When Benton was young he enjoyed gospel music and wrote songs and in 1948 he went to New York to pursue his music career.
He was a member of several gospel groups including "The Langfordairies", "The Jerusalem Stars", and "The Golden Gate Quartet".
After returning to his home state he joined a R&B singing group, "the Sandmen", and soon went back to New York to try for a big break. Eventually the record company decided to drop The Sandmen and push Brook as a solo artist.
Benton wrote songs for artists such as Nat King Cole, Clyde McPhatter, and Roy Hamilton. Soon he released his first minor hit A Million Miles From Nowhere, and later he joined the Mercury label, which would later bring him big success.
In 1952 he got his big break with It's Just a Matter of Time and Endlessly.
It's Just a Matter of Time made it to #3 on the U.S. Pop charts, while Endlessly made it to #12 . Both hits were written by Benton himself.
Benton had many #1 hits including Rainy Night in Georgia and Hotel Happiness. According to Songfacts, his version of the blues standard The Boll Weevil Song has the unique distinction of being the first #1 song on Billboard's Easy Listening chart.
Altogether, Benton had 38 hit singles through out his career. His last album was "Fools Rush In", released posthumously in 2005. He died on April 9, 1988.
I Got What I Wanted
Brook Benton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I see all the people we used to know
They ask me why I look so sad, I have to say
I got what I wanted but I lost what I had
Without your love I'm such a lonely man, that's what I am
And there's no one but myself to take the blame
Because I once had your love and I treated you so bad
Since you've gone, the bright lights are dim
The people don't seem the same
They're so used to seeing us together
Oh, but my, how things have changed
I went searching, not knowing what I'd find
I looked for something and I had it all the time
Now to think I've treated you so bad, makes me sad
I got what I wanted but I lost [Incomprehensible] I had
I got what I wanted but I lost what I had
These lyrics tell a story of regret and longing for a lost love. The singer goes back to the familiar places and sees the people they used to know. They appear sad, which prompts questions from others. The singer responds by admitting they got what they wanted, but lost what they had. This line implies that the singer went after something they desired, perhaps at the expense of their relationship, and now they are left with a sense of loss and loneliness.
The second stanza gives more insight into the singer's feelings. They express that they are a lonely man without their love and that they take full responsibility for their actions. The line "Because I once had your love and I treated you so bad" shows that the singer recognizes that they mistreated their partner and now they are paying the price. The third stanza continues this theme of loss, with the singer describing how everything seems different and changed since their love left.
Finally, the last stanza expresses the singer's realization that they were searching for something they already had but didn't appreciate. They express sadness about how they treated their love and how they have lost them now. The repetition of the phrase "I got what I wanted but I lost what I had" throughout the song emphasizes the central theme of the song and makes it even more poignant.
Overall, this song is a powerful expression of regret and longing for a lost love. The lyrics convey a deep sense of sadness and melancholy that can resonate with anyone who has experienced heartbreak.
Line by Line Meaning
When I go to all the places we used to go
Whenever I visit the places we used to frequent together
When I see all the people we used to know
Whenever I encounter the people we used to be acquainted with
They ask me why I look so sad, I have to say
They inquire about my despondent appearance and I must tell them
I got what I wanted but I lost what I had
Although I obtained what I wished for, I forfeited what I possessed before
Without your love I'm such a lonely man, that's what I am
In the absence of your affection, I am nothing but a solitary individual
And there's no one but myself to take the blame
I am entirely responsible for the situation I find myself in
Because I once had your love and I treated you so bad
The reason behind my predicament is that I mistreated the love you once had for me
Since you've gone, the bright lights are dim
Ever since you departed, the once luminous surroundings have become dull
The people don't seem the same
The individuals around me no longer resemble what they used to be
They're so used to seeing us together
They are accustomed to seeing us as a pair
Oh, but my, how things have changed
Oh, how drastically things have transformed
I went searching, not knowing what I'd find
I embarked on a quest, unaware of what I was seeking
I looked for something and I had it all the time
I searched for something that I overlooked having all along
Now to think I've treated you so bad, makes me sad
Contemplating how poorly I treated you causes me immense sorrow
I got what I wanted but I lost [Incomprehensible] I had
Although I obtained what I wished for, I relinquished what I possessed previously
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@latifamthembu4372
I love his music 😍I'm 24 and grew up listening to his music. My parents have great taste in music ✨
@markherron1407
Happy Birthday to Brook Benton 🎁🎂🎉🥳🎁🎈🎉 Go HUG someone today IF they're been vaccinated or not 🚫 Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!
@zenitsugamer8802
dat one hater.....