Give Me Your Love
Aretha Franklin and James Brown Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's an evil wind that blows no good, yeah
It's a sad heart that won't love like I know it should
Oh, how lonesome (oh how lonesome)
You must be (you must be)
It's a shame (shame, shame)
If you don't share your love with me

It's a heartache, yeah (it's a heartache)
When love is gone (baby, it's a heartache)
But it's bad (bad) and even sad (sad) oh later on
And there's no one blinder than you won't see
It's a shame (shame, shame)
If you don't share some of your love with me

I can't help it, oh no
He is gone
I must try to forget
Because I've got to live on
Oh, it's a good thing, it's a sweet thing (it's a sweet thing)
To love someone (such a sweet thing)
But it's bad (bad) and even sad (sad)
When it's not returned
And oh, how lonesome, how lonesome, how lonesome (oh, how lonesome)
You must be (you must be)

I tell you it would be a shame (shame, shame)
A shame if you don't share your love with me (share your love with me)
It would really be a mistake, baby (shame, shame)
If you don't share your love with me (share your love with me)




It would sure be a shame (shame, shame) if you don't share
Share your love with me (share your love with me)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Aretha Franklin's "Share Your Love With Me" are about the pain of unrequited love and the longing for the affection of another. The opening lines of the song, "It's an evil wind that blows no good, yeah, it's a sad heart that won't love like I know it should," suggest a sense of hopelessness in the face of the singer's love being unreturned. Throughout the song, we hear how lonely the singer feels because of love denied, and how much they want the object of their love to reciprocate.


The lyrics are a plea for the object of the singer's affection to share their love, and there is a sense of desperation in the repetition of the phrase "It's a shame if you don't share your love with me." Overall, the lyrics express the universal experience of yearning for someone who doesn't feel the same way, and the pain that can cause.


In short, Aretha Franklin's "Share Your Love With Me" is a soulful ballad about unrequited love and the feelings of loneliness and sadness that accompany it.


Line by Line Meaning

It's an evil wind that blows no good, yeah
If everything around you is going wrong, then that should not discourage you from showing love to others.


It's a sad heart that won't love like I know it should
Refusal to reciprocate love and show affection towards others leads to feelings of sadness and loneliness.


Oh, how lonesome (oh how lonesome)
The feeling of loneliness is overwhelming and powerful, as shown by this repeated phrase.


You must be (you must be)
The singer is addressing someone in particular and implying that they must be experiencing the same sense of loneliness.


It's a shame (shame, shame)
The fact that someone is not sharing their love with the singer and causing them to feel lonely is truly lamentable.


If you don't share your love with me
The singer is making a plea to the other person, asking them to share their love and affection with her.


It's a heartache, yeah (it's a heartache)
Not receiving love in return can lead to immense pain and heartache.


When love is gone (baby, it's a heartache)
Losing love and not receiving it in return causes a feeling of heartbreak and pain.


But it's bad (bad) and even sad (sad) oh later on
Not receiving love in return leads to negative consequences in the future, such as regrets and pain.


And there's no one blinder than you won't see
If someone refuses to see the need for love and affection in their life, they will continue to feel unhappy and unfulfilled.


I can't help it, oh no
The singer is expressing her inability to control her feelings of loneliness and need for love.


He is gone
The person she loved has left, causing her to feel lonely.


I must try to forget
The singer is trying to move on from her past love and find someone new who will share their love with her.


Because I've got to live on
Despite her feelings of loneliness, the singer knows she must move on with her life.


Oh, it's a good thing, it's a sweet thing (it's a sweet thing)
Loving and being loved by someone is one of the most beautiful and pleasant experiences in life.


To love someone (such a sweet thing)
Loving someone is a wonderful thing that brings happiness and fulfillment to life.


But it's bad (bad) and even sad (sad)
When love is not returned or is taken away, it leads to negative feelings such as sadness and despair.


When it's not returned
The singer is referring to a situation where she loves someone, but that love is not reciprocated.


It would really be a mistake, baby (shame, shame)
If the other person continues to refuse to share their love with her, it would be a mistake and a shame both for her and for them.


If you don't share your love with me (share your love with me)
The singer is repeating her plea for the other person to share their love and affection with her.


It would sure be a shame (shame, shame) if you don't share
The other person refusing to share their love would cause sadness and regret for both of them.


Share your love with me (share your love with me)
The singer is again asking for the other person to show her love and affection.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Don Robey, Alfred Daniel Braggs

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@juleenforbes

Sing it girl, your music lives on.

@cheveychevelle7976

Juleen Forbes yes!!

@LGKids

Everybodies favorite Auntie and Uncle on a track together! Peace!

@deborahdevine7355

RIP to both the Godfather & the Queen

@2mara

Wow I never heard this before, Rest Aretha & James...🕊♥️

@sashineb.2114

It's from Aretha's 1989 album, "Through the Storm". It did not sell well, despite duets with James, Whitney Houston, Elton John, the Four Tops.

@bobcummings8228

2 legends are no longer with us. RIP Aretha and James. The Queen and Godfather of Soul! :D!!!

@bobcummings8228

Aretha really rocked with James Brown! RIP Aretha! RIp James!

@bobcummings8228

2 bad James could not be in this video for real back then. It's still a bad jam! RIP AF!

@EasyPersuasionTPS

She looks good with the haircut she looks gorgeous

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