same old song (same old song)
But with a different meaning since you been gone
I, oh I can’t bear to hear it
It’s the same old song
But with a different meaning since you been gone
Ooh, it breaks me up to hear it
It’s the same old song but with a different meaning