Spirit
Burdon Eric & War Lyrics


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I've been watching you,
For such a long time.
I can't lose your memory, baby,
You're always on my mind.
Tearin' my day, baby. Weekends too.
I just can't lose your memory, baby,
Everywhere I look I see you.
You got spirit. Spirit, baby.
You got, you got spirit. Spirit, baby.
Come on, come on, come on, spirit. Spirit, baby.
Give it up, give it up, give it up. Yea, yea.
Spirit, but I ain't got you. I ain't got you.
Blow your horn, blow your horn, baby.
Blow your horn, baby. Blow, blow.

Ooh your spirit is taunting me, baby.
Ooh your spirit is haunting me, baby. Yea.
I can't get you, baby, out of my mind (out of my mind).
Ooh I can't get you, baby, yea
Out of my mind. I swear,
I'm goin' crazy, yes I am.
I swear I'm goin' crazy, for you.
You got what I need so bad,
You got what I need so bad.

Everywhere I go, baby, all I see is you
Staring back at me.
Spirit, spirit baby.
Spirit, spirit baby.
Give it up, give it up, give it up. Yea, yea.
Spirit, spirit baby.
Come on, come on, come on.
Spirit I ain't got you.
I wish that I
If only I, if only I, if only I, if only I,
If I had you, baby, I'd have the world tied in the palm of my hand.
Ooh in the palm of my hand, I'd have the world in the palm of my hand
If only I had you, if only I, If only I.
Maybe you don't know, baby. Maybe you don't know, baby,




But you know that love is, love is everywhere, yes it is.
Love is, love is everywhere, love is everywhere, love is, love is, love is

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Spirit" by Burdon Eric & War are about the lingering memory of a past lover. The singer describes how they have been watching this person for a long time and how they can't get them out of their mind. The memories of this person come back to haunt them, no matter where they go or what they do. The singer admits that they are going crazy for this person and that they wish they had them back in their life.


The chorus, "You got spirit, spirit baby," seems to refer to the indefinable quality that this person possesses that the singer finds so attractive. Despite the pain of losing them, the singer is still drawn to them and is willing to do anything to have them back. The resolve to "give it up" and "blow their horn" suggests that the singer is prepared to confess their feelings and make a plea for reconciliation.


The repetition of the phrase "if only I" at the end of the song underscores the longing of the singer for what they have lost. The final lines about love being everywhere suggest that the singer believes that there are other opportunities for love out there, but that this particular person has left an indelible mark on them. Overall, the lyrics to "Spirit" capture the bittersweet agony of lost love and the power that past memories can hold over our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been watching you,
I've been paying close attention to you,


For such a long time.
For a significant amount of time,


I can't lose your memory, baby,
I can't forget about you,


You're always on my mind.
I think about you all the time,


Tearin' my day, baby. Weekends too.
You're causing me distress every day, including weekends,


Everywhere I look I see you.
You're constantly on my mind and I see you everywhere,


You got spirit. Spirit, baby.
You have a vivacious aura or character,


Come on, come on, come on, spirit. Spirit, baby.
Encouraging the person to embrace their lively spirit,


Give it up, give it up, give it up. Yea, yea.
To express it openly and freely,


Spirit, but I ain't got you. I ain't got you.
However, I don't have your affection or attention,


Blow your horn, blow your horn, baby.
Use your voice to express yourself,


Ooh your spirit is taunting me, baby.
Your liveliness is teasing me flirtatiously,


Ooh your spirit is haunting me, baby. Yea.
Your liveliness is consuming my thoughts and emotions,


I can't get you, baby, out of my mind (out of my mind).
I'm unable to stop thinking about you,


Ooh I can't get you, baby, yea.
I'm hopelessly fixated on you,


Out of my mind. I swear,
I promise,


I'm goin' crazy, yes I am.
I'm losing my sanity,


You got what I need so bad,
You possess what I deeply desire,


Everywhere I go, baby, all I see is you
No matter where I am, you're always on my mind,


