About the song
Background of “Beggin'” by The Four Seasons
- Original Release: The song was released in 1967 by The Four Seasons (though sometimes credited as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons).
- Composers: Bob Gaudio, the group’s keyboardist and songwriter, wrote “Beggin'”
- Interesting Fact: The song actually has a bit of a hidden meaning in the context of the band’s history. In the musical “Jersey Boys,” which tells the story of The Four Seasons, “Beggin'” is used in a scene where the group pleads with a mob boss to help them with a band member’s gambling debts. However, this event is not historically accurate.
Themes in “Beggin'”
- Desperation and Vulnerability: The lyrics paint a picture of someone pleading for love and acceptance. Phrases like “begging, begging you baby” and “I’m fighting hard to hold my own” showcase this desperation.
- Loss and Loneliness: The song hints at a past relationship that has ended, leaving the singer feeling like an “empty shell” and a “shadow of my life.”
- Hope for Reconciliation: Despite the sadness, there’s an underlying hope that the love can be rekindled. The constant repetition of “beggin'” emphasizes the singer’s persistent desire to win back their love.
Video
Lyrics
MmhPut your lovin’ hand out, babyI’m beggin’
Put your lovin’ hand out, baby(Beggin’) beggin’ youPut your lovin’ hand out, baby
Ridin’ high when I was kingPlayed it hard and fast ’cause I had everythingWalked away, wonderin’ thenBut easy come and easy go and it would end
I’m beggin’ youWon’t you give your hand out, baby?(Beggin’) beggin’ (ooh)Put your lovin’ hand out, baby
I need you to understandThat I tried so hard to be a manThe kind of man you’d want in the endOnly then can I begin to live again
An empty shell I used to beShadow of my life is hangin’ over meA broken man that I don’t knowDon’t even stand a devil’s chance to win my soul
beggin’ youWon’t you give your hand out, baby?(Beggin’) beggin’ youPut your lovin’ hand out, baby
I’m fightin’ hard to hold my ownNo, I just can’t make it all aloneI’m holdin’ on, I can’t fall backNow that big brass ring is a shade of black
I’m beggin’ youWon’t you give your hand out, baby?(Beggin’) beggin’ (ooh)Put your lovin’ hand out, baby(Beggin’) beggin’ youWon’t you give your hand out, baby?