I've Been Loving You Too Long

I've Been Loving You Too LongUnreleased song by Britney Spears
General information
Artists	Britney Spears
Status	Leaked
Written	1965
Recorded	2006
Leaked	April 9, 2019 (demo) December 10, 2024 (final)
Genre	Soul • pop • blues • R&B
Length	2:17 (demo vers.) 3:38 (final instr.)
Album	Blackout (outtake)
Label	Jive
Writer(s)	Otis Redding • Jerry Butler
Producer(s)	Christopher "Notes" Olsen

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" (also listed as "Otis Redding Tribute") is an unreleased cover song by American recording artist Britney Spears, intended for her fifth studio album, Blackout, or for an early version of the album.

Background

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" was written by Otis Redding and Jerry Butler. Its production was handled by Christopher "Notes" Olsen.

The song is listed in the BMI repertoire, crediting Spears as a performer. No official information has been provided about the reason it was never released.

In August 1999, Spears commented about the song and her love of R&B music.

“	I was always intrigued by R&B and blues music. My parents would listen to blues and R&B. Most of the time I didn’t even know who it was. I’ll never forget I was in a restaurant in New Orleans, and I heard this song come out of the jukebox and I was riveted by it. It was Otis Redding’s ‘I’ve Been Loving You Too Long.’ I had never heard anything so bluesy and moving like that before. The next day, my father bought me Otis Redding’s greatest hits CD. And I’ve just admired his style and music ever since.”	”
—Spears, The Herald Times

Composition

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" is a blues song with elements of soul, R&B and pop. It is composed in the key of D minor with 75 beats per minute, corresponding to 7A in the Camelot system. It is a cover of Redding's song with the same title.

Lyrical theme

"I've Been Loving You Too Long" is about a deep, persistent, and somewhat possessive love, where the narrator acknowledges that their love has endured "a little too long" and has grown into an inescapable "habit," even as the subject of their affection appears to be pulling away.

Lyrics

• Demo version
• Final version

[Verse 1]
I've been loving you
A little too long now
And I can’t stop now
Yeah, oh

[Verse 2]
You were tired
And you want to be free, yeah
My love is growing stronger
As you become a habit
A habit to me

[Chorus]
Oh, I've been loving you
A little too long now
No, I can't stop now
Oh, oh

[Post-Chorus]
I won't stop loving you, no
I won't stop loving you, no, no
I won't stop loving you
I won't stop loving you
I won't stop loving you
I won't stop
I won't stop loving you
I won’t stop loving you

[Outro]
(I won't stop loving you)

NOTE: Spears did not record this version

[Verse 1]
I've been loving too long
To stop now

[Verse 2]
You were tired
And you want to be free
My love is growing stronger
As you become a habit to me

[Chorus]
Oh, I've been loving you
Too long
I don't wanna stop now

[Verse 3]
With you, my life has been so wonderful
I can't stop now

[Verse 4]
Tired, and your love is growing cold
My love is growing stronger
As our affair, affair is growing old

[Chorus]
I've been loving you
Oh, too long
To stop now
Oh, oh

[Post-Chorus]
I've been loving you
A little too long
I don't wanna stop now
Oh, oh

[Outro]
Don't make me stop now
Oh, [?]
Please, please don't make me stop now
I love, I love
I love, [?]
Please, please, please, please
Don't make me stop now

Availability

On April 9, 2019, the demo version of "I've Been Loving You Too Long" performed by Spears surfaced online. On December 10, 2024, the final instrumental and a reference final version with Redding's vocals have also leaked. Although the song's instrumental was finished, it is known that Spears only recorded the demo version. A final version does not exist.

Audio

• Demo version by Spears - ( listen)
• Reference version by Redding - ( listen)

Trivia

• Spears may have recorded "Rebellion" and "Trouble" in the same session as "I've Been Loving You Too Long."