Otis Redding – I’ve Been Loving You Too Long

About The Song

“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” (originally “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)“) is a soul music ballad written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler. ^{Considered by music critics and writers to be one of Redding’s finest performances and a soul classic, it is a slow, emotional piece with Redding’s pleading vocals backed by producer Steve Cropper’s arpeggiated guitar parts and a horn section.}

Redding recorded the song in 1965 and when released as a single in April 1965, became his second best selling single. The song was subsequently included on his third album, Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul (1965). The song reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 2 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart.

Redding wrote this with Jerry Butler (“For Your Precious Love,” “Only the Strong Survive”) in a Buffalo hotel room. The song finds Otis in a predicament: his love affair is going cold, but he’s been loving her for so long, he can’t stop now.

The song was added to the United States National Recording Registry in 2003. In 2011, the 1965 recording by Redding on Volt Records was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Video

Lyric

Let’s sing along with the lyrics!

I’ve been loving you too long to stop now

You are tired and you want to be free
My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me
Ohh, I’ve been loving you too long
I don’t wanna stop now

With you my life has been so wonderful
I can’t stop now
You are tired and your love is growing cold
My love is growing stronger as our affair, affair grows old
I’ve been loving you oh, too long
I don’t want to stop now, ohh, ohh, ohh

I’ve been loving you a little too long
I don’t wanna stop now, ohh, ohh, ohh
And don’t make me stop now
Oh baby
I’m down on my knees
Please, don’t make me stop now

I love you, I love you, I love you with all my heart
And I can’t stop now
Please, please, please don’t make me stop now
Talkin’ ’bout heart and soul
That I love you
I love you