Although the band Burdon formed in the late 1960s was sometimes called Eric Burdon and the New Animals, it wasn't until 1998 that the name Eric Burdon and the New Animals was officially adopted. The 1998 band had bassist Dave Meros, guitarist Dean Restum, drummer Aynsley Dunbar and keyboard guitarist Neal Morse. They recorded Live at the Coach House on 17 October 1998, released on video and DVD in December that year. In 1999 they released The Official Live Bootleg No. 2 and in August 2000 The Official Live Bootleg 2000, with Martin Gerschwitz on keyboards.
Read Eric Burdon's full bio here: Eric Burdon
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Eric Burdon & The New Animals Lyrics
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Sometimes I feel a little mad
But don't you know that no one alive
Can always be an angel
When things go wrong I seem to be bad
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that all I have do is worry
Then you're bound to see my other side
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has it's problems and I get my share
And that's one thing I never meant to do
Because I love you
Oh, Oh baby don't you know I'm human
Have thoughts like any other one
Sometimes I find myself long regretting
Some foolish thing some little simple thing I've done
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Eric Burdon's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" expresses the frustration and plea of a person who is misunderstood. The opening lines, "Baby, do you understand me now / Sometimes I feel a little mad," suggest a sense of frustration or upset. The singer then asks the listener to recognize that no one is perfect all the time, and that when things go wrong, they are not intentionally causing harm.
The line, "But don't you know that no one alive / Can always be an angel," suggests that the singer is not claiming to be perfect, but rather, is asking for understanding and forgiveness when they show their "other side." The lyrics also acknowledge that sometimes the singer is "edgy," but they want their loved one to understand that it's not intentional.
Overall, the song is a plea for empathy and a reminder that everyone is human and makes mistakes. The repeated refrain of "Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood" further emphasizes the singer's need for understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, do you understand me now
Do you truly understand who I am and what I am about?
Sometimes I feel a little mad
Occasionally I feel angry or upset
But don't you know that no one alive
Everyone has flaws and makes mistakes
Can always be an angel
No one is perfect and always has good intentions
When things go wrong I seem to be bad
In difficult situations, I may appear to be doing something wrong
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
However, I am just a person who has good intentions deep down
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I hope that my true intentions are not mistaken by others
Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
At times, I am without worries and full of joy
With a joy that's hard to hide
My happiness is evident and difficult to conceal
And sometimes it seems that all I have do is worry
Other times, it feels like all I can do is stress about something
Then you're bound to see my other side
In those moments, my negative side may come to light
If I seem edgy I want you to know
If I come across as nervous or anxious, it's not your fault
That I never mean to take it out on you
I never intend to direct my negative energy onto you
Life has it's problems and I get my share
Like everyone else, I face difficulties and struggles in life
And that's one thing I never meant to do
I never wanted to cause you any harm or distress
Because I love you
My actions are rooted in my love for you
Oh, Oh baby don't you know I'm human
I am only human and prone to mistakes and flaws
Have thoughts like any other one
I have thoughts and feelings like every other human being
Sometimes I find myself long regretting
I sometimes dwell on and regret past mistakes
Some foolish thing some little simple thing I've done
Things that may seem small or insignificant to others may weigh heavily on my mind
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Overall, I am a person with good intentions
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
I hope that others can see and understand my true intentions
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: BENNIE BENJAMIN, GLORIA CALDWELL, SOL MARCUS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Susan
[Verse 1]
Baby, do you understand me now
Sometimes I feel a little bit mad
Don't you know no one alive can always be an angel?
When everything goes wrong, you see some bad
[Chorus]
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
[Verse 2]
Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that all I have to do is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
[Chorus]
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
[Bridge]
If I seem edgy, I want you to know
That I never mean to take it out on you
Life has its problems and I get my share
And that's one thing I never mean to do 'cause I love you
[Verse 3]
Oh, oh, oh, oh, baby, don't you know I'm a human?
I have faults, like any other one
Sometimes I find myself alone regretting some foolish thing
Some simple thing that I've done
[Chorus]
I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
Yes, I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
biensidhe
Brave man to sing a song like this one in the same key 40+ years later, but Eric rocks it.
Eric Burdon Fan
@hieinh eric burdon is there 67 and 67 you can not call a real grandpa
Robert Schaefer
I have this on my iPod and iTunes. And you have to have War Low Rider.
hieinh
@Neo Neo Better than Steven Tyler or Roger Daltrey at that age
Neo Neo
Not really, sounds like shit.
Steve Woan
I agree, some aging rockers lower the key of their signature songs to make them do-able
lightconnection1
One of the few singers who know what real music is.. Verry talented Eric Burdon far above the Beatles and the Rollingstones
Nick g
if you think he's going to be a carbon copy of what he once was, you are sadly mistaken.. I see a man who has traveled across time, decades upon decades.. He's still bringing it to the table so we can have a dish or two of some tasty lyrics and some awesome guitar work.
David Mark
An Artist that spans the decades deserves recognition.....Eric still delivers.... Good Band
donholl
Burdon has be re-interpreting Animals songs for decades, which is probably necessary for him to retain interest in them - he's never been one to "settle in".
The version of this on the 1974 Eric Burdon Band album "Sun Secrets" is spectacular!