I Got It Bad
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra; Ivie Anderson Lyrics
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Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
The lyrics of Duke Ellington & His Orchestra Feat. Ivie Anderson's song, "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good," portray a sense of deep longing and unrequited love. The singer acknowledges that although she is advised to save her tears by well-intentioned people, she is so madly in love with the man she can't be without him. The man in question does not treat her kindly or lovingly, yet she cannot help the way she feels. Her heart is deeply sentimental and longing for his love, but she knows that she has it bad, and that ain't good.
The lyrics further portray the nature of their relationship as sinful and unconventional. They drink and pray together, but she still feels unloved by him. Despite this, she acknowledges that her love for him is not reciprocated in the same way. The chorus repeats the phrase "I've got it bad and that ain't good" to emphasize the desperate state of her unrequited love.
Overall, "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good" is a song about unfulfilled love, longing, and a deep sense of unrequited affection. The lyrics emphasize the powerlessness the singer feels in her love for someone who does not feel the same.
Line by Line Meaning
Though folks with good intentions
Tell me to save my tears
Although well-meaning people advise me to stop crying about him,
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
I'm so desperately in love with him that I feel like I can't live without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
He never treats me kindly and tenderly like he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
I am badly suffering because of how much I love him, and that's not a good thing
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
My heart is too emotional and sensitive, it's not cold and unfeeling like a wooden heart
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
My love for him is so strong and painful, and that's not a good thing
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
But when things are good and it's the weekend, my man and I drink, pray, and do some questionable things together
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
He doesn't love me as deeply and intensely as I love him, like he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
My intense love for him is causing me pain and distress, which is not good
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
Yes, I am badly suffering because of my love for him, and it's not a good thing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, GUY WEBSTER/WEBSTER MUSIC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, PAUL WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@christopherlyons5900
Paul Francis Webster wrote the lyrics for Duke, in 1941. Son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland. Graduated from Horace Mann in the Bronx. In my opinion, the best lyrics for any Ellington song. This country produces improbable exquisite collaborations like that so often. And that's something we should all be proud of. Keep 'em coming.
@electronbluepearl8591
Many many years ago when I was a teenager I hung out at a local Italian club. I learned so much about music from the old-timers there who used to play their music on the jukebox. This was one of my favorites and I’ve been searching for years to find this exact recording. So happy I finally found it. I have never heard of Ivie Anderson. She is outstanding!
@spencersmith2798
My favorite Ellington recording...the melody, the arrangement and the unforgettable vocal by the great Ivie Anderson combine to make this a jewel in the Duke’s musical crown.
@Trombonology
Ellington employed many fine, distinctive and memorable vocalists, but in my opinion, Ivie was, hands down, the best. Her unique sound and interpretive brilliance are on glorious display on this side. The great Johnny Hodges, who possessed the most sensual and expressive alto sax tone ever, is at his best here. Duke's celeste and Sonny Greer's brush work, too, contribute to this most lovely treatment of one of Duke's most beautiful compositions -- and one of the all-time great torch songs!
@JudiKJudikjazz
I enjoy Ivie's rendition of this wonderful sexy song. So sultry, clear eschewing rambling notes for true ones.
@eamon1054
Long live the duke.