Though Ketchum first began recording in the mid-1980s, not until his 1991 record deal with Curb Records did he have a major hit with the album Past The Point Of Rescue. The title cut to the album was a Top 3 single, and other singles that met similar success included "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Sure Love".
In 1994 Ketchum toured Britain, issuing the single "Past The Point Of Rescue" on that side of the Atlantic. Though the single failed to make the UK Top 100 pop charts, it received extensive airplay on country radio. The album Every Little Word (of which the UK release featured a bonus disc of past US hits including "Past The Point...") made the Top 40 on the UK country charts and also did the same back in the US.
Ketchum continued to record and release new material. His final US releases were Father Time in 2008, and I'm the Troubadour in 2014.
His film credits included appearing in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel and a small role in the 1994 film Maverick.
That's What I Get for Losin' You
Hal Ketchum Lyrics
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I'm just a drifter with a razor and comb
Every night another cheap hotel
Yes, you could say I ain't doing too well
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
That's what I get, that's what I get
Somebody stole my watch and chain
I didn't notice, wasn't feelin' no pain
All I got left is a picture of you
It's kinda faded and torn in two
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
Love is foolish and love ain't fair
When you need it, it's never there
If you think love is so sweet and kind
Just come and see me at closing time
How did I get here? I don't know
I had it all till I let you go
I know love will never be the same
Got nobody but myself to blame
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
Love is foolish and love ain't fair
When you need it, it's never there
If you think love is so sweet and kind
Just come and see me at closing time
How did I get here, I don't know
I had it all till I let you go
I know love will never be the same
Got nobody but myself to blame
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
That's what I get, that's what I get
That's what I get for losing you
In Hal Ketchum's "That's What I Get for Losin' You," the lyrics speak to the consequences of losing a love that was once treasured. The singer has become a drifter with no place to call home, living out of cheap hotels and barely getting by. He carries only a razor and comb, showing the simplicity of his current lifestyle. The image of the deteriorating photograph of the once-loved one who left him is symbolic of the fading of his memories and the lost love. The lyrics also speak to the idea that love may not always be kind or fair, and it can leave a person with nothing but regret.
The chorus, "That's what I get for losing you," is repeated several times throughout the song, driving home the idea that the singer's current situation is the result of losing the one he loved. Love is seen as a fickle and unpredictable force, one that can bring joy and devastation in equal measure. The ending of the song is somewhat of a lament, where the singer acknowledges that he is ultimately responsible for his own demise.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that love can have far-reaching consequences that are beyond our control. Losing a loved one can be a life-changing event that leaves one with nothing to show but heartache and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't got no place that I call home
I am homeless and do not have a permanent residence.
I'm just a drifter with a razor and comb
I am a wanderer, traveling from place to place with only basic possessions.
Every night another cheap hotel
I have to stay in inexpensive motels every night due to my lack of a stable home.
Yes, you could say I ain't doing too well
I am not doing well in life, as I have no permanent home and am forced to live in cheap motels.
Somebody stole my watch and chain
Someone stole my valuable possessions without me realizing it.
I didn't notice, wasn't feelin' no pain
I was so focused on my grief over losing you that I didn't even notice my watch and chain had been stolen.
All I got left is a picture of you
The only thing I have to remind me of you is a faded and torn photo.
It's kinda faded and torn in two
The picture I have of you is old and damaged, reflecting the current state of our relationship.
Love is foolish and love ain't fair
Love can be illogical and irrational, and it is not always distributed equally or fairly.
When you need it, it's never there
Love cannot always be relied upon, as it is not always present or available when you need it most.
If you think love is so sweet and kind
If you have a positive perception of love being gentle and caring,
Just come and see me at closing time
Come see me when it's dark, and I'm alone at a bar, feeling the burden of losing you.
How did I get here? I don't know
I am confused about how I ended up in this situation.
I had it all till I let you go
I used to have everything I need until I made the mistake of letting you go.
I know love will never be the same
I realize that no future love will ever compare to what I had with you.
Got nobody but myself to blame
I am responsible for the loss of our relationship, and I have only myself to blame.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Hal Ketchum, Alan Gordon Anderson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind