I Got It Bad
Beatty Ethel Lyrics
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Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
In Beatty Ethel's song "I Got It Bad", the singer expresses her desperation for a man who doesn't treat her the way she deserves to be treated. She begins by acknowledging that people often advise her to stop crying over him, but she just can't seem to let go. The following line, "I'm so mad about him, I can't live without him", embodies her dependency on his love, and her struggle to move on from the relationship.
The second verse reveals that the singer's heart is "so sentimental, not made of wood". This line speaks to her emotional vulnerability, and how her heart is easily impacted by her lover's actions. She then goes on to describe how, despite his mistreatment of her, they still have moments of love and intimacy. Friday is a day when they can come together and enjoy each other's company, even if it means that they sometimes "sin some".
Overall, the song details the singer's inner struggle with loving someone who doesn't love her back in the same way. It speaks to the mistaken belief that one person can change another, and the pain that comes from realizing that isn't always the case.
Line by Line Meaning
Though folks with good intentions
Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
People advise me to stop crying and move on, but I am deeply in love with him and can't imagine a life without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
He doesn't treat me with the affection and care that I deserve, and it's causing me immense emotional distress
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
My heart is full of intense emotions and vulnerabilities, and I am deeply affected by his actions or lack thereof
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
Despite the hardships, we find solace in each other's company during certain moments, and indulge in some vices along the way
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
He doesn't reciprocate my love in the way I expect him to, and it's causing me a lot of emotional turmoil
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
My love for him is all-consuming, and it's not healthy for me to feel this way
Lyrics © GUY WEBSTER/WEBSTER MUSIC , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWYN STEPHEN COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind