The Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” is one of Motown’s most beloved No. 1 hits. But if it hadn’t been for Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier’s flirtatious grandfather, the song might have never existed.
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Fortunately for all of us (and perhaps not-so fortunately for Dozier’s grandmother), that “old codger” loved to be sweet to the women he encountered throughout the day.
The Story Behind “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”
The Four Tops released “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” in late April 1965. Shortly after, it reached the top of the Billboard R&B charts for nine weeks and the Billboard Hot 100 for two non-consecutive weeks. The song is one of the most recognizable from Motown’s vast catalogue, featuring a distinct drum beat, glittery tambourine, and a refrain that begs the listener to sing along. Songwriter Lamont Dozier explained the story behind the catchy refrain, and we can’t help but laugh at his childhood memory of his grandparents squabbling.
“I stayed with my grandmother when I was a kid. She owned her own home beauty shop, and when the women would come up the walkway to get their hair done, my grandfather would be piddling around in the garden,” Dozier explained. “He was a bit of a flirt and would say, ‘How you doing, sugar pie? Good morning, honey bunch.’ He was one of those types of guys. My grandmother had a big bay window to the front of the house. She’d say, ‘Look at that old codger. He thinks I don’t see. I know what he’s doing.’”
“He was just flirting with his big smile,” he continued. “I’m sitting there on the porch watching this. I’m probably 11 or 12. I was like a sponge, soaking it up. Years later, at Motown, I’m sitting at the piano. I’d take these mind trips back to my childhood, and I’m trying to see what this piano part is telling me. Sure enough, there my grandfather is, piddling in the garden. That memory comes to my mind’s eye, and I know where the song is supposed to go.”
That’s Not The Only Inspiration Lamont Dozier Took From His Grandfather
At his own admission, Lamont Dozier was somewhat of a ladies’ man himself. Seemingly taking after his grandfather, Dozier had an affinity for being sweet on women—even if they were women he wasn’t supposed to be sweet with. While that was undoubtedly a point of contention for Dozier’s partners, it resulted in memorable Motown hits, similarly to how he came up with “I Can’t Help Myself.”
“I was having an argument with my girlfriend one night, and she was pretty heated up because I was quite the ladies’ man at that time, and I’d been cheating on her,” Dozier confessed, per The Guardian. “She started telling me off and swinging at me until I said, ‘Stop! In the name of love!’ And as soon as I’d said it, I heard a cash register in my head and laughed. My girlfriend didn’t think it was very amusing. We broke up. The only ones who were happy about it were the Supremes.”
Once again, the Dozier family’s habit of being overly flirtatious led to a chart-topping Motown hit. We’re not sure whether it softened the blow of the relationship squabbles that resulted from the flirting and cheating. But the success of those songs likely soothed any hard feelings Dozier (or his grandma) were feeling at the time.
Photo by Everett/Shutterstock
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