It Ain't Fair
Aretha Franklin Lyrics


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People
All around me
But I don't even
Have a friend
Lord knows
I been trying
And he knows
I just can't win
Everything I do
Yeah
Seems to turn
Out wrong
Sometimes
I wish now
That I never
Been born
Whoa

Nobody
Nobody cares
Nobody cares
Baby
You know
I've had my share
Just ain't fair
(Just ain't fair)
Just ain't fair
(Just ain't fair)

Some folks
Got it easy
They live
The life of love
And play
Lord knows
I got
To struggle now
Trying
To make my way
I'm walking all day
I'm going to
Reach the town
I believe
I hope
I can make it yeah
Because my feet
Ain't gonna
Let me stop
Talking about
Jesus

Nobody
Nobody cares
Nobody cares
Baby
You know
I've had my share
Just ain't fair
(Just ain't fair)




Just ain't fair
(Just ain't fair)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "It Ain't Fair" by Aretha Franklin are a cry for help from someone who feels alone and unappreciated. The singer begins by expressing her loneliness, noting that although people surround her, she doesn't have a single friend. She talks about how hard she tries, but nothing seems to go right, and she regrets even being born.


The singer then contrasts her situation with others who seem to have it easy, living lives of love and play while she has to struggle to make her way. She emphasizes her determination to keep going, even though her feet are tired and she's been walking all day. The song then ends with a call to Jesus, which serves as a symbol for hope in the midst of her struggles.


This song speaks to the difficulties that many people face in life, particularly when it seems that others have it easier. The lyrics showcase the raw emotions of feeling alone and unappreciated, and the singer's determination to keep pushing through. It's a powerful message of hope in the face of adversity, and a call for empathy and understanding for those who may be struggling.


Line by Line Meaning

People
The people around me


All around me
Are present everywhere I go


But I don't even
Yet I don't have


Have a friend
A single companion to rely on


Lord knows
God understands


I been trying
That I've been putting in effort


And he knows
And he's aware of


I just can't win
That I'm not succeeding


Everything I do
Every action I take


Yeah
Indeed


Seems to turn
Ends up


Out wrong
In failure


Sometimes
Even occasionally


I wish now
I regret


That I never
That I never had


Been born
A life at all


Whoa
Expressing frustration


Nobody
No one at all


Nobody cares
Cares about me


Baby
My dear


You know
You're aware


I've had my share
That I've experienced my portion


Just ain't fair
It's simply unjust


(Just ain't fair)
A repetition of the previous assertion


Some folks
Some people


Got it easy
Have a simple life


They live
They possess


The life of love
A happy existence


And play
And enjoy themselves


Trying
While I struggle


Lord knows
God sees and understands


I got
That I have


To struggle now
To work hard at the moment


To make my way
To succeed in life


I'm walking all day
I'm spending the entire day walking


I'm going to
I will eventually


Reach the town
Arrive at the destination


I believe
I have faith


I hope
I am optimistic


I can make it yeah
That I can succeed despite the difficulties


Because my feet
Because my physical capabilities


Ain't gonna
Won't


Let me stop
Prevent me from quitting


Talking about
Sharing about


Jesus
My religious beliefs


(Nobody cares)
Repeating the earlier assertion


(Just ain't fair)
Restating the unfairness




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ronnie Miller

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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