Love Me Tenderly
The Felice Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But war, it was love
My girl's a real shark
I'm not gonna try to uh debate it, not everybodys perfect
My baby told me, "Darling if you can't get a pardon, better get a parole"
I told her I'd be out by morning when the sun is down and with the money rolled
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I walked with my brand new slacks and my hair slick back down to Donny's pier
Donny wants me to buy him a bottle but I blew my wallet on a chandelier
All for my loving gal Eleanor who loves the elderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
Whoa! James Felice on the piano. Real talent. Alright Jimmy that's enough let's wrap it up.
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I left my blue-eyed lady when we we toting a mercedes through the gambling man
I lost my diamond watch but in the parking lot I took back again
Oh man you've got to understand
She loves me tenderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin (what)
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
A sunny day, a shotgun and a Chevrolet
Wouldn't you like that
A painted scene, our voices on the city green
Wouldn't you like that
A microwave, a pillbox and a jack of spades
Wouldn't you like that
The Felice Brothers' "Love Me Tenderly" tells the story of a man who seems to be a bit of a rogue, but is deeply in love with his girl who he describes as a shark. He suggests that he might have lost his leg in the war, but war was love to him. That could suggest that he is a veteran who has experienced the horrors of war that caused him to lose a limb, but he is okay with it because he fell in love in the process. He acknowledges that his girl has some flaws, but he feels that she is perfect for him. His girl advises him to get a parole if he can't get a pardon, and he assures her that he will be out by morning.
He then mentions that he went to the pier in some new clothes and a slick-back hairstyle. Donny, a vendor at the pier, asked him to buy him a bottle, but he explains that he had already spent all his money on a chandelier as a gift for his lover Eleanor. He refers to Eleanor as a lover of the elderly, which could mean that she is compassionate or charitable towards the elderly. He then repeats the chorus that his girl loves him tenderly and that she is the perfect girl for him. He further indulges in his fantasies, mentioning several material things that he would like to have and jokes about how great it would be.
The song is a melodic expression of a guy who has had some tough times in his past, but he now has a girl who is supportive of him. The story is told through vivid language and interesting imagery, with the piano and other instruments creating a honky-tonk, saloon-like feeling. The man's love for his woman is clear in the lyrics, and he paints a picture of a life with her that is full of shared experiences and tokens of affection.
Line by Line Meaning
I might lost my leg in the war
I may have lost my leg during the war
But war, it was love
Though I lost my leg, I still loved the war
My girl's a real shark
My girlfriend is cunning and aggressive
I'm not gonna try to uh debate it, not everybodys perfect
I won't argue with that, nobody is perfect
My baby told me, "Darling if you can't get a pardon, better get a parole"
My girlfriend suggested that if I can't get a pardon, I should try for parole
I told her I'd be out by morning when the sun is down and with the money rolled
I promised her that I'd be out by the morning, with the funds in hand
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
That girl is the one for me
She loves me tenderly
She loves me with complete gentleness
I walked with my brand new slacks and my hair slick back down to Donny's pier
I strolled down to Donny's pier, sporting new trousers and slicked-back hair
Donny wants me to buy him a bottle but I blew my wallet on a chandelier
Donny asked me to buy him a bottle, but I spent all my money on a chandelier
All for my loving gal Eleanor who loves the elderly
I did it all for my beloved Eleanor, who adores the elderly
A bottle of scotch
A bottle filled with Scotch whiskey
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Ten dollars worth of drugs and a watch with diamonds
Wouldn't you like that
Don't you think that sounds great?
A bottle of gin
A bottle of gin
A typewriter and a violin
A writing machine and a musical instrument
Whoa! James Felice on the piano. Real talent. Alright Jimmy that's enough let's wrap it up.
James Felice is playing the piano and is talented, but it's time to finish the song now
I left my blue-eyed lady when we we toting a mercedes through the gambling man
I left my blue-eyed lady when we were driving a Mercedes through the gambling district
I lost my diamond watch but in the parking lot I took back again
I lost my diamond watch, but I was able to retrieve it from the parking lot
Oh man you've got to understand
You really need to understand
A sunny day, a shotgun and a Chevrolet
A sunny day, shotgun, and Chevrolet car
A painted scene, our voices on the city green
A colorful picture with our voices echoing through the city park
A microwave, a pillbox and a jack of spades
A microwave oven, a container for pills, and the Jack of Spades card
Contributed by Sophia R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
A Solano
I have obsessed over the background outro chorus (or whatever it's called) for years. The lyrics have been up for debate for almost a decade, but I think I've finally pieced together the pauses, line-by-line. I'm not 100% sure about these though, so please fill in where you think changes should be made.
