Get It Right
Don Johnson Big Band Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby I got to get it right
Baby I got to get it right
If I don't get it right the first time
I don't get it right the last timee

To feel blessed or pass a similar test
Would ease my disease of subliminal stress
Mad duress, man it was rippin' the flesh
Right down to bone, bite it, put up my best fight
Now write it down and make a note to self
If it's a violent crowd, don't let it overwhelm
Amidst a strident pounding, I'd approach a realm
Of quiet calm, cool collected
I disarm fools and let shit just
Speak for itself, and if the people rebel they can
Evil's inevitable need of a helping hand
Has never been, or is, a matter of opinion
They're peddling us fears just to battle for dominion
To see the devil in your peers, a greedy devil in yourself
Quite a task, like assembling a shelf
All available help, all able hands on deck
Then shape-shift, the same shit is transforming

Get it right get it right the first time
Get it right get it right the first time
Get it right get it right the first
Get it right the first time
Or get it right the last time
(2x)

My back is aching, there's a terrible tension
I can't take it, can't make it as the center of attention naked
For all the world to see or boldly go imposing
Their cameras, binoculars, and all they poke their nose in
Now I've frozen here, there's only holes where there was previously
Yo's and yeah's, all kinds of flows that opened ears
No posing here, just keeping it real, there's nothing more severe
Than being informed but dressed in the wrong clothes and gear
Who knows if we're worthless and slowly erased
Supposing there's no purpose or a holier place
I know despair, have had my share of blows in the face
And a healthy dose of fear assures me I won't be replaced
But I get distracted by the fact that I was that distraught
What I lacked was practice and my back was always smacked and sore
Slapped and scorned, strapped and adorned with a patch of cactus thorns
I'll act as strong as I can for a man of cracks and flaws

And the nearer the action draws
I'll disappear if I lack support
You got my back?
I got your back
And that's a fact
'Cause I react
And get it right in a flash for y'all
I got no fear and my ass is gone
Before they see me, I'm asking
Yo, you got my back?
I got your back
Then it's a pact
Cadillac
We'll get it right in a flash for y'all

Get it right get it right the first time
Get it right get it right the first time
Get it right get it right the first
Get it right the first time
Or get it right the last time

Man, it's laughable, isn't it?
Imagine if you put your clothes on
Just to find out that half of them didn't fit
Or if you simply got too passive and didn't hit
While everyone around was making masses and living big
Our past disasters can only last as long as
We don't ask for answers, or keep our asses backwards
Like a lonely caravan that's rollin' past Damascus
A Harry Callahan frozen moment in absence
Of motion and color, just a damned perpetual ocean of other
That we're supposed to discover
Are you close to your brother or emotionally scattered
And what made human contact so explosive a matter
Too sensitive to even poke with a ten foot pole
Get intimate on the internet and elope with a centerfold
Hope can ascend and throw us down on a bending slope
No final blow in the event that the end is slow, whoa!

Get it right get it right the first time
Get it right get it right the first time
Get it right get it right the first
Get it right the first time




Or get it right the last time
(4x)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Don Johnson Big Band's song "Get It Right" reflect a deep desire for self-improvement and an understanding that mistakes may be made along the way. The line "Baby I got to get it right" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing this feeling of urgency. The verse "To feel blessed or pass a similar test/ Would ease my disease of subliminal stress" speaks to the idea that achieving one's goals or passing a significant test would bring a sense of relief from internal pressure. The song also touches on the idea of facing fears and standing up for oneself, with the lyrics "I disarm fools and let shit just/ Speak for itself, and if the people rebel they can/ Come from any angle, couldn't catch us if they tried."


Throughout the song, there is a sense of vulnerability and the acknowledgement that we are all flawed and make mistakes. The verse "But I get distracted by the fact that I was that distraught/ What I lacked was practice and my back was always smacked and sore" speaks to this idea that we may falter, but it is important to keep practicing and trying to improve.


Overall, "Get It Right" is a powerful anthem for personal growth and the realization that mistakes are a natural part of the process. The song encourages the listener to strive for success and to not let their fears hold them back.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby I got to get it right
I need to succeed in whatever I'm doing


If I don't get it right the first time
If I fail initially,


I don't get it right the last time
I will have a hard time succeeding in the future.


