The Isley Brothers

Released: May 14, 1996

Featuring: Ronald Isley

Songwriter: Babyface

Producer: Ronald Isley Angela Winbush

[Verse 1]
Thank you, baby
For the years you've given me
For each beat of my heart
For every breath I breathe
Thank you, sweetie
For the best times of my life
Through the good, through the bad
You were always by my side

[Pre-Chorus]
I never thought I'd meet someone
Who loves unselfishly
But I appreciate the way you loved
And sacrificed for me

[Chorus]
I can't hold back these tears
Let me cry
(Although a man's not suppose to cry, baby)
If I hold back my tears
I'll just die
(You've given so much to my life)

[Verse 2]
Thank you, lady
For the joy you bring to life
When I thought all was lost and gone
You brought hope back in sight
Thank you, honey
For being my best friend
When I thought no one understood
You would always understand
I used to think that I knew love
And what true love would mean
Now I know that I didn't know much
'Cause you taught me everything

[Chorus]
I can't hold back these tears
Let me cry
(Although a man's not suppose to cry)
If I hold back my tears
I'll just die
(You've given so much to my life)

[Bridge]
Oh, God so loved the world
That He blessed us all with you
And then he gave me a heart
Now I'm giving it to you, baby
And these tears I cry are tears of joy
My happiness, I do rejoice
In the love you give unselfishly
Your constant sacrifice for me

[Chorus]
I can't hold back these tears
Let me cry
(Although a man's not suppose to cry)
If I hold back my tears
I'll just die
(You, you, you've given so much to my life)
I can't hold back these tears
Let me cry
(Although a man's not suppose to cry)
If I hold back my tears
I'll just die
(Oh, you've given so much, so much, so much to my life, baby)
I can't hold back these tears
Let me cry
(Oh, let me cry, baby)
If I hold back my tears
I'll just die
(Oh, don't let me, don't, don't, don't let me)

[Outro]
I can't hold back these tears
(Yeah, I'll just die, oh, oh, oh)

The Isley Brothers are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, originally a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley. The group has been cited as having enjoyed one of the “longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music”.

Alongside a fourth brother, Vernon, the group originally performed gospel music until Vernon’s death a few years after its original formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had modest chart successes during their early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, “Shout”, written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. Afterwards the group recorded modestly successful works for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single, “Twist and Shout” and the Motown single, “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)” before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit, “It’s Your Thing” on their own label, T-Neck Records.

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