Fatal beauty, the chokin' kind
Dangerous feeling in this heart of mine
How can you love me
And treat me so unkind
You got me floppin' like a fish in a pan
Ain't no way to treat your man

Maydell
Baby won't you please love me
Oh Maydell, sure put the squeeze on me
I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydell

Fire spreads quick through the neighborhood
Talk is cheap when the story's good
Nobody said you did, but everybody said that you would
You got me feelin' like a dog, chasin' his tail
I know I'll never catch you - you play the game too well

Maydell
Baby won't you please love me
Oh Maydell, sure put the squeeze on me
Well I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell, Maydell

Every time I try to walk away,
Just walk away
You bat them eyes, beg me to stay,
Honey won't you stay
Ruby red lips, callin' my name
Forget about the sorrow and the shame
Maydell

Well every time I try to walk away,
Ooo just walk away
You bat them eyes, beg me to stay,
Honey won't you stay
Ruby red lips, callin' my name
Forget about the sorrow and the shame

Maydell
Baby won't you please love me
Oh Maydell, sure put the squeeze on me
Well I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell

Maydell
Baby won't you please love me
Oh Maydell, sure put the squeeze on me
Well I don't know why I love you,
You put me through hell
I can't break your spell
Can't break the spell
Can't break the spell, Maydell
Ohhh
Ohh babe

Overall Meaning

The Allman Brothers Band's song Maydell is about a woman named Maydell who the singer is in love with, despite the fact that she treats him poorly. The opening lines describe Maydell's allure and the dangerous, suffocating feeling she creates within the singer. He questions how she can love him while treating him so unkindly, comparing himself to a fish flopping in a pan. He laments that there is no way to treat a man that way.

The chorus of the song reflects the singer's confusion over his feelings for Maydell. He begs her to love him but also acknowledges that she puts him through hell. He is unable to break the spell she has over him, despite recognizing the harm she causes him.

The verses of the song paint a picture of the neighborhood gossiping about Maydell's behavior and the singer feeling like he's chasing his own tail trying to keep up with her. He describes Maydell's seductive ways, calling him back every time he tries to leave her. The song's final chorus repeats the same plea for love and recognition of the pain Maydell causes him.

Overall, the lyrics of Maydell capture the universal experience of being in a conflicted, toxic relationship. The singer is drawn to Maydell's beauty and charisma but is also acutely aware of the pain she causes him, and struggles to break free from her spell.

Line by Line Meaning

Fatal beauty, the chokin' kind
Your beauty is mesmerizing, but it's suffocating me.

Dangerous feeling in this heart of mine
I'm in love with you, but it's hurting me.

How can you love me And treat me so unkind
You say you love me, but your actions don't match your words.

You got me floppin' like a fish in a pan Ain't no way to treat your man
You're making me feel helpless and I don't deserve this treatment.

Maydell Baby won't you please love me Oh Maydell, sure put the squeeze on me I don't know why I love you, You put me through hell I can't break your spell, Maydell
Maydell, I want your love but it hurts me at the same time. I don't know why I love you, but I can't break free from your hold on me.

Fire spreads quick through the neighborhood Talk is cheap when the story's good Nobody said you did, but everybody said that you would
People love to gossip and spread rumors, even if they're untrue.

You got me feelin' like a dog, chasin' his tail I know I'll never catch you - you play the game too well
I feel like I'm running in circles trying to win your love, but you always stay out of reach.

Every time I try to walk away, Just walk away You bat them eyes, beg me to stay, Honey won't you stay Ruby red lips, callin' my name Forget about the sorrow and the shame Maydell
Whenever I try to leave, you lure me back with your looks and charm. You make me forget all the pain you've put me through.

Can't break the spell Can't break the spell, Maydell Ohhh Ohh babe
I'm still under your spell, Maydell, and I can't break free from your grasp.

Contributed by Dylan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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