Mad About the Boy
Carmen McRae & Ray Bryant Lyrics
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I know it's stupid to be mad about the boy
I'm so ashamed of it but must admit
The sleepless nights I've had about the boy
On the silver screen
He melts my foolish heart in every single scene
Although I'm quite aware that here and there
Lord knows I'm not a fool girl
I really shouldn't care
Lord knows I'm not a school girl
In the fury of her first affair
Will it ever cloy
This odd diversity of misery and joy?
I'm feeling quite insane and young again
And all because I'm mad about the boy
So if I could employ
A little magic that will finally destroy
This dream that pains me and enchains me
But I can't because I'm mad, I'm mad about the boy
The song Mad About the Boy, performed by Carmen McRae and Ray Bryant, is about a woman who has become consumed with infatuation for a man. She acknowledges that it's foolish to feel this way, but she can't help herself. Even though she's aware that he has some negative qualities, she is unable to shake off her feelings. The man is described as a cad, and though the woman knows she shouldn't be mad about him, she can't control her emotions. She describes feeling young and insane, and wonders if this roller coaster of misery and joy will ever stop.
The song speaks to the universal feeling of being head-over-heels in love, and the confusion that can come with those emotions. It's easy to become obsessed with someone, even when they may not be the right person for us, and it can lead to sleepless nights and heightened emotions. The woman in the song is self-aware and acknowledges the irrationality of her feelings, which adds depth to the lyrics. Overall, the song portrays a relatable and emotionally charged situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Mad about the boy
I am infatuated with this boy and cannot stop thinking about him.
I know it's stupid to be mad about the boy
I am aware that it is silly to be so obsessed with someone, but I cannot shake these feelings.
I'm so ashamed of it but must admit
I feel embarrassed and guilty about how much I care for him, but I have to acknowledge these emotions.
The sleepless nights I've had about the boy
I have had many nights where I cannot sleep because all I can do is think about him.
On the silver screen
When I see him on TV, it only adds to my infatuation.
He melts my foolish heart in every single scene
Every time I see him, my heart races and I become even more enamored with him.
Although I'm quite aware that here and there
Despite being aware that he has some negative qualities, I cannot help but still feel attracted to him.
Are traces of the cad, about the boy
I recognize that he can be a bit of a jerk at times, but my obsession with him blinds me to it.
Lord knows I'm not a fool girl
I am not naive, but I cannot control my feelings for him.
I really shouldn't care
Logically, I know that I should not care about him as much as I do.
Lord knows I'm not a school girl
I am not inexperienced in matters of the heart, but this boy makes me feel like a teenager again.
In the fury of her first affair
I am experiencing powerful emotions that are similar to someone who is having their first romantic relationship.
Will it ever cloy
Will I ever get over this infatuation?
This odd diversity of misery and joy?
These intense emotions are both painful and pleasurable.
I'm feeling quite insane and young again
My obsession with this boy is making me feel crazy and like a teenager again.
And all because I'm mad about the boy
All of these intense emotions are because of my infatuation with this boy.
So if I could employ
If I had the ability to do so,
A little magic that will finally destroy
If I could use some sort of magic to get rid of these feelings once and for all,
This dream that pains me and enchains me
This obsessive dream that hurts me and holds me captive.
But I can't because I'm mad, I'm mad about the boy
Unfortunately, I cannot do anything about my feelings because I am consumed by my infatuation with this boy.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NOEL COWARD, NOEL PIERCE COWARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind