Luther Vandross – Give Me the Reason

About the song

In the realm of soul music, few voices resonate with the raw emotion and heartfelt sincerity of Luther Vandross. His velvety vocals, capable of soaring heights and tender whispers, have captivated audiences for decades, imbuing each note with an authenticity that has cemented his status as a legendary R&B icon. Among his vast repertoire of soulful gems, “Give Me the Reason” stands as a poignant masterpiece, a ballad that delves into the profound depths of love, loss, and longing.

Released in 1986 as the title track of Vandross’s fifth studio album, “Give Me the Reason” quickly established itself as a timeless classic. The song’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to capture the universal human experience of yearning for connection and understanding, particularly in the aftermath of a broken heart.

Vandross’s masterful delivery of the song’s lyrics, penned by the renowned songwriting duo of Nat Adderley Jr. and Pee Wee Ellis, paints a vivid portrait of a heart grappling with the pain of lost love. The opening lines, “What’s there to say, there’s not much to talk about / And whatever happened to all of the love that we vowed,” set the stage for a journey into the depths of emotional vulnerability.

As the song progresses, Vandross’s voice swells with emotion, conveying the protagonist’s growing sense of despair and confusion. The lyrics, “You can say, give me the reason to want you back / Why should I love you again / Do you know, tell me how / To forgive and forget,” echo the universal human struggle to reconcile love with loss, to find a way to move forward amidst the lingering pain of a shattered relationship.

The song’s poignant chorus serves as a powerful refrain, laying bare the protagonist’s raw emotions and desperate plea for understanding:

“Give me the reason to want you back Why should I love you again Do you know, tell me how To forgive and forget”

Vandross’s vocal performance in the chorus is nothing short of breathtaking, his voice soaring to impassioned heights as he conveys the depth of the protagonist’s emotional turmoil. Each note is infused with a palpable sense of longing, resonating with listeners who have experienced the heartache of a love lost and the desperate desire for reconciliation.

“Give Me the Reason” is more than just a song; it’s an emotional tapestry woven with threads of love, loss, and the yearning for understanding. Vandross’s masterful interpretation of the lyrics, coupled with the song’s timeless melody and poignant message, has cemented its place as an enduring classic, a testament to the power of music to touch the human soul.

Video

Lyrics

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Yeah-yeah
Ooh-ooh
Eah-eah-eah
Oh

What’s there to say, there’s not much to talk about
And whatever happened to all of the love that we vowed
Yes, it’s true
And there’s nothing new
You can say

Give me the reason to want you back
Why should I love you again
Do you know, tell me how
How to forgive and forget

Give me the reason to love you now
It’s been a mighty long time
And the love that used to be
Ended the day you walked out

Never knew I’d ever be
Standing a love and outside
With no one to love

Yeah-eah
Ooh-ooh-eah

I was secure and so glad there was you to love
What in the world would I ever do without us
But it’s getting clear
That I have to get over you

Give me the reason to want you back
Why should I love you again
Do you know, tell me how
How to forgive and forget

Give me the reason to love you now
It’s been a mighty long time
And the love that used to be
Ended the day you walked out

Never knew I’d ever be
Standing a love and outside
With no one to love

No one, no one to love
No one, no one to love
No one, no one to love
No one, no one to love

Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
You, ooh-eah-eah

Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah

Give me the reason to want you back
Why should I love you again
Do you know, tell me how
How to forgive and forget

Give me the reason to love you now
It’s been a mighty long time
And the love that used to be
Ended the day you walked out

Give me the reason
To love you, girl
To love you, girl
To love you, girl
To love you, girl
To love you, girl

Give me the reason
To love you, girl
To love you
To love you, girl
Ooh

To love you, girl
To love you, girl
To love you, girl
To love you, girl