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‘I Want A Love I Can See’ by The Temptations

About the Song

In the realm of soul music, few groups stand as tall and iconic as The Temptations. With their silky harmonies, infectious rhythms, and deeply emotive lyrics, they have captivated audiences for generations. Among their extensive discography, one particular song stands out as a testament to their enduring artistry: “I Want a Love I Can See.”

Released in 1965, “I Want a Love I Can See” is a soul ballad that captures the essence of longing and desire. The song’s opening notes, a delicate interplay of piano and strings, set the stage for a heartfelt plea for genuine connection. As David Ruffin’s lead vocals soar, he paints a vivid picture of a love that transcends superficiality, a love that is visible in actions and unwavering devotion.

A testament to the power of vulnerability, “I Want a Love I Can See” strips away the pretense and lays bare the singer’s emotional yearning. The lyrics, penned by the songwriting duo of Whitfield and Holland, are achingly honest, revealing a deep-seated desire for a love that is not just felt but seen and experienced in every facet of life.

The song’s arrangement masterfully complements the emotional depth of the lyrics. The instrumentation, characterized by a gentle groove and subtle flourishes, provides a warm and inviting backdrop for Ruffin’s impassioned vocals. The backing vocals, sung by the other Temptations, add layers of harmony and support, further emphasizing the song’s message of heartfelt connection.

“I Want a Love I Can See” is more than just a love song; it’s a universal anthem for anyone who has ever craved a love that is genuine, unwavering, and demonstrably real. It speaks to the human need for connection, for a love that goes beyond words and gestures and manifests itself in tangible actions and unwavering support.

The song’s enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless message and its ability to resonate with listeners across generations. It has been covered by numerous artists, each bringing their own interpretation to the song while staying true to its core message of emotional authenticity.

“I Want a Love I Can See” is a soul classic that stands the test of time. It is a song that speaks to the heart, reminding us of the power of genuine connection and the importance of seeking a love that is not just felt but seen and experienced in every aspect of our lives.

Video 

Lyrics: I Want A Love I Can See

I want a love I can see. (Ah-Pow-Pow)
That’s the only kind that means a thing to me. (Ah-Pow-Pow)
Don’t want a love you have to tell me about. (Ah-Pow-Pow)
That kind of loving I can sure do without. (I can sure do without)Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeahI want a love I can feel. (Doo-Doo)
That’s the only kind of loving I think it’s real. (Doo-Doo)
Don’t want to be quoted by something I heard now. (Doo-Doo)
‘Cause baby action speaks louder than words. (Ah, louder than words)

Yeah, yeah, yeah

I want a love that’s mine. (I want a love, that’s mine)
In the rain or in sun, sun, sunshine. (I want a love, that’s mine)
A love to keep warm when it’s cold. (I want a love, that’s mine)
The kind of love that will never grow old. (Never grow old)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh-uh-huh

(Don’t you know I want a love)
(Why don’t you know I want a love)
(Why don’t you know I want a love)

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Want a love I can see. (I wanna love I can see)
The kind of love you can give to me. (Give to me)
The kind of kisses to make, make me melt. (Ooo, make me melt)
The kind of love that can really be felt, now. (Really be felt)

Yeah, yeah, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby… I
Yeah, I want her love now.
The kind of love that can be felt.
Uh-huh. Yeah

Yeah, yeah, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby… I
Yeah
No I, I, I, I… I wanna love her.
Uh-huh. Yeah

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SHE WAS A BRIDE AT FIFTEEN, A MOTHER AT SIXTEEN, AND THE FIRST WOMAN NASHVILLE EVER HAD TO CALL “ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR” — THEN SHE NAMED HER BABY AFTER THE BEST FRIEND SHE’D JUST BURIED, AND THAT BABY SPENT A LIFETIME MAKING SURE NEITHER VOICE WAS FORGOTTEN. Loretta Lynn came out of Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, with nothing but a coal miner’s last name and a voice that could pin a grown man to his chair. Married before she could drive. Four children by twenty-two. Then she wrote songs that scared Nashville half to death — about cheating husbands, birth control pills, and women who’d had enough. Sixteen number-ones. Presidential Medal of Freedom. The whole world calling her the Coal Miner’s Daughter. In 1963, her best friend Patsy Cline died in a plane crash. The next year, Loretta gave birth to twins. She named one of them Patsy. That little girl grew up backstage, between tour buses and honky-tonks. She formed The Lynns with her twin sister Peggy. Earned CMA nominations. Then she did something quieter and heavier — she stepped behind the glass and co-produced her mother’s final albums alongside Johnny Cash’s son. Loretta died October 4, 2022. That first birthday without her, Patsy woke up reaching for a phone call that wasn’t coming — her mama singing “Happy Birthday,” the way she always had. Does knowing Loretta named her daughter after a ghost she never stopped grieving make “I Fall to Pieces” feel like it belongs to both of them now?

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SHE WAS A BRIDE AT FIFTEEN, A MOTHER AT SIXTEEN, AND THE FIRST WOMAN NASHVILLE EVER HAD TO CALL “ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR” — THEN SHE NAMED HER BABY AFTER THE BEST FRIEND SHE’D JUST BURIED, AND THAT BABY SPENT A LIFETIME MAKING SURE NEITHER VOICE WAS FORGOTTEN. Loretta Lynn came out of Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, with nothing but a coal miner’s last name and a voice that could pin a grown man to his chair. Married before she could drive. Four children by twenty-two. Then she wrote songs that scared Nashville half to death — about cheating husbands, birth control pills, and women who’d had enough. Sixteen number-ones. Presidential Medal of Freedom. The whole world calling her the Coal Miner’s Daughter. In 1963, her best friend Patsy Cline died in a plane crash. The next year, Loretta gave birth to twins. She named one of them Patsy. That little girl grew up backstage, between tour buses and honky-tonks. She formed The Lynns with her twin sister Peggy. Earned CMA nominations. Then she did something quieter and heavier — she stepped behind the glass and co-produced her mother’s final albums alongside Johnny Cash’s son. Loretta died October 4, 2022. That first birthday without her, Patsy woke up reaching for a phone call that wasn’t coming — her mama singing “Happy Birthday,” the way she always had. Does knowing Loretta named her daughter after a ghost she never stopped grieving make “I Fall to Pieces” feel like it belongs to both of them now?

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“YOU MAKE THE COFFEE, I’LL MAKE THE BED.” — GLEN CAMPBELL DIDN’T NEED A LOVE POEM. HE JUST NEEDED AN OKLAHOMA MORNING. In December 1971, Glen Campbell released “Oklahoma Sunday Morning.” It peaked at #15 on the country charts—not his biggest hit by a long shot. But something about this track stuck. It wasn’t about fame or tragedy; it was about coffee, making the bed, and packing a lunch. It was the kind of love that doesn’t make headlines. But the way Glen sang it, you realized he wasn’t just describing a routine. He was singing about the only place that truly felt like home. A kid from a sharecropper’s family of twelve in Delight, Arkansas—who went on to sell 45 million records—poured something deeply personal into this quiet track. Fifty years later, folks across Oklahoma still know every word. Some songs don’t need to reach #1. They just need to be true.