Ain't Too Proud to Beg
The Temptations
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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 darling 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 walking 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 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), ooh hoo 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, 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, sweet darling (please don't go)
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.jpg/240px-The-Temptations_(1964_publicity_photo_by_Kriegsmann).jpg "The Temptations")
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Written by: Norman Whitfield, Edward Jr. Holland
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Historical Significance"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" was released in 1966 and became one of The Temptations' most famous songs. It is considered a defining track of the Motown label and has been covered by various artists, including Rolling Stones.
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Chart PerformanceDespite initial underperformance on the pop charts, the song skyrocketed to number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 and held its position for an impressive 8 weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B charts.
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Creative CreditsThe song was written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr., and produced by Whitfield. Known for their work on Motown songs during this period, their creative inputs are thought to have significantly contributed to the song’s success.
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Vocal PerformanceThe lead vocals were performed by David Ruffin, who reportedly was on his knees begging for the chance to lead the song. His soulful and emotional rendition became a hallmark of The Temptations' style.
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Impact on Popular Culture"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" has been featured in film soundtracks, television shows, and even video games. It was also used in the opening of the 1991 film "The Five Heartbeats."
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AccoladesThe song is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of '500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll' and it was also chosen for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2017.
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The Temptations MusicalThe song also lends its title to a Broadway musical about The Temptations, which traces the rise and fall of the legendary group.
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Influence on Other ArtistsThe Rolling Stones covered "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" in 1974, and their version enjoyed considerable success, giving the song a new audience and propelling it to be on international charts again.
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Song StyleThe song, which encompasses elements of soul, pop, and R&B, has been acclaimed for its inventive blend of musical genres and its impassioned lyrics, which capture the raw emotions of unrequited love.
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Historical ParallelsCoinciding with larger civil rights struggles and a cultural shift toward more openly expressed emotions in music, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," with its heartfelt pleading, is often seen as reflective of its times.
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"Ain't Too Proud to Beg Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 14 Mar. 2025. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric-lf/361801/The+Temptations/Ain%27t+Too+Proud+to+Beg>.
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