You Beat Me To The Punch

"You Beat Me to the Punch" is a soul single by Motown singer Mary Wells, released on the Motown label in 1962. It was co-written by Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, who was responsible for the majority of hits released by Wells while she was a Motown artist, and another Miracles member, Ronnie White. Following the success of the previous single, "The One Who Really Loves You", Motown released this record shortly after it was produced and the song performed similar work as "The One Who Really Loves You" did,becoming a Billboard Top 10 Pop smash, peaking at number nine on the pop chart and becoming her first number-one hit on the Billboard R&B singles chart. It also won Wells a Grammy nomination for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. Like "The One Who Really Loves You" before it, the song was produced under a mock-calypso beat. This song inspired an "answer" song by soul singer Gene Chandler called "You Threw A Lucky Punch" which used the same music and different lyrics which became an R&B chart hit that year. Lead vocal by Mary Wells Background vocals by the Love Tones Written and produced by Smokey Robinson and Ronald "Ronnie" White Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers

[Verse 1] That day, I first saw you 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 [Chorus 1] You beat me to the punch that time You beat me to the punch You beat me to the punch [Verse 2] 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 [Chorus 1] You beat me to the punch that time You beat me to the punch You beat me to the punch [Verse 3] 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 [Chorus 2] And beat you to the punch this time 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