This song was written by Denny Randell and Sandy Linzer, who were brought into the Four Seasons universe by their producer, Bob Crewe, when he was looking for a new sound for the group, who had enjoyed three years of hits but were looking to keep their music contemporary. Randell and Linzer wrote “Let’s Hang On!,” which hit #3 in the US, and their next song for the group was “Working My Way Back to You.”
The songs were similar in a lot of ways; Denny Randell told us, “although the tempo was different and the song was a totally different song, it was part of that same element of staying in that horns, R&B bag sort of thing. The interesting bass lines and so on and so forth.”
Lyrically, the song followed the Four Seasons tradition of upbeat songs where Frankie Valli is pleading with a girl. This one is a little extreme, with the guy admitting he cheated on her and enjoyed making her cry – bigger indiscretions than you usually find in “please take me back” songs. At least the guy here knows he’ll have to work for it.
(source songfacts.com)
Lyrics
I’m workin’ my way back to you babe
With a burnin’ love inside
Yeah I’m workin’ my way back to you babe
And the happiness that died
I let it get away
Paying every day
When you were so in love with me
I played around like I was free
Thought I could have my cake and eat it too
But how I cried over losin’ you
See me down and out
But I ain’t about to go livin’ my life without you
For every day, I made you cry
I’m payin’ girl, till the day that I die
I’ll keep workin’ my way back to you babe
With a burnin’ love inside
I’m workin’ my way back to you babe
And the happiness that died
I let it get away
Been payin’ every day
I used to love to make you cry (Make you cry)
It made me feel like a man inside (Baby, baby)
But if I’d been a man in reality (Cry, cry)
You’d still be here babe, lovin’ me
Now the nights are long and lonely
And I ain’t too strong babe, I just miss you so
And you’re too proud, you won’t give in
But when I think, about all I could win
I keep workin’ my way back to you babe
With a burnin’ love inside
Mmm, I’m workin’ my way back to you babe
And the happiness that died
I let it get away
Been payin’ every day
Yeah, yeah, yeah
I’m workin’ my way back to you babe
With a burnin’ love inside
Ooh, I’m workin’ my way back to you babe
And the happiness that died
Oh, how I cried
Workin’ my way back to you babe
With a burnin’ love inside
I’m workin’ my way back to you babe
Written by Denny Randell, Sandy Linzer • Copyright © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
A nice cover of this song by The Spinners…
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