I had
an electric
blanket as a kid
and it burned my feet
My dad
was elected
fire chief again
in 1983
The volunteers
all loved him
in his shiny red and browns
if I recall
They'd raise their beers
above them
singing burn this mother down
and the sirens call
I had
an electric
blanket as a kid
and it burned my feet
juliocaesarm_
I might lost my leg in the war
But war, it was love
My girl's a real shark
I'm not gonna try to uh debate it, not everybodys perfect
My baby told me, "Darling if you can't get a pardon, better get a parole"
I told her I'd be out by morning when the sun is down and with the money rolled
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I walked with my brand new slacks and my hair slick back down to Donny's pier
Donny wants me to buy him a bottle but I blew my wallet on a chandelier
All for my loving gal Eleanor who loves the elderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
Whoa! James Felice on the piano.
Real talent. Alright Jimmy that's enough let's wrap it up.
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I left my blue-eyed lady when we we toting a mercedes through the gambling man
I lost my diamond watch but in the parking lot I took back again
Oh man you've got to understand
She loves me tenderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin (what)
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
A sunny day, a shotgun and a Chevrolet
Wouldn't you like that
A painted scene, our voices on the city green
Wouldn't you like that
A microwave, a pillbox and a jack of spades
Wouldn't you like that.
Betawi Kansai
I might lost my leg in the war
But war, it was love
My girl's a real shark
I'm not gonna try to uh debate it, not everybodys perfect
My baby told me, "Darling if you can't get a pardon, better get a parole"
I told her I'd be out by morning when the sun is down and with the money rolled
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I walked with my brand new slacks and my hair slick back down to Donny's pier
Donny wants me to buy him a bottle but I blew my wallet on a chandelier
All for my loving gal Eleanor who loves the elderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
Whoa! James Felice on the piano. Real talent. Alright Jimmy that's enough let's wrap it up.
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I left my blue-eyed lady when we we toting a mercedes through the gambling man
I lost my diamond watch but in the parking lot I took back again
Oh man you've got to understand
She loves me tenderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin (what)
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
A sunny day, a shotgun and a Chevrolet
Wouldn't you like that
A painted scene, our voices on the city green
Wouldn't you like that
A microwave, a pillbox and a jack of spades
Wouldn't you like that
msg36093
Best song I've heard in three years. Excellent work, Brothers Felice
David Apodaca
The throat clear at 1:24 is the best part of the song. I don't know why. It's just genius.
Taclips
ikr
lelouvert
Damn, think I've listened to this song 28 times today and still can't get enough of it. Had it all day on repeat in my car. :-) Ok, now one last time. NAAAH! 20 more times!!! OOOOHWEEEE...
J Sandman
Same, 11 years later
A Solano
I have obsessed over the background outro chorus (or whatever it's called) for years. The lyrics have been up for debate for almost a decade, but I think I've finally pieced together the pauses, line-by-line. I'm not 100% sure about these though, so please fill in where you think changes should be made.
I had
an electric
blanket as a kid
and it burned my feet
My dad
was elected
fire chief again
in 1983
The volunteers
all loved him
in his shiny red and browns
if I recall
They'd raise their beers
above them
singing burn this mother down
and the sirens call
I had
an electric
blanket as a kid
and it burned my feet
incaseofrapture
I have been wondering these lyrics for years… you are seriously doing God’s work! Lol. Thank you!
Chris Vincent
Because of you I can only hear the background vocals through that entire section of the song. I love it even more than I did before. Thanks!
juliocaesarm_
I might lost my leg in the war
But war, it was love
My girl's a real shark
I'm not gonna try to uh debate it, not everybodys perfect
My baby told me, "Darling if you can't get a pardon, better get a parole"
I told her I'd be out by morning when the sun is down and with the money rolled
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I walked with my brand new slacks and my hair slick back down to Donny's pier
Donny wants me to buy him a bottle but I blew my wallet on a chandelier
All for my loving gal Eleanor who loves the elderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
Whoa! James Felice on the piano.
Real talent. Alright Jimmy that's enough let's wrap it up.
Ooh we, that gal's the gal for me
She loves me tenderly
I left my blue-eyed lady when we we toting a mercedes through the gambling man
I lost my diamond watch but in the parking lot I took back again
Oh man you've got to understand
She loves me tenderly
A bottle of scotch
A dimesack and a diamond watch
Wouldn't you like that
A bottle of gin (what)
A typewriter and a violin
Wouldn't you like that
A sunny day, a shotgun and a Chevrolet
Wouldn't you like that
A painted scene, our voices on the city green
Wouldn't you like that
A microwave, a pillbox and a jack of spades
Wouldn't you like that.
CharlyXD09
I adore this song <3