Initially based in Canvey Island, Essex, on the Thames estuary, Dr. Feelgood broke into the London circuit in 1974. Brilleaux's menacing personality complemented Johnson's propulsive, jerky stage manner, while the guitarist's staccato style dominated the group's idiosyncratic brand of angular rhythm and blues.
Their debut album, Down By The Jetty, was released in 1974, but despite critical approbation, it was not until the following year that the quartet secured due commercial success with Stupidity. Recorded live in concert, this raw, compulsive set topped the UK charts and the group's status seemed assured. However, internal friction led to Johnson's departure during sessions for a projected fourth album and although his replacement, John 'Gypie' Mayo, was an accomplished guitarist, he lacked the striking visual image of his predecessor. Dr. Feelgood then embarked on a more mainstream direction which was only intermittently successful. 'Milk And Alcohol' (1978) gave them their sole UK Top 10 hit. After the punk explosion their raw, jerky sound and clean-cut image provided inspiration to the post-punk generation (John Lydon being a big fan).
Mayo left the band in 1981. Despite this, and various subsequent line-up changes, Dr. Feelgood continued touring and recording, although the band then suffered an almost career-finishing blow, when their frontman, Brilleaux, died of cancer on 7 April 1994. But, as Brilleaux had insisted prior to his demise, Dr. Feelgood reunited, initially with vocalist Pete Gage, and recommenced touring in 1996. Gage was replaced by Robert Kane who, celebrated his 1000th gig as the frontman of Dr. Feelgood in April 2007.
Following Brilleaux's death in 1994, a special concert known as the Lee Brilleaux Birthday Memorial was held on Canvey Island, where former and current Feelgoods celebrated the music of Dr. Feelgood, and raised money for The Fair Havens Hospice in Westcliff-on-Sea. Fans attended from all over the globe, and the 20th and final event was held on 9 May 2014.
I Don't Mind
Dr. Feelgood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey little baby can we go strollin'
Don't you just know it
Got me rockin' and I oughtta be rollin'
Don't you just know it
I don't mind if you don't keep your word
Walk and talk I don't mind about that
I don't mind if the world is round
'Cause I don't mind, I don't mind
I don't mind, don't make me worry
I ain't got time
You've been sittin' home all alone
You've been talkin' on the telephone
Oh don't tell me that it's only your friends
Try and make me think that you're mine again
And I don't mind, I don't mind
I don't mind, I don't want the worry
I ain't got the time
Oh ain't that something that kind of talk
You don't understand what I'm trying to say woman
I don't care if that ain't what you planned
I know you want to talk it over one more time
Last time nothing in any way
You wouldn't even listen to a word I'd say
I don't mind, I don't mind
I don't mind, I don't want the worry
And I ain't got the time
I don't care about anything
What do you figure that gal wants
The lyrics to "I Don't Mind" by Dr. Feelgood appear to be directed at a woman who is playing games with the singer. He asks her to go out with him and go strollin', rocking and rolling. He doesn't care if she doesn't keep her word or if the world is round or flat. He wants her to stop playing games and give him a straightforward answer. He accuses her of sitting at home alone and talking on the phone with her friends, but then trying to pass it off as if she is busy. He claims he doesn't mind, and he doesn't want to deal with the worry or the stress of the situation. He does not care about anything, and he wonders what the woman wants from him.
The song's lyrics perhaps appear to be a representation of the singer's frustration with a partner who keeps playing games with him. He is not interested in playing her games anymore, and he wants a real relationship. He is tired of the back and forth and wants her to stop making excuses and give him a straight answer. The song seems to be conveying a level of frustration that the singer is experiencing with someone who is not honest with him.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't mind
I am indifferent to the situation
Hey little baby can we go strollin'
Hey, would you like to take a walk with me?
Don't you just know it
Got me rockin' and I oughtta be rollin'
Don't you just know it
This situation has me excited and I should be even more so
I don't mind if you don't keep your word
Walk and talk I don't mind about that
I don't care if you don't keep your promises, as long as we can talk and walk together
I don't mind if the world is round
Rock them all under the ground
'Cause I don't mind, I don't mind
It doesn't matter if everything seems upside down, I simply don't care
I don't mind, don't make me worry
I ain't got time
I don't want to worry about anything, I have more important matters to attend to
You've been sittin' home all alone
You've been talkin' on the telephone
Oh don't tell me that it's only your friends
Try and make me think that you're mine again
I have a feeling that you're trying to get me back, after talking to your friends about me
And I don't mind, I don't mind
I don't mind, I don't want the worry
I ain't got the time
Regardless of what you're trying to do, I don't want to worry about it and I don't have the time for it
Oh ain't that something that kind of talk
You don't understand what I'm trying to say woman
I don't care if that ain't what you planned
I know you want to talk it over one more time
You're not getting what I'm saying and that's a problem, but I know you want to talk about it more
Last time nothing in any way
You wouldn't even listen to a word I'd say
I don't mind, I don't mind
I don't mind, I don't want the worry
And I ain't got the time
Our last conversation was useless, and you didn't listen to me. I don't want to worry about it and I don't have the time either
I don't care about anything
What do you figure that gal wants
I don't care about anything, what do you think that girl wants?
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILKO JOHNSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind