In 1993 Oscar Peterson chose Benny as the first recipient of the City of Toronto's Glen Gould International Protégé Prize in Music.
I Got It Bad
Benny Green 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 Benny Green's song "I Got It Bad," the singer is conflicted. On one hand, she has friends who encourage her to move on from her loved one and stop crying about him. However, she is so deeply in love with him that she cannot imagine living without him. He does not treat her as tenderly as she wishes, and she describes her heart as "sentimental" to suggest that it is easily affected by emotion. Despite his shortcomings, she and her man enjoy each other's company in their own way. They share moments of both prayer and sin, suggesting their relationship is complex and not easily defined.
The repeated line "I've got it bad and that ain't good" serves as a refrain throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's intense emotional turmoil. This also reflects the title of the song. "I Got It Bad" alludes to a phrase popularized by jazz legend Duke Ellington, who composed a song with the same name in 1941. The phrase generally refers to being deeply infatuated with someone, even if the object of our affection isn't worthy. This song, like many jazz standards, tells a familiar story of passionate love that is both captivating and destructive.
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
Even though people advise me to be strong and not cry over him, I can't help but feel madly in love with him and unable to live 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 tenderness and love that I deserve, which makes me realize that my love for him is so strong that it's painful and not good for me.
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
My heart is easily swayed by emotions and is not hardened like wood. My love for him has become so deep that it's causing me pain and it's not good for me.
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
Even though our relationship is not perfect, we find ways to enjoy each other's company and have fun together, whether it's by drinking, praying, or doing other activities.
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 love me the way I love him, which makes me realize that my love for him is so consuming that it's causing me pain and it's not good for me.
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
My love for him is so intense that it's causing me emotional pain and it's not good for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, GUY WEBSTER/WEBSTER MUSIC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, PAUL WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind