Born Barbara Ann Smith, she was raised in New Orleans and began singing in a church choir. She was discovered by singer Jessie Hill, who recommended her to producer Harold Battiste. Her first record on Battiste's AFO (All For One) record label, I Know (You Don't Love Me No More), which she wrote, was issued in late 1961, and both topped the R&B chart and made #3 in the pop charts. It was later recorded by many other artistes, including the Merseybeats, Ike and Tina Turner and Bonnie Raitt.
Two subsequent releases, You Talk About Love and Send For Me (If You Need Some Lovin') on AFO and Sue reached the Hot 100 later in 1962 but failed to match the overwhelming success of her first hit.
Later recordings met with more limited success, and she largely retired from the music business by the late 1960s, with a few subsequent attempts at a comeback being unsuccessful.
I Know
Barbara George Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No more (no more) no no more (no more)
And I don't want to be hurt anymore
(No more) anymore (no more)
Yeah yeah I have loved so hard
Everything I did was no dard
If I can't love you right baby
I don't have to love you at all
I know (I know) you don't want me no more
No more (no more) no no more (no more)
And it has to be someone else lovin' you more
(No more) lovin' you more (no more)
Ain't no use in me cryin' now
If not for you I wouldn't be down
Since you don't want me no more baby
Ain't no use in you hangin' round
I know no more, no more
No more, no more
I know (I know) you don't want me no more
No more (no more) no no more (no more)
And it has to be someone else lovin' you more
(No more) lovin' you more (no more)
Ain't no use in me cryin' now
If not for you I wouldn't be down
Since you don't want me no more baby
Ain't no use in you hangin' round
I know (I know) I know (I know)
The lyrics to Barbara George's "I Know" describe the end of a relationship where the singer has come to the realization that their partner no longer loves them. The repetition of "no more" emphasizes the finality of the situation and the singer's acceptance that it's time to move on. Despite the sadness and hurt, the singer decides that it's better to be alone and not be hurt anymore than to keep trying to love someone who doesn't reciprocate those feelings.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer may have been trying too hard in the relationship, going "all in" with their love and efforts. The line "everything I did was no dard" could be interpreted as the singer saying that they gave everything they had to the relationship, but it still wasn't enough. In the end, the singer ultimately decides that it's not worth it to try to love someone who doesn't love them back and that there's no use in crying or holding on.
Overall, the lyrics to "I Know" convey a sense of resignation and acceptance of a relationship that has come to an end. The message is one of moving on and finding happiness elsewhere.
Line by Line Meaning
I know (I know) you don't love me no more
I am aware that your feelings for me have changed
No more (no more) no no more (no more)
You no longer have any romantic interest in me
And I don't want to be hurt anymore
(No more) anymore (no more)
I do not wish to experience any more emotional pain due to your rejection of me
Yeah yeah I have loved so hard
Everything I did was no dard
If I can't love you right baby
I don't have to love you at all
I have loved you with great intensity, and if I am unable to love you properly, then it is better for me to not love you at all.
I know (I know) you don't want me no more
No more (no more) no no more (no more)
I understand that you no longer desire me
And it has to be someone else lovin' you more
(No more) lovin' you more (no more)
It must be that someone else is making you happy in a way that I could not
Ain't no use in me cryin' now
If not for you I wouldn't be down
Since you don't want me no more baby
Ain't no use in you hangin' round
There is no point in me crying over what we had since it is over, and you should not waste your time trying to stay close to me when you have moved on.
