You Beat Me to the Punch

Album: The One Who Really Loves You (1962)
Charted: 9
Play Video
  • That day, I first saw you, oh, oh, passing by
    I wanted to know your name but I was much too shy
    But I was looking at you so hard
    Until you must have had a hunch
    So you came up to me and asked me my name

    You beat me to the punch, that time
    You beat me to the punch, oh, oh, oh, oh
    You beat me to the punch

    Oh oh oh, after I had known you for it seems like a long, long time
    I wanted, wanted to ask you, would you please, please be mine
    Whenever you came around, my heart would pound
    So you must have had a hunch
    So you came up to me and asked me to be yours

    You beat me to the punch one more time
    You beat me to the punch, oh, oh, oh, oh
    You beat me to the punch, yeah

    Since I love you, I thought you would be true and love me tender
    So I let my heart surrender, to you, yes I did
    But I found out beyond a doubt one day boy, you were a playboy
    Who would go away and leave me blue

    So I ain't gonna wait around for you to put me down
    This time I'm gonna play my hunch
    And walk away this very day

    And beat you to the punch
    This time, I'll beat you to the punch
    Yes, I will
    And let you know, know
    How it feels, oh, oh, oh Writer/s: Ronald White, William Robinson Jr
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 4

  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaElmer you can thank the late James Jamerson for that DEEP bass.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 27th 1962, Mary Wells performed "You Beat Me to the Punch" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    At the time the song was at #11 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; a week earlier it had been at #9 {for 1 week}, and that was also its peak position on the chart...
    And on September 16th, 1962 it reached #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's R&B Singles chart; it was preceded and then succeeded at #1 on the R&B Singles chart by "Green Onions" by Booker T. and the MG's...
    Between 1961 and 1968 she had twenty-three songs on the Top 100 chart; four made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "My Guy" for two weeks in 1964...
    Sadly, Mary Wells passed away on July 26th, 1992 at the young age of 49...
    May he R.I.P.
  • Elmer from Westville, OkMan, this Mary Wells hit really had a big beat to it! I remember it in the fall of 1962 & sounded super on jukeboxes because of the deep bass. Great song to do the mashed potato to. I became a Mary Wells fan on her big hit prior to this hit. It was "The One Who Really Loves You" from spring 1962. But it was "You Beat Me to the Punch" that got to #1 in my area of eastern Oklahoma. I believe it was #1 (pop) on KAAY-AM radio out of Little Rock, Arkansas that was popular with teens in eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas at the time. It is a shame that Motown boss Berry Gordy felt he had to cheat and mistreat the late, great Mary Wells out of some of her stardom and financial means when she was still at Motown. Wells is truly "The Queen of Motown."
  • Barry from Sauquoit, Nyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQhEUr3AqUM
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Producer Ron Nevison

Producer Ron NevisonSong Writing

Ron Nevison explains in very clear terms the Quadrophenia concept and how Heart staged their resurgence after being dropped by their record company.

Rosanne Cash

Rosanne CashSongwriter Interviews

Rosanne talks about the journey that inspired her songs on her album The River & the Thread, including a stop at the Tallahatchie Bridge.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.

Amy Lee of Evanescence

Amy Lee of EvanescenceSongwriter Interviews

The Evanescence frontwoman on the songs that have shifted meaning and her foray into kids' music.