Born in Pensacola, Florida, McCrae grew up singing in her pentecostal church and later discovered secular singers like Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. She began performing in local clubs as a teenager, and singing with local groups like the Lafayettes and the Independents. In 1963, she met a young sailor named George McCrae, whom she married within a week.
From 1963 onward, she recorded as a duo with her husband George, and was first to receive a solo contract, with Henry Stone's TK Records. She found success on the R&B charts with "Lead Me On" in 1970, followed by "For Your Love".
George & Gwen were discovered in 1967 by singer Betty Wright, who helped get them signed to Henry Stone's Alston label. Their debut single, "Three Hearts in a Tangle," was released in 1969; the follow-up, "Like Yesterday Our Love Is Gone," marked the first time they worked with the writing team of Clarence Reid (who would later morph into the bawdy comic Blowfly) and Willie Clarke. Both were regional hits, as was third single, "No One Left to Come Home," although none of those records broke nationally; meanwhile, the McCraes and Wright were collectively earning a reputation as stellar session vocalists.
Following husband George’s unexpected solo success with "Rock Your Baby", Gwen went on to have a major hit of her own in 1975 with "Rockin' Chair", a #1 R&B hit which also reached the US Top 10. The follow-up album, Love Insurance, also made the R&B charts. By this time, the separate successes were taking their toll on the McCraes' marriage. Gwen has since alleged that her husband beat her frequently.
After Gwen and George divorced and TK Records collapsed, Gwen moved to New Jersey, and signed with Atlantic Records, having another hit with "Funky Sensation" in 1981. She continued to record, and the success of some of her earlier recordings on the UK’s Northern Soul scene maintained her popularity as a live act in Europe. In 2004, she released her first gospel album.
I've Got Nothing to Lose But the Blues
Gwen McCrae Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That we′ve been lyin' here
I′ve been relivin' my past
With a great deal of fear
Doin' what′s right
Seems to bring me nothin′ but wrong
So now I'm changin′ my life
I spent most of my life lovin′ just one man
Oh, who walked out on for someone else
And now I'm lyin′ in your arms
And I should be ashamed of myself
But no I got nothin' lose but the Blues
I lost everythin' I had yesterday
I got nothin′ to lose but the Blues
Since the man I love walked away
As I looked into his eyes
I know exactly what he′s thinkin'
He thinks I′m just another so good woman
No, he's just another man been drinkin′
But I'm not even gonna try to find him
That this ain′t never happened before
And I'm not even gonna promise myself
This won't happen anymore
But one thing I′m gonna say
That there may come a day
When I get myself together
So my heart can love again.
In Gwen McCrae's song "I've Got Nothing to Lose But the Blues," the singer is reflecting on her past as she spends what she believes to be her final hours with a man. She feels as though doing what is right has only brought her pain and now she wants to change her life. She has been with only one man, who left her for someone else. Now she is with another, and though she should be ashamed, she feels like she has nothing left to lose but the blues, as she has lost everything already.
As she looks into her current partner's eyes, she knows that he thinks she is just another good woman, but she is not going to try to change his mind. She is not going to promise herself that this will never happen again either. However, she does acknowledge that one day she may be able to love again if she can get herself together.
Line by Line Meaning
Last few hours
Referring to the recent time spent with the singer's current partner.
That we've been lyin' here
This refers to the singer and her partner lying together in bed.
I've been relivin' my past
The singer is thinking about her past, reflecting on it.
With a great deal of fear
The artist is experiencing anxiety and apprehension while thinking about her past.
Doin' what's right
Doing what is socially or morally acceptable.
Seems to bring me nothin' but wrong
When the singer tries to do the right thing, it always ends up having a negative outcome.
So now I'm changin' my life
The singer has decided to make a significant life change due to the repeated negative outcomes.
I've been a good woman much too long
The artist has been doing what is expected of her for far too long and is ready for a change.
I spent most of my life lovin' just one man
The artist was committed to one man for a significant portion of her life.
Oh, who walked out on for someone else
The man that the artist loved walked out on her for another woman.
And now I'm lyin' in your arms
The singer is now with a new partner and lying in their arms.
And I should be ashamed of myself
The artist believes that she should feel guilty for moving on from her previous relationship.
But no I got nothin' lose but the Blues
The singer has already lost so much in the past that there is nothing more for her to lose but her sadness and heartache.
I lost everythin' I had yesterday
The singer is acknowledging that her previous relationship caused her to lose everything she had.
I got nothin' to lose but the Blues
The only thing the singer has left to lose is her negative emotions.
Since the man I love walked away
The artist's positivity and willingness to move on from her previous relationship stems from the fact that the man she loved left her.
As I looked into his eyes
The artist is looking into her current partner's eyes.
I know exactly what he's thinkin'
The singer has an understanding of what her partner is thinking at that moment.
He thinks I'm just another so good woman
The singer's partner may not value her as a unique individual and categorizes her as just another good woman.
No, he's just another man been drinkin'
The artist acknowledges that there may be external factors influencing her partner's thoughts and behavior.
But I'm not even gonna try to find him
The artist has no intention of finding her previous lover.
That this ain't never happened before
The artist has never acted on her emotions in this way before.
And I'm not even gonna promise myself
The singer is hesitant to make any further promises to herself.
This won't happen anymore
The artist is uncertain about whether this type of behavior will happen again in the future.
But one thing I'm gonna say
Despite her uncertainty, the singer wants to express one thing.
That there may come a day
The singer acknowledges that there may be a time in the future when her heart will be ready to love again.
When I get myself together
The singer understands that she needs to work on improving herself before she can engage in a new relationship.
So my heart can love again
The artist's ultimate goal is to have her heart open and ready to love again after experiencing heartbreak in the past.
Writer(s): Clarence Henry Reid
Contributed by Violet P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
axle grind
So Amazing. They just don't make music and lyrics as good as this anymore. Thank you so much for posting. I can't believe iTunes doesn't have this song listed. :-(
Sheila Palmer
axle grind gwen you are fab
henrik madsen
Where`s the people listen that kind of music today......Sometimes felt like I am alone about that passion of music.
THE FUNK PUNK
" ZOOM " Temptations 1973, but still kicking .
rolino´´erer´´funkadelia
good one!!
Sheila Palmer
rolino´´erer´´funkadelia gwen you areincredible
André Marques de Araújo
What's it all about? Iced down medallions!
Sheila Palmer
André Marques de Araújo gwen you are amazing
Diss & Dad
My Cuban connection, flexin', wildin', suppin' Don P on the island...
Kareem Campbell
Motion picture / Analyze the world Flush a Hit ya/ Dominate the scripture / Wild black emperor/ The best in your perimeter.................... Fire!