By 1961 jazz was falling out of favour with the general public but this shows two of the most important people in early jazz still able to produce amazing music year after they have fallen out of the spotlight.
I Got It Bad
Duke Ellington & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 to Duke Ellington's song "I Got It Bad" describe a person who is deeply in love with someone who does not reciprocate their feelings in the same way. Even though people try to offer advice and tell the person to save their tears, they are so madly in love with this other person that they cannot live without them. This unrequited love causes them pain because the other person never treats them the way they should. However, despite knowing that they should not feel this way, the person cannot help but love them deeply.
The lyrics also express how the person's heart is incredibly sentimental and not made of wood, meaning that they feel emotions deeply and strongly. The repetition of the line "I've got it bad and that ain't good" emphasizes the depth of the person's emotions and the pain they experience as a result of their one-sided love. The final verse describes how the person and their love interest spend time together on the weekends, but even in these moments, the person acknowledges that their love is not reciprocated in the same way. Despite this, they cannot help but love the other person intensely.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Got It Bad" convey the pain and desperation of unrequited love. The person is so deeply in love with someone who does not feel the same way that they cannot imagine living without them. The repetition of the phrase "I've got it bad and that ain't good" reinforces the emotional intensity of the song and the pain that the person is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
Though folks with good intentions
Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
Even though people advise me to stop wasting tears over him, I'm too infatuated with him to let go.
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
Even though I deserve to be treated sweetly and kindly, he never does that for me, causing me to feel trapped in my love for him.
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
My heart is sensitive and emotional, but his coldness towards me has left me feeling deeply hurt and unhappy.
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
Despite the difficulties in our relationship, there are still moments of joy and connection, especially on Fridays when we drink, pray and sometimes indulge in sinful behavior.
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
My love for him is much stronger than his love for me, and it hurts me deeply that he doesn't reciprocate my feelings the way he should.
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
This love that I have for him is causing me a great deal of pain and difficulty, and I know it's not healthy for me in the long run.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, PAUL WEBSTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fatima M
My first time hearing this version was in my dream when i was lil girl,,maybe my parents played it when i was still in the womb,, despite of the dream,, im glad i found this masterpiece .. thanks for uploading
Pepito Tartranas
there is no old or new music, only good or bad. This one is veeery good
daniel menberu
wow, it is really a great combination from both legends
Will Morris
Lyrics are pure gold. "She don't love love me like I love her..."
SELMER B.Action
I have no words to describe this, except two Genius playing together...
John Stephens
"Never treat me sweet and gentle….." classic opening for anyone who's been on that side of a relationship….
mary monroe
This song hits hard 💔❤😭❤
Gary Stone
Two American treasures.
Frank Ulino
Music, the best form of time travel.
Fredy Wraamann
Simplle and pure beauty.