Whitcomb formed his R&B group Bluesville in Dublin, Ireland. He never had a hit in the U.K. and wasn't all that wild about rock & roll in the first place, preferring traditional forms of blues, ragtime, and Tin Pan Alley. His song "You Turn Me On" -- a tongue-in-cheek three-chord knockoff at the end of a session with exaggerated falsetto vocals and an unforgettable orgasmic vocal hook -- hit number eight in America in 1965, and Whitcomb was briefly a star. The bluesy follow-up, "N-N-Nervous," was a small hit, and that was the end of Whitcomb's hit-making days.
Not much of a rock & roll singer, Whitcomb quickly turned to vaudevillian, British music hall-styled material on his subsequent releases, with meager commercial (and artistic) results. A dedicated archivist, Whitcomb's book, After the Ball, is a thorough history of pre-rock popular music forms.
This Sporting Life
Ian Whitcomb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna get married
And settle down
Cause this sporting life is gonna be the death of me
My baby left me, all of my own
Ain't got no woman and ain't got no home
And this sporting life, this night life, oh boy, it's killing me
There's only one thing here left to say
I've gave all up, all my life away
And this sporting life, this night life, oh boy, it's killing me
Finish them boy, don't you know don't you know
I'm getting tired of just hangin' around
Am gonna find me a good girl and settle down
And this sporting life, this sporting life is gonna be the death of me
Yes it is, yes it is
Yes it is, yes it is, yes it is, yes it is
Yes it is, yes it is
I can't take it anymore
Please, oh come on, oh come on'
The song "This Sporting Life" by Ian Whitcomb explores the challenges and uncertainties of a life filled with nightlife and sports. The singer is feeling restless and unfulfilled by his current lifestyle and wants to settle down and get married. He is tired of the emptiness that comes with a life filled with partying and sporting events. The singer has lost his significant other and is left without a home, drifting aimlessly in search of fulfilment.
The lyrics depict the dark side of living the high life. The singer is looking for deeper meaning in life and realizes that a life of partying and sports does not offer that. The chorus emphasizes the impact of this lifestyle on the singer's well-being, with the repetition of "this sporting life is gonna be the death of me." The lyrics suggest that the singer is ready for a change, a longing for a more stable life and values.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm getting tired of just hangin around
I am getting weary of idling away my time.
I'm gonna get married
I am going to marry a woman.
And settle down
I am going to lead a more calm life.
Cause this sporting life is gonna be the death of me
Engaging in the life of an athlete will result in my demise.
My baby left me, all of my own
My significant other left me without support.
Ain't got no woman and ain't got no home
I am without a companion or a dwelling.
And this sporting life, this night life, oh boy, it's killing me
The lifestyle of an athlete and after-hour festivities are damaging to my well-being.
Yes it is, yes it is, I can't take it anymore
I am absolutely certain of the destructive nature of my current situation and can no longer endure it.
There's only one thing here left to say
There is only one conclusion to be drawn from this situation.
I've gave all up, all my life away
I have relinquished my entire existence.
And this sporting life, this night life, oh boy, it's killing me
The lifestyle of an athlete and after-hour festivities continue to be detrimental.
Finish them boy, don't you know don't you know
Put an end to your harmful practices, do you not comprehend?
I'm getting tired of just hangin' around
I am growing fatigued of residing in the same location without purpose.
Am gonna find me a good girl and settle down
I will locate a pleasant woman to wed and live tranquilly with.
And this sporting life, this sporting life is gonna be the death of me
Living as an athlete will ultimately result in my mortality.
Yes it is, yes it is
Indeed it is so.
Yes it is, yes it is, yes it is, yes it is
I reiterate that it is absolutely true.
Yes it is, yes it is
I confirm that it is.
I can't take it anymore
I am no longer able to tolerate the situation.
Please, oh come on, oh come on
I implore, please act now.
Contributed by Ryan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.