About The Song
âI Canât Help Myselfâ is a 1965 song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motownâs main production team HollandâDozierâHolland, âI Canât Help Myselfâ is one of the most well-known Motown recordings of the 1960s and among the decadeâs biggest hits. The single topped the Billboardâs R&B chart for nine weeks (being named the biggest R&B single of the year by Billboard) and also peaked at number one on the Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks, from June 12 to June 19 and from June 26 to July 3 in 1965.
Lamont Dozier told the story behind this song in a behind-the-scenes video for his 2018 Reimagination album: âI stayed with my grandmother when I was a kid. She owned her own home beauty shop, and when the women would come up the walkway to get their hair done, my grandfather would be pedaling around in the garden. He was a bit of a flirt, and would say, âHow you doinâ, sugar pie? Good morning, honey bunch.â He was one of those types of guys. My grandmother had a big bay window to the front of the house. Sheâd say, âLook at that old codger â he thinks I donât see. I know what heâs doing.â He was just flirting with his big smile. Iâm sitting there on the porch watching this â Iâm probably 11 or 12. I was like a sponge, soaking it up.
Years later, at Motown, Iâm sitting at the piano. Iâd take these mind trips back to my childhood, and Iâm trying to see what this piano part is telling me. Sure enough, there my grandfather is, pedaling in the garden. That memory comes to my mindâs eye, and I know where the song is supposed to go. I hear him saying, âGood morning, sugar pie. How you doinâ, honey bunch?â Thatâs what started it.â
Billboard ranked the record as the second biggest single of 1965. âI Canât Help Myselfâ was the Four Topsâ first top 40 single in the UK, peaking at No. 23 at the end of 1965, then reaching No. 10 in its early 1970 re-release.
Video
Lyric
đ” Letâs sing along with the lyrics! đ€
Ooh, sugar pie, honey bunch
You know that I love you
I Canât Help Myself
I love you and nobody else
In and out my life (In and out my life)
You come and you go (You come and you go)
Leaving just your picture behind (Ooh)
And Iâve kissed it a thousand times (Ooh)
When you snap your finger or wink your eye
I come a-running to you
Iâm tied to your apron strings
And thereâs nothing that I can do, ooh
I Canât Help Myself
No, I Canât Help Myself
âCause sugar pie, honey bunch (Sugar pie, honey bunch)
Iâm weaker than a man should be
I canât help myself
Iâm a fool in love, you see
Wanna tell you I donât love you
Tell you that weâre through, and I tried
But every time I see your face (Canât help myself)
I get all choked up inside
When I call your name
Girl, it starts to flame (Burning in my heart, tearing it all apart)
No matter how I try
My love, I cannot hide
âCause sugar pie, honey bunch (Sugar pie, honey bunch)
You know that Iâm waiting for you (Waiting for you)
Canât Help Myself
I love you and nobody else, ooh
Sugar pie, honey bunch (Sugar pie, honey bunch)
Do anything you ask me to (Ask me to)
Canât Help Myself
I want you and nobody else, ooh
Sugar pie, honey bunch (Sugar pie, honey bunch)
You know that I love you (Love you)
Canât Help Myself
No, I canât help myself, ooh