Outside Help
B.B. King Lyrics


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All of your affection is gone baby and your love is growing cold
I've said all of your affection is gone baby and your love is growing cold
Hey, I've got a new story to tell you this evening, baby
One that ain't never been told

I went to work the other day
But I thought that I would double back
And that car I saw sitting in front of my door
Looked like a brand new, a brand new Cadillac, yeah!

I ain't got none now baby
I think you've been cheating on me
I believe to my soul baby, that you've given me some outside help
That I don't think I really need

The iceman came by this morning
And you know he didn't leave no ice
The postman came by later baby
And he didn't even ring twice

I think you've been cheating on me
I think you're running out on me
I believe to my soul baby, that you've given me some outside help
That I don't think I really need

Now, I want you to tell the iceman
The next time he'd better leave some ice
And I want you to tell the postman
He'd better ring more than twice

And when I come home from work in the morning
Better still be some groceries on the shelf
I want to tell that slick insurance man
That he'd better write some insurance on his self

Yes, I think you've been cheating on me
I think you're running out on me




I believe to my soul baby, that you've given me some help, some help
Some help, I don't really need

Overall Meaning

In "I Got Some Help I Don't Need," B.B. King sings about a failing relationship and the suspicion that his partner has been cheating on him. He laments the loss of her affection and the growing coldness in her love towards him. He then tells a story about coming home from work and seeing a new Cadillac parked in front of his house, leading him to believe that his partner has been spending their money on things for someone else. He also notes that the iceman and postman have been neglecting their duties and suspects it's because his partner has been entertaining other men. King then sends a message to his partner, telling her to shape up and make sure there are groceries in the house and that the insurance man should insure himself. He concludes by saying that he believes his partner has been giving him some "outside help" that he doesn't think he really needs.


King's lyrics deal with emotions that many people have experienced in relationships, such as suspicion, jealousy, and heartbreak. He paints a vivid picture of someone who is feeling neglected and used by a partner who may be cheating on them. He uses vivid imagery to show how their relationship has deteriorated, and how he feels he is being taken advantage of. The use of repetition, such as in the chorus and with the line "I think you've been cheating on me," reinforces the singer's frustration and despair.


Line by Line Meaning

All of your affection is gone baby and your love is growing cold
I'm aware that your love and affection for me is fading away


Hey, I've got a new story to tell you this evening, baby One that ain't never been told
I have something new to share with you tonight, a story that I have never shared before


I went to work the other day But I thought that I would double back And that car I saw sitting in front of my door Looked like a brand new, a brand new Cadillac, yeah!
I left for work, but decided to go back, and when I got home, I saw a new Cadillac parked in front of my house


I ain't got none now baby I think you've been cheating on me I believe to my soul baby, that you've given me some outside help That I don't think I really need
I suspect that you have been unfaithful to me, and I don't need any help or assistance from you


The iceman came by this morning And you know he didn't leave no ice The postman came by later baby And he didn't even ring twice
The iceman and postman visited my house, but neither of them did what they were supposed to do


Now, I want you to tell the iceman The next time he'd better leave some ice And I want you to tell the postman He'd better ring more than twice
From now on, I expect the iceman to leave ice and the postman to ring the doorbell more than twice


And when I come home from work in the morning Better still be some groceries on the shelf I want to tell that slick insurance man That he'd better write some insurance on his self
I expect to find some groceries at home when I return from work, and the insurance man should be careful when making deals with me


Yes, I think you've been cheating on me I think you're running out on me I believe to my soul baby, that you've given me some help, some help Some help, I don't really need
I strongly suspect that you have been disloyal to me, and I don't want your help if you're going to be like this




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: B.B. KING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Alejandro Ribeiro

All of your affection is gone baby and your love is growing cold
I said, all of your affection is gone baby and your love is growing cold
Hey and I've got a new story to tell you this evening, baby
One that ain't never been told

I went to work the other day
But I thought that I'd double back
And that car I saw sitting in front of my door
Looked like a brand new, a brand new Cadillac

Yes, I ain't got none now, baby
I think you've been cheating on me
I believe to my soul baby, you've given me some outside help
That I don't think I really need

The iceman came by this morning
And you know, he didn't leave no ice
Postman came by later baby
And he didn't even ring twice

Yes, I think you've been cheating on me
I think you're running out on me
I believe to my soul baby that you've given me some outside help
That I don't think I really need

Now, I want you to tell the iceman
The next time he'd better leave some ice
And I want you to tell the postman
He'd better ring more than twice

And when I come home from work in the morning
Better still be some groceries on the shelf
And I want you to tell that slick insurance man
That he'd better write some insurance on his self

Yes, I think you've been cheating on me
I think you're running out on me
I believe to my soul baby, that you've given me some help, some help
Some help, I don't really need



All comments from YouTube:

Tulio de menezes Arrial

Um dos maiores artistas que tive a oportunidade de ver. Sempre acompanhado dos melhores músicos, a empatia com a platéia era indescritível. Ele fazia você sentir que o show era para você, enquanto você via sua vida passar na sua frente através do sentimento que ele colocava em sua música. Que Deus abençoe o rei do blues...R.I.P BB King

Dan Diego

I've enjoyed this tune--one of my favorite BB King songs--for so many years now. You're missed.

Ray Hudson

What a tune this is and my favourite recording of it too. Like you guys this is my all time favourite BB song and it will always change my mood for the better. RIP BB King! There'll never be another like you......

Plume D'Argent

Dig this tune a lot, always have, we're gonna miss you BB.

RIP

Dan Grove

The best guitar that I have ever heard is the beginning of this song.  So pure, so soulful

Frozen Hero

One of the great things I enjoy when listening to B. B. King is how very slowly and deliberately he plays his solos. No need to shred a la Joe Bonamassa.

Mike Austin

This is from a live album that B.B. released ~ 1974. A college roommate of mine had it. If anyone knows which one it is, please post it. IIRC, it opened the record. I've searched on Amazon and couldn't find it.

This is one of the best blues guitar solos ever. Nobody could build up a blues solo like B.B. and his singing is amazing.

Neil Elsmore

Mike Austin. The recording is from the album entitled the Blues a real summit meeting. Live at Newport, NY.
Recorded in 1973.

Mike Austin

Thanks, Neil! Sorry it took so long to reply....

Golactico 1

If someone asked me; "What's The Blues?". I'd play them this.

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