Now here I am
With this pain in my heart now
I got a sweet little woman
Took my heart and
She tore it apart

I tried not to show it
But it just ain't no use

It's just like holding on
To a hot rod now, baby
I can't turn it loose now

I just had a love attack
Lord, I just had a love attack

Now my love life was nothing
In fact, it was a blank
Until you came along, ooh wee
You put a little tiger in my tank

Can't you see you got me
Helpless right now, baby
Laid down on my back

You got me down, down, down
Down, down from a love attack

I've had the mumps and the measles
Lord, I had the whooping cough
I been down with double pneumonia
But I was able to shake it off

But you came along and
Knocked me flat on my back
Now you got me suffering
From a little love attack

I fell for you, baby
Baby, I fell for you
Just like a rock now

When you turned on your love
I was so weak, I just
Couldn't stand the shock now

You hit me just like lightning
Knocked me out of my chair
You got me down, baby
I'm down with a love attack

Can't you see you
Got me down right now
Down with a love attack

Got my mind messed up
I got a love attack now

I, I love you
I love you

Overall Meaning

"Love Attack" is a soulful, bluesy song by James Carr released in 1966 that speaks of the painful experience of falling deeply in love with someone and having them abruptly end the relationship. The song talks about a man who has been deeply hurt by a woman that he gave his heart to. He describes the pain in his heart and compares it to a physical injury that he just can't let go of. Despite his efforts to hide his emotions, he is unable to do so and is left feeling helpless and vulnerable. He reminisces on how his love life was empty and dull before he met her, but she was able to light a flame in him and fill his life with passion. However, now that she's gone, he feels like he's suffering from a "love attack," a feeling that's emotionally debilitating in the same way that a physical attack would be.

The lyrics of "Love Attack" are a vivid depiction of love and heartbreak through powerful metaphorical imagery. Carr utilizes metaphors such as "hot rod" and "little tiger in my tank" to describe the passionate and invigorating nature of love, portraying it as a powerful force that's both exhilarating and painful. Comparing the pain of heartbreak to physical injuries like the mumps and measles, whooping cough, and double pneumonia, Carr makes a bold statement about the emotional impact of lost love. He further uses the metaphor of getting "knocked flat on [his] back," to describe how the experience has rendered him unable to do anything but feel sadness, helplessness, and a loss of control.

Line by Line Meaning

Now here I am
The singer is in a specific place

With this pain in my heart now
The singer is feeling emotional pain

I got a sweet little woman
The singer has a romantic partner

Took my heart and
Their partner captured their love and affection

She tore it apart
The partner broke the artist's heart

I tried not to show it
The singer attempted to hide their emotions

But it just ain't no use
Their attempt to control their emotions is failing

It's just like holding on
Their feeling of pain is overwhelming

To a hot rod now, baby
Their emotional pain is intense

I can't turn it loose now
The artist is struggling to let go of their feelings

I just had a love attack
The singer is overwhelmed with emotions related to their love life

Lord, I just had a love attack
The artist feels helpless and vulnerable in love

Now my love life was nothing
The singer had no romantic experiences prior to meeting their partner

In fact, it was a blank
The singer's love life was empty

Until you came along, ooh wee
The singer met their current partner and their love life changed

You put a little tiger in my tank
Their partner brought excitement and passion to their life

Can't you see you got me
The artist's partner has a major impact on their emotions

Helpless right now, baby
The singer feels vulnerable to their partner's influence

Laid down on my back
The singer feels defeated and powerless

You got me down, down, down
The artist's partner has caused them to feel extreme sadness

Down, down from a love attack
The artist's emotions related to love are overwhelming and intense

I've had the mumps and the measles
The artist has experienced physical illnesses in the past

Lord, I had the whooping cough
The singer has experienced severe illnesses in the past

I been down with double pneumonia
The artist has survived a serious health condition

But you came along and
The singer's partner had a significant impact on their life

Knocked me flat on my back
The singer's partner caused them to feel overwhelmed and powerless

Now you got me suffering
The singer is experiencing significant emotional pain

From a little love attack
The artist's emotional pain is related to their love life

I fell for you, baby
The artist fell in love with their partner

Baby, I fell for you
The singer is expressing their love for their partner

Just like a rock now
The singer fell in love suddenly and strongly

When you turned on your love
The artist's partner reciprocated their feelings of love

I was so weak, I just
The artist was overpowered by their emotions

Couldn't stand the shock now
The artist was stunned by their partner's reciprocation of love

You hit me just like lightning
The singer's emotions over their partner were sudden and intense

Knocked me out of my chair
The artist was emotionally overwhelmed

You got me down, baby
The singer's partner has caused them significant emotional pain

I'm down with a love attack
The singer is overwhelmed with emotions related to their love life

Can't you see you
The singer's partner has a significant impact on their emotions

Got me down right now
The artist is currently feeling emotionally defeated

Got my mind messed up
The artist is experiencing significant emotional turmoil

I got a love attack now
The singer's emotions related to love are overwhelming and intense

I, I love you
The singer is expressing their love for their partner

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