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Fine and Mellow
Eva Cassidy Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

My man don't love me
He treats me so mean
My man don't love me
He treats me so mean
Well he's the lowest man
That I've ever seen

He wears high draped pants
Stripes are really yellow
Well he wears high draped pants
Stripes are really yellow
But when he starts to love me
He's so fine and mellow

Love will make you gamble
And stay out all night long
I say love will make you gamble
And stay out all night long
Love will make you do things
You always thought was wrong

But if you treat me right baby
I'll stay home every day
Said if you treat me right baby
I'll stay home every day
But you're so doggone mean
I just know you're gonna drive me away

But if you treat me right baby
I'll stay home every day
Said if you treat me right baby
I'll stay home every day
But you're so doggone mean
I just know you're gonna drive me away

Love is like a faucet
It turns off and on
I said love is like a faucet
It turns off and on
Just when you think it's on baby
It's turned off and gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Eva Cassidy's "Fine and Mellow" are a melancholy commentary on a lover who is unfaithful and unkind. The singer laments the fact that despite how poorly she is treated, she still loves him deeply. She describes her man as "the lowest man" she's ever seen, a man who wears "high draped pants" with "stripes that are really yellow." This image is likely supposed to put us in mind of a man who is trying too hard to be fashionable or cool, someone who is not comfortable in his own skin.


Despite the unkindness of her lover, Cassidy's character still manages to find moments of true bliss in their relationship. When this man loves her, she says, he is "so fine and mellow." This suggests that even though he is not the perfect lover, there are still moments of tenderness and affection between them that make it hard for her to walk away. In the final verse of the song, the singer reflects on the nature of love itself, suggesting that it is something that can be turned on and off like a faucet, and that it is never entirely predictable or stable.


Overall, "Fine and Mellow" is a poignant reminder of the complex, often painful nature of human relationships, and of the fact that even in the midst of heartbreak and disappointment, there can still be moments of joy and tenderness.


Line by Line Meaning

My man don't love me
The singer's partner doesn't feel affection for them


He treats me so mean
Her partner acts cruel toward her


Well he's the lowest man
The singer thinks her partner is a terrible human being


That I've ever seen
She believes her partner is the worst person she's come across


He wears high draped pants
Her partner wears unusual clothing


Stripes are really yellow
His pants are brightly colored


But when he starts to love me
Despite his faults, when he shows love towards her...


He's so fine and mellow
...he is kind and gentle


Love will make you gamble
When you're in love, you'll take risks


And stay out all night long
You might spend all night away from home


Love will make you do things
Love can lead you to actions you'd normally avoid


You always thought was wrong
Even if you believed they were morally incorrect


But if you treat me right baby
However, if her partner behaves well...


I'll stay home every day
...she'll be loyal and not go out unnecessarily


Said if you treat me right baby
Repeating her statement to ensure her partner understands


But you're so doggone mean
But unfortunately, he is horribly cruel


I just know you're gonna drive me away
The artist is convinced her partner's behavior will push her away


Love is like a faucet
The nature of love is unpredictable


It turns off and on
Like a tap that alternatively provides and stops the flow of water


Just when you think it's on baby
Just when you believe love is present and stable...


It's turned off and gone
...it vanishes and disappears




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILLIE HOLIDAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

G. Neault

My man don't love me 
He treats me so mean 
My man don't love me 
He treats me so mean 
Well he's the, lowest man 
That I've ever seen 

He wears high trimmed pan 
Stripes are really yellow 
Well he wears high trimmed pan 
Stripes are really yellow 
But when he starts to love me 
He's so fine and mellow 

Love will make you gamble 
And stay out all night long 
Love will make you gamble 
And stay out all night long 
Love will make you do things 
You always thought was wrong 

But if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
Said if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
But you're so darned mean 
I just know you're gonna drive me away 

But if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
Said if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
But you're so darned mean 
I just know you're gonna drive me away 

Love is like a faucet 
It turns off and on 
Love is like a faucet 
It turns off and on 
Sometimes when you think it's on baby 
It's turned off and gone



All comments from YouTube:

Tonia Marchesiello

Thanks so much for sharing Eva's special gifts and music with the world, that's such a great fortune for me and I'm sure for so many other people 👍👌👏✌🙏🙏🙏🎼💞🎸💝🎤💞🎼

Luis Fraire

Yes ! Absolutely a great voice.! You own us a big band recording ! #1

Joseph Charbonneau

She was so very amazing!!! Angel princess she is!!! TY SO MUCH FOR SHARING!!! 🥀🌹🌷😍

Polish issues

💋💋💋💋💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💞💙🎵🌼🌸🎤🎶🎧🎧🎧🎧❣️❣️♥️♥️♥️💟🙏🏻🇵🇱🎙️🎵 loved it! Rock it Eva.

Luis Fraire

Angel voice !

yg lee

Thanks so much for great album and great voice

Sheila Barron

Yes Yes Yes Rest in ☮️ Eva♥️

G. Neault

My man don't love me 
He treats me so mean 
My man don't love me 
He treats me so mean 
Well he's the, lowest man 
That I've ever seen 

He wears high trimmed pan 
Stripes are really yellow 
Well he wears high trimmed pan 
Stripes are really yellow 
But when he starts to love me 
He's so fine and mellow 

Love will make you gamble 
And stay out all night long 
Love will make you gamble 
And stay out all night long 
Love will make you do things 
You always thought was wrong 

But if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
Said if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
But you're so darned mean 
I just know you're gonna drive me away 

But if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
Said if you treat me right baby 
I'll stay home everyday 
But you're so darned mean 
I just know you're gonna drive me away 

Love is like a faucet 
It turns off and on 
Love is like a faucet 
It turns off and on 
Sometimes when you think it's on baby 
It's turned off and gone

Margareth Carl

❤️🌷😘

Brenda Groehler

😎 🎶

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