Staring back at me.
As if you're looking at me too,


Spirit, spirit baby.
The captivating energy you possess,


Come on, come on, come on.
Encouraging to let it out,


I wish that I
I long for,


If only I, if only I, if only I, if only I,
Expressing regret,


If I had you, baby, I'd have the world tied in the palm of my hand.
If I had your affection or attention, I would feel complete and in control,


Ooh in the palm of my hand, I'd have the world in the palm of my hand
I would have everything I could ever want,


Maybe you don't know, baby. Maybe you don't know, baby,
Perhaps you're unaware,


But you know that love is, love is everywhere, yes it is.
But you surely know that love is abundant and present,


Love is, love is everywhere, love is everywhere, love is, love is, love is
Repeated emphasis on the universality of love




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEX MILLER, KATHERINE FUSSEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@RedYoungOne

I grew up listening to Eric Burdon and the Animals in 1964 with House of the Rising Sun and liked his vocals and of course the organ (I am an organ player) and then when Eric Burdon declares War came out it showed me his eclectic stylings and roots and creativity. In 1982 I toured with Eric for the year and did some recording but I never saw him do the same show twice - always creative. But that period with War I liked more. Eric never felt he was the band leader, only a member and musician in the band and guided and suggested rather than dictating and he always worked on direction with the keyboardists - Alan Price, Dave Rowberry, Zoot Money, Lonnie Jordan, Brian Auger and others and I was lucky enough to work with him in 1982 and 2006-2016. In 1982 we played at the Roxy and Lonnie came to the show - we went to the after party at a friend of Eric's house and Lonnie and I played 4 hands for several hours on an old square grand piano. I had not seen a lot of the videos of the band Eric & War had together but thanks to the internet and YouTube I can finally see not just hear the collaborations. It's very refreshing knowing what was inside Eric back then and what I heard in the years before and after I played with him. Inspiring...

@emptyness2583

Right on man!

@igottawriteabook

War is 1 of the bands that I collect vinyl LPs by. Are you on any of their albums? Anything that you played on that I should look up ??

@igottawriteabook

Wait a minute, I just put Red Young into discogs and it immediately came up with Joan Armatrading and Dolly Parton... that’s pretty cool !! I probably already have wax with you on the keys 🤓🤓🤓

@RedYoungOne

@@igottawriteabook I didn't play with War but I knew the guys. We did a cruise with Eric and Harold Brown and Lee Oscar were leading the Low Rider Band and Lee showed up once one time we played in Seattle and we played Spill The WIne and Mother Earth. I kept going into Roll On Kirk and Lee eventually joined in. I liked all the Eric Burton and War stuff. In 1982 Lonnie Jordan and I played 4 hand piano at a party after I played at the Roxy in LA with Eric. Did 4 albums with Joan plus 3 years of touring. I worked with Cher on a TV special (and of course with Sonny on the road) and Dolly was a special guest. When she did 9 to 5 she asked me to play in Las Vegas for six months and after that she did Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Played on some of those recordings and also Heartbreak Express. I'll post that sometime on my YouTube video page. Linda Ronstadt was another vocalist I worked with.

@oldrvr

@@RedYoungOne I’ve watched several concerts on YouTube with you and the band playing with Eric and you were all great. I loved your music. I especially loved the Loreley Open Air Festival in 1982!

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@jajanesaddictions

He was called the Musician's Musician by other musicians. His voice, rhythm, and timing was/is impeccable. The audience here are duds. I'd be on my feet the whole time. Long live Eric Burdon.

@aureliatribegurl226

Eric Burdon and War
BEST COLLABORATION EVER ❗❕❗❕❗❕❗❕❗❕

@aureliatribegurl226

Best concerts I ever attended❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@nomadsolos

I am an old man drummer that cut my chops playing in the 60s and 70s. I loved Eric Burdon - the Blackest White Man I ever heard. His music will stand the test of time - and to be honest; when I hear him sing I hear Delta Blues. We lived at the perfect time - the music we created, and enjoyed was/is the greatest ever heard or played at anytime.
I am grateful to the internet for this same reason - it is the museum , a repository for the music that should live on for centuries , long after we are all gone.

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