Bernadette – Four Tops

About the Song

While Four Tops are known for their soulful anthems brimming with joy and devotion, their 1967 single “Bernadette” takes a much darker turn. This hauntingly beautiful ballad explores the complexities of love, venturing into the territory of obsession and possessiveness.

Four Tops, led by the ever-expressive Levi Stubbs, deliver a performance dripping with emotional intensity. Stubbs’ vocals oscillate between desperate pleas and veiled threats, creating a complex and unsettling portrayal of the protagonist’s feelings. The opening lines, “Bernadette, when I speak of you / I see envy in other men’s eyes / And I’m well aware of what’s on their minds,” immediately establish a sense of unease, hinting at a controlling and potentially suffocating love.

The lyrics, unlike the playful declarations found in some of their other hits, paint a picture of a love bordering on obsession. Lines like, “I need you to live” and “They pretend to be my friend, when all the time / They long to persuade you from my side,” reveal a deep insecurity and a need to possess Bernadette completely. The protagonist views himself as her protector, shielding her from a world he perceives as a threat, yet his actions come across as more controlling than caring.

The melody, with its minor key and staccato rhythm, reinforces the song’s unsettling mood. It’s a departure from the usual Motown bounce, creating a sense of tension and unease that perfectly complements the dark undercurrent of the lyrics. The background vocals, with their haunting harmonies, add another layer of complexity, mirroring the protagonist’s emotional turmoil.

“Bernadette” is not a typical love song. It’s a cautionary tale that explores the destructive side of obsession. While the song doesn’t explicitly condemn the protagonist’s feelings, it leaves the listener questioning the nature of his love and the potential consequences of his possessiveness. The enduring legacy of “Bernadette” lies in its ability to challenge our perceptions of love and force us to confront the darker emotions that can sometimes take root within us.

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Lyrics: “Bernadette”

Bernadette
People are searching for
The kind of love that we possess
Some go on
Searching their whole life through
And never find the love I found in youAnd when I speak of you
I see envy in other men’s eyes
And I’m well aware of what’s on their minds
They pretend to be my friend, when all the time (sweet Bernadette)
They long to persuade you from my side (sweet Bernadette)
They’d give the world and all they own
For just one moment we have known

Bernadette
They want you because
Of the pride that it gives
But Bernadette
I want you because
I need you to live

But while I live only to hold you
Some other men, they long to control you
But how can they control you, Bernadette (sweet Bernadette)
When they can not control themselves, Bernadette (sweet Bernadette)
From wanting you, needing you
But darling, you belong to me

I’ll tell the world, you belong to me
I tell the world, you’re the soul of me
I tell the world, you’re a part of me
Bernadette

In your arms I find the kind of peace of mind
The world is searching for
But you, you give me the joy this heart of mine
Has always been longing for

In you I have what other men long for
All men need someone to worship and adore
That’s why I treasure you and place you high above
For the only joy in life is to be loved
So whatever you do, Bernadette

Keep on loving me
Bernadette, keep on needing me
Bernadette

Bernadette
You’re the soul of me
More than a dream, you’re a plan to me
And Bernadette, you mean more to me
Than a woman was ever meant to be

Bernadette
My darling, Bernadette