Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a legendary … Read Full Bio ↴Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a legendary American R&B/soul singer and actress. She is best known for the hits she recorded during the 1960s and 1970s, for both the Motown and Buddah Records labels, with her group Gladys Knight & the Pips, the most famous incarnation of which also included her brother Merald "Bubba" Knight and her cousins Edward Patten and William Guest.
Knight started to record solo material due to legal issues that forced her and The Pips to record separately. Her solo debut "Miss Gladys Knight" was released in 1978 followed by "Gladys Knight" on Colombia Records. Knight recorded the title track for the James Bond movie "Licence To Kill." It became a Top 10 hit in the UK, peaking at #6. Knight's third solo album, "Good Woman" was released in 1991 on MCA Records (now Geffen Records). The album quickly climbed the charts to #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album features the lead single, "Men" (#2 R&B). Her fourth album, "Just For You" followed in 1995. The album went Gold. Knight most recent album is her critically acclaimed ninth studio album, "Before Me", released in 2006.

The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Gladys Knight Lyrics

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Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way that he should
I've got it bad and that ain't good

My poor heart is sentimental
But certainly not made of wood
I've got it bad and that ain't good

But when the weekend's over
And Monday rolls around
I end up like I've starved out
Just cryin' and cryin', and cryin'
My poor hours out

'Cause he don't love me like I love him
But no, no, no, no nobody could, no
I've got it bad and that ain't good

Now folks with good intentions
Tell me to save my tears
I'm just glad, I'm mad about him
'Cause I just can't, I just can't live without him

I'm asking you Lord, up above me
Make him love me the way that it should
'Cause I've got it, I've got it real, real, real, real bad

I've got it, got it so bad, yeah

I've got it bad, so bad, I've got it bad
I've got it bad and that ain't good

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gladys Knight's "I Got It Bad" describe a woman who is deeply in love with a man who does not treat her as she deserves. She has a sentimental heart, but she knows that she is not made of wood, meaning that she cannot help but feel deeply hurt by his mistreatment. Despite the pain he causes her, the woman is unable to stop loving him, and when the weekend is over and Monday rolls around, she is left crying and feeling empty. She acknowledges that he does not love her the way she loves him, and while others may advise her to save her tears, she cannot help but be madly in love with him.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of unrequited love, and the woman's desperation is palpable. She turns to the Lord, asking that He intervene and make the man love her the way he should. The lyrics are relatable and emotive, as most people can identify with the pain of loving someone who does not love them back. The simple melody and Knight's soulful voice add to the poignancy of the lyrics, making "I Got It Bad" a classic love song that resonates with listeners.

Line by Line Meaning

Never treats me sweet and gentle The way that he should I've got it bad and that ain't good
My lover doesn't treat me with love and care, as he ought to. This has created a strong emotional attachment that is not positive

My poor heart is sentimental But certainly not made of wood I've got it bad and that ain't good
Although I am emotional, I'm not devoid of reason. I know I should let go of this attachment, but I can't

But when the weekend's over And Monday rolls around I end up like I've starved out Just cryin' and cryin', and cryin' My poor hours out
I am unable to control my emotions, especially on weekdays after a weekend together. I spend hours weeping in sadness

'Cause he don't love me like I love him But no, no, no, no nobody could, no I've got it bad and that ain't good
Although I love him immensely, he doesn't reciprocate the same feeling, and no one else could love me the way I love him. This situation is terrible

Now folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears I'm just glad, I'm mad about him 'Cause I just can't, I just can't live without him
People advise me to stop crying over him, but I can't help it. I am happy to be in love with him, even though it hurts because I simply cannot live without him

I'm asking you Lord, up above me Make him love me the way that it should 'Cause I've got it, I've got it real, real, real, real bad
I pray to God that my lover will love me the way he should, as my emotional attachment to him is very intense and negatively impacting my life

I've got it, got it so bad, yeah I've got it bad, so bad, I've got it bad I've got it bad and that ain't good
I have a severe emotional attachment to my lover, which is causing me great pain, and this situation is not good

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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