I Got It Bad
Duo Campion-Vachon (Ellington) Lyrics


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Though folks with good intentions
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
And that ain't good

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "I Got It Bad" by Duke Ellington's Orchestra explores the singer's deep feelings towards the person they love. Despite the advice of well-intentioned people who tell them to save their tears, the singer cannot help but feel consumed by their love for this person. They admit to being angry with this person, yet they cannot live without them. This shows the conflicting emotions that the singer is going through.


The singer then goes on to describe their lover's treatment of them. They are not treated sweetly or gently as they should be, but despite all this, the singer cannot help but love this person so deeply. The singer's heart is described as being sentimental and not made of wood, showing just how intense their love is. The chorus of the song repeats the title phrase, "I've got it bad, and that ain't good," emphasizing once again the conflicting emotions that the singer is experiencing.


The second half of the song describes the singer's relationship with their lover. They pray and sin together, showing the complexity of their relationship. The singer then goes on to admit that their lover does not love them as much as they love him, yet the singer cannot help but feel the way they do. The line "I've got it bad, and that ain't good" is repeated again, emphasizing the singer's internal struggle.


Overall, "I Got It Bad" is a powerful exploration of the intense, conflicting emotions one can experience when deeply in love.


Line by Line Meaning

Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears
Although people advise me to not waste my tears, I cannot help but cry over my love for him.


Well I'm so mad about him I can't live without him
I am deeply in love with him to the point where I cannot imagine living without him.


Never treats me sweet and gentle The way he should
He does not treat me with the kindness and tenderness that I deserve from him.


I've got it bad And that ain't good
My love for him is overwhelming and consuming, and it is not necessarily a good thing for me.


My poor heart is so sentimental Not made of wood
My heart is filled with emotions and is incapable of being emotionless, as if it were made of wood.


I've got it so bad And that ain't good
My love for him is so intense that it is causing me distress and harm, and it is not necessarily a positive thing.


But when the fish are jumpin' And Friday rolls around
During times of happiness and leisure, such as fishing on a Friday, I spend time with him.


My man an' I, we gin some We pray some, and sin some
Together, my man and I drink, pray, and engage in activities that may be considered sinful.


He don't love me like I love him The way he should
He does not feel the same intense love that I feel for him, and he does not treat me with the love and kindness that I deserve.


Yes I've got it bad And that ain't good
My love for him is causing me undue suffering, and it is not necessarily a desirable thing for me.




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
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