I know no more, no more
No more, no more
I am sure that there is no longer any love between us
I know (I know) you don't want me no more
No more (no more) no no more (no more)
I am aware that you have lost all interest in me
And it has to be someone else lovin' you more
(No more) lovin' you more (no more)
I suspect that you are now being loved by someone else in a way that surpasses my own attempts at loving you
Ain't no use in me cryin' now
If not for you I wouldn't be down
Since you don't want me no more baby
Ain't no use in you hangin' round
I see no value in shedding tears over what we had since it is now gone, and it makes no sense for you to linger and cling to me now that you are over me
I know (I know) I know (I know)
I am certain, without a doubt
Lyrics © CAMPBELL CONNELLY FRANCE, BMG Rights Management, SpacedOut Studios Entertainment Worldwide
Written by: Barbara George
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@skybluemarshall
Facts to remember when deciphering these lyrics: Barbara George wrote this song herself and it was released when she was only 19 years old. She was raised in New Orleans in the 40s and 50s and learned to sing in her church choir. She probably wrote the same way she talked. So, one of the lines goes: "And I don't wanna be hurted any more (no mo). In the next line in question, she's addressing the man who hurt her.
Being a young writer, she smashes the words together quickly, so they will fit within the measure. The word "He" is so soft and so fast, that it's almost silent: "He say yeah, I'd (I had) a lustful heart. Erything I did wasn't no joy". This is typical of the crap that we men say, when we've been busted. Yeah I lusted in my heart, but I didn't go all the way through with it. "No joy", means he didn't actually have sex with the other woman for whom he lusted.
In the next line, he basically puts the whole thing back on her shoulders: "He (almost silent) say, If I can't love you right baby, I don't have to love you at all", which means, hey girl, my uncontrollable lust is sort of your fault and if I can't have sex with you and "love" you the right way, then maybe we should just forget the whole thing.
She goes on to tell him: "And It has to be someone else lovin you more". Which means, you are full of it, I'm not buying any of this. You have another girl. So, she tells him you're not worth all this pain: "Ain't no use in me cryin now, if not for you, I wouldn't be down".
She ends the song by dumping him: "Since you don't want me no more baby, ain't no use in you hangin round". All of the lines where she says "I know" have double meaning. I know you don't love me, but I also know you're messing around with someone else.
@joedavis4150
This song is so perfect! It is a diamond.
@poopsiekins2732
yes!
@DogbiteW
I absolutely love it and I am NOT a big R&B fan.
@vinnywa
One of the greatest hits of the sixties. Love it!!!!!
@jerryberkowitz8555
My first highshool love song. I am so glad we can hear her again. An amazing talent that needs to be recognized!
@Fannin7
She says "Everything I did wasn't no joy." and "SINCE you don't want me no more baby,..." In the last chorus. And if course she says HURTED. I love her phrasing .
@danielpridgen6018
Some of the lyrics are not the words being sung. Check the actual sheet music or get a linguist. Otherwise, the song and performance is classic for its era.
@skybluemarshall
Facts to remember when deciphering these lyrics: Barbara George wrote this song herself and it was released when she was only 19 years old. She was raised in New Orleans in the 40s and 50s and learned to sing in her church choir. She probably wrote the same way she talked. So, one of the lines goes: "And I don't wanna be hurted any more (no mo). In the next line in question, she's addressing the man who hurt her.
Being a young writer, she smashes the words together quickly, so they will fit within the measure. The word "He" is so soft and so fast, that it's almost silent: "He say yeah, I'd (I had) a lustful heart. Erything I did wasn't no joy". This is typical of the crap that we men say, when we've been busted. Yeah I lusted in my heart, but I didn't go all the way through with it. "No joy", means he didn't actually have sex with the other woman for whom he lusted.
In the next line, he basically puts the whole thing back on her shoulders: "He (almost silent) say, If I can't love you right baby, I don't have to love you at all", which means, hey girl, my uncontrollable lust is sort of your fault and if I can't have sex with you and "love" you the right way, then maybe we should just forget the whole thing.
She goes on to tell him: "And It has to be someone else lovin you more". Which means, you are full of it, I'm not buying any of this. You have another girl. So, she tells him you're not worth all this pain: "Ain't no use in me cryin now, if not for you, I wouldn't be down".
She ends the song by dumping him: "Since you don't want me no more baby, ain't no use in you hangin round". All of the lines where she says "I know" have double meaning. I know you don't love me, but I also know you're messing around with someone else.
@TheTotalhunk
50+ years late but now I get the real meaning...thanks!
@BellaNoir3
this is my nanny ❤ R.I.H