Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz sing… Read Full Bio ↴Etta Jones (November 25, 1928 – October 16, 2001) was an American jazz singer whose critical success and relative commercial obscurity (she never had a hit record) earned her a reputation in her lifetime as a "jazz musician's jazz singer".

She is noted for her elegant interpretations of standards, ballads, and blues. Her characteristic inflections have sometimes prompted comparisons to stylistic devices employed by Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald. Jones' recordings, particularly her debut record (Don't Go To Strangers, 1960), have earned wide admiration in a new generation of listeners.

She had three Grammy nominations, for the Don't Go to Strangers LP in 1960, Save Your Love for Me in 1981, and My Buddy in 1999.

Jones had a musical partnership of more than thirty years with tenor sax player Houston Person, who received equal billing with her. He also produced her albums and served as her manager.

Jones was born in Aiken, South Carolina, and raised in Harlem. She died at the age of 72 from cancer. She was survived by her husband, John Medlock, and a granddaughter.

I Wish I Didn't Love You So
Etta Jones Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish I didn't love you so
My love for you should have faded long ago.
I wish I didn't need your kiss
Why must your kiss torture me as long as this.

I might be smilin' by now
With some new tender friend.
Smilin' by now

With my heart on the mend.

But when I try
Something in that heart says "No".

You're still there
I wish I didn't love you so.

Overall Meaning

Etta Jones's song I Wish I Didn't Love You So delves into the deep emotions of heartbreak, pain, and longing for someone who has moved on. The singer of the song laments her undying love for someone who does not reciprocate her feelings anymore. She wishes that her love for this person had faded with time, but it hasn't, and his absence from her life tortures her every day. She longs for her pain to end, so she might be able to smile again with a new friend who would ease her heartache. However, despite her best efforts to move on, she finds herself struggling to let go of this person. Her heart compels her to hold on to him, and she yearns for the day when she will stop loving him.

The lyrics are painfully honest and raw, making it easy for the listener to empathize with the singer's plight. Etta sings the song with a combination of deep emotion and vulnerability, allowing the listener to fully experience the grief she is feeling. The song shows that love can be both a beautiful and painful experience.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish I didn't love you so
I regret loving you so deeply.

My love for you should have faded long ago.
I expected my love for you to diminish over time, but it hasn't.

I wish I didn't need your kiss
I wish I no longer craved the affection you once gave me.

Why must your kiss torture me as long as this.
Your kiss still affects me, and it causes me pain.

I might be smilin' by now
I could be happy at this point in time.

With some new tender friend.
Perhaps with a new romantic interest.

Smilin' by now
Laughing again, feeling joy.

With my heart on the mend.
With my heart healing and recovering.

But when I try
Despite my efforts to move on.

Something in that heart says 'No'
My heart still clings to you, and doesn't want to let go.

You're still there
You still occupy my heart and mind.