To feel blessed or pass a similar test
I want to experience success or something that makes me feel accomplished


Would ease my disease of subliminal stress
It would reduce the underlying pressure I feel


Mad duress, man it was rippin' the flesh
It was extremely stressful, causing physical and emotional harm


Right down to bone, bite it, put up my best fight
I fought back with all I had, even if it was difficult


Now write it down and make a note to self
Remember to keep this lesson in mind


If it's a violent crowd, don't let it overwhelm
In a dangerous situation, stay calm and don't let fear take over


Amidst a strident pounding, I'd approach a realm
Even in a loud and chaotic environment, stay composed


Of quiet calm, cool collected
Be relaxed and in control


I disarm fools and let shit just
I weaken adversaries and let them self-destruct


Speak for itself, and if the people rebel they can
Let the truth be evident, and if people try to oppose it, it doesn't matter


Evil's inevitable need of a helping hand
Bad people always rely on the help of others


Has never been, or is, a matter of opinion
This is not a subjective matter, it is a fact


They're peddling us fears just to battle for dominion
They are instilling fear in us to fight for power


To see the devil in your peers, a greedy devil in yourself
To be paranoid and assume everyone is bad, and to be guilty of the same greed one accuses others of


Quite a task, like assembling a shelf
This is a difficult task, like putting a shelf together


All available help, all able hands on deck
We need everyone's help to succeed


Then shape-shift, the same shit is transforming
Change is happening and things are evolving


My back is aching, there's a terrible tension
I am under a lot of physical and emotional strain


I can't take it, can't make it as the center of attention naked
I can't handle being in the spotlight or exposing myself emotionally


For all the world to see or boldly go imposing
Being open and assertive is difficult, especially when everyone is watching


Their cameras, binoculars, and all they poke their nose in
The media and others are always watching and interfering


Now I've frozen here, there's only holes where there was previously
I am stuck and feel empty where I previously felt whole


Yo's and yeah's, all kinds of flows that opened ears
My words and ideas have been well-received and have caught people's attention


No posing here, just keeping it real, there's nothing more severe
I am being honest and genuine, which is the most important thing


Than being informed but dressed in the wrong clothes and gear
Knowledge is crucial, but it's also important to be appropriately prepared


Who knows if we're worthless and slowly erased
We may be insignificant and gradually forgotten


Supposing there's no purpose or a holier place
Imagine if life is meaningless or there is no afterlife


I know despair, have had my share of blows in the face
I have experienced difficult times and faced many obstacles


And a healthy dose of fear assures me I won't be replaced
A little bit of fear is necessary to keep me motivated and not lose my place


But I get distracted by the fact that I was that distraught
Sometimes I get sidetracked by how overwhelmed I used to be in tough situations


What I lacked was practice and my back was always smacked and sore
I wasn't well-prepared and struggled with pain and discomfort


Slapped and scorned, strapped and adorned with a patch of cactus thorns
I was beaten down and punished, but eventually found a unique strength


I'll act as strong as I can for a man of cracks and flaws
I will try to be as confident and resilient as possible despite my flaws and imperfections


And the nearer the action draws
As things get more intense and challenging


I'll disappear if I lack support
If I don't have backing from others, I will shy away from the situation


You got my back?
Will you support me?


I got your back
I will support you


And that's a fact
This is a certainty


'Cause I react
I respond to challenges


And get it right in a flash for y'all
I will quickly achieve success for everyone involved


I got no fear and my ass is gone
I am not afraid and I will leave quickly


Before they see me, I'm asking
I am making moves to get away before being recognized


Then it's a pact
We have made a deal


Cadillac
This is something high-quality and top-notch


Man, it's laughable, isn't it?
It's almost comical, don't you think?


Imagine if you put your clothes on
Just picture the scenario where you put on your outfit


Just to find out that half of them didn't fit
Only to realize that a portion of your clothes don't fit


Or if you simply got too passive and didn't hit
What if you didn't take action or initiative?


While everyone around was making masses and living big
While everyone else was prospering and enjoying life


Our past disasters can only last as long as
Our previous failures will only haunt us for a limited time


We don't ask for answers, or keep our asses backwards
We need to be proactive and not hold ourselves back


Like a lonely caravan that's rollin' past Damascus
Like a solitary group of travelers moving through a deserted region


A Harry Callahan frozen moment in absence
A situation where everything seems to stop in time


Of motion and color, just a damned perpetual ocean of other
A monotonous environment full of people and events


That we're supposed to discover
We need to actively look for meaning and purpose


Are you close to your brother or emotionally scattered
Do you have strong bonds with family or are you disconnected?


And what made human contact so explosive a matter
Why does human interaction often lead to complications?


Too sensitive to even poke with a ten foot pole
Too risky or delicate to even attempt


Get intimate on the internet and elope with a centerfold
Connect romantically through the internet and marry a model


Hope can ascend and throw us down on a bending slope
Optimism can lift us up or bring us down


No final blow in the event that the end is slow, whoa!
Even as the situation worsens, there may not be a definitive end.




Contributed by Caleb W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions