Cold Sweat
James Brown & Wilson Pickett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Play it
Play it on, baby
I don't care alright, about your past, dig
I just want hey, my love to last, come on
I don't care hit the band about your faults, huh
I just want hey, to satisfy your pulse, hey come on
When you kiss me, oh me
Make me understand, hey
One more time
I break out huh, in a cold sweat
Hey, get down, down
Get on down, get on down
Come on down
I don't care alright, about your wants
I just wanna tell ya baby about the does and don'ts, huh
I don't care about the way you treat me darlin'
Uh hey, when you kiss me, yeah
And ya miss me, hold me
And make everything all right
I break out in a cold sweat
Hey
Get down
Come on
Get it, get it, get it
Baby, baby, baby
Come on
Do it, do it, do it, uh
Go on home
Come on, duh
Get it, get it
Come on
The lyrics of James Brown's "Cold Sweat" tell the story of a man who is completely smitten with his lover. He doesn't care about her past or faults, but only wants their love to last. When she kisses him, he feels a sense of understanding and satisfaction. However, he also admits that the intensity of their relationship makes him break out in a cold sweat.
The repetition of the phrase "get on down" and the refrain "come on" create a sense of urgency and an invitation to dance. The call and response between Brown and the band, as well as the prominent horns and driving rhythm, contribute to the song's energy and excitement.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on
Encouragement to start playing music.
Play it
Request to continue playing music.
Play it on, baby
Encouragement to play music with more energy and enthusiasm.
I don't care alright, about your past, dig
The singer is not concerned about the past of their lover and wants to focus on the present moment.
I just want hey, my love to last, come on
The singer wants their love with their partner to last and be fulfilling.
I don't care hit the band about your faults, huh
The singer is not interested in hearing about the flaws of their partner and wants to enjoy the present moment.
I just want hey, to satisfy your pulse, hey come on
The singer wants to fulfill their partner's desires and needs in the current moment.
When you kiss me, oh me
The singer is deeply affected by their partner's kisses and emotions.
Make me understand, hey
The singer wants to be close to their partner and understand their feelings.
One more time
Suggestion to repeat what just happened in the relationship.
I break out huh, in a cold sweat
The singer is overwhelmed with emotion and physical reaction after their partner's affection.
Hey, get down, down
Direction to keep playing and keep the energy up.
Get on down, get on down
Encouragement to continue dancing and having fun.
I don't care alright, about your wants
The singer is not concerned about their partner's wants, but rather their partner's needs.
I just wanna tell ya baby about the does and don'ts, huh
The singer wants to guide their partner and show them what to do and what not to do in the relationship.
I don't care about the way you treat me darlin'
The singer is willing to overlook any negative treatment from their partner and focus on the positive moments.
Uh hey, when you kiss me, yeah
The singer has a strong physical and emotional reaction when their partner kisses them.
And ya miss me, hold me
The singer wants affection and reassurance from their partner when they are apart.
And make everything all right
The singer wants their partner to make them feel better and secure when they are feeling down.
I break out in a cold sweat
The singer experiences intense emotion and physical symptoms in their relationship, such as sweating.
Hey
Vocalization to keep energy high in the song.
Get down
Direction to keep playing music and dancing.
Come on
Encouragement to continue playing with energy and enthusiasm.
Get it, get it, get it
Encouragement to keep the party going.
Baby, baby, baby
Term of endearment for the partner.
Do it, do it, do it, uh
Encouragement to keep playing music and dancing.
Go on home
Suggestion to end the night and go home.
Get it, get it
Last minute encouragement to keep playing music and dancing.
Come on
Final vocalization to encourage the band to keep playing as the song ends.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALFRED JAMES ELLIS, JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ike Dyson
@Benjamin De Cruz I watched that Unsung - Wilson Pickett just last week. I like the part where Pickett related how Brown once told him, "Pickett, you sing real good. Only one thing wrong with you. You're not black enough."
There's a book by Peter Guralnick called "Sweet Soul Music." There's a passage where Jerry Wexler relays a story of when Pickett was in the studios recording "Land of 1000 Dances", and Percy Sledge walks in, and after the session, Sledge tells Pickett, "Sounding good Pickett. I hear a bit of James in there." Pickett saw red, jumped over a table to attack Sledge, who was unfazed as he had been a professional boxer. LOL.
I've been watching that clip of Pickett in Ghana for years/ Bought it on VHS way back in the 90s. He also sang "Midnight Hour". It's on Youtube.
I always liked David Ruffin's style. So did Aretha, from what she said (wink, wink). I liked Teddy, too. Did you ever read books on Marvin Gate? I think maybe it's the one by David Ritz where Marvin says when Teddy had his accident and was cripple, he had no sympathy after Teddy was banging his wife?
But, yeah, I haven't heard anyone like JB and Pickett. Even if they were out there we would be unlikely to hear of them these days. The industry wants us to listen to Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, on which I pass.
Now, here's a download for you. My "Wilson Pickett - Funky Stuff video got blocked, but I put the audio up on Uloz for anyone who wants it:
https://uloz.to/file/lEsf9krggDXF/wilson-pickett-funky-stuff-mp3
Michael Gamerman
It's sad that those two never toured together. It would've been the soul equivalent of a heavyweight title fight.
ChristianMcBrideTV
They toured together in 1982 & ‘83. Saw them twice.
SS
Wow this waa a excellent performance from two legends.❤❤❤
M'kay
Oh man, that would have been great seeing those two on stage together.
Too bad they never went on tour together.
Javonte burris
They did tour together before this videos actually
Benjamin De Cruz
“Don’t do no DANCIN’!!” 🤣🤣🤣😭😭😭 they was really having a scream off towards the end too!! Who could scream better? James or Wilson? I remember that was the question from Wilson Picketts Unsung Special 😂
Ike Dyson
Now THAT is a question I have always thought about. I actually knew about Pickett awhile before I knew about James Brown. I'm the youngest in my family. When my older brothers and sisters moved out of the family house, they left their records behind. A lot of Stax and Atlantic stuff. I was into traditional R&B, Otis, Aretha, Sam and Dave. I got into James Brown when I heard "Man's World." I was 12 years old. Took me awhile to appreciate funk. I used to play the album "The Wicked Pickett" over and over. I would rate their screaming as just about equal. But they are the only two that could really do it. Did you ever hear R.J try it in those later James Brown concerts? I guess he tried, but fell flat on his face! Listen to Pickett on this (one my favourite Pickett tracks): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9BwLvlAVaU
Benjamin De Cruz
Ike Dyson Oh yeahh I think I’ve seen what your talking about LOL!! But yeah man they were both about equal I’d say the same with that voice. Raw and from the gut where u can FEEL it! Some people scream from just the throat but they went way from the bottom with that soul! My fav clip of Wilson is when he’s singing “Land of 1000 Dances” live in Africa. One point he screamed it felt like one of them dinosaurs from Jurassic Park or something 😂 but with soul ahahaha! But man they both did things vocally where u just gotta make that funk face and it just hits ya! And it hasn’t really been a singer like them, since them...ain’t that something? And I mean a singer today! Some folks that came after them are now passed on like Gerald Levert, Teddy P, David Ruffin..etc.
Ike Dyson
@Benjamin De Cruz I watched that Unsung - Wilson Pickett just last week. I like the part where Pickett related how Brown once told him, "Pickett, you sing real good. Only one thing wrong with you. You're not black enough."
There's a book by Peter Guralnick called "Sweet Soul Music." There's a passage where Jerry Wexler relays a story of when Pickett was in the studios recording "Land of 1000 Dances", and Percy Sledge walks in, and after the session, Sledge tells Pickett, "Sounding good Pickett. I hear a bit of James in there." Pickett saw red, jumped over a table to attack Sledge, who was unfazed as he had been a professional boxer. LOL.
I've been watching that clip of Pickett in Ghana for years/ Bought it on VHS way back in the 90s. He also sang "Midnight Hour". It's on Youtube.
I always liked David Ruffin's style. So did Aretha, from what she said (wink, wink). I liked Teddy, too. Did you ever read books on Marvin Gate? I think maybe it's the one by David Ritz where Marvin says when Teddy had his accident and was cripple, he had no sympathy after Teddy was banging his wife?
But, yeah, I haven't heard anyone like JB and Pickett. Even if they were out there we would be unlikely to hear of them these days. The industry wants us to listen to Jay-Z and Lil Wayne, on which I pass.
Now, here's a download for you. My "Wilson Pickett - Funky Stuff video got blocked, but I put the audio up on Uloz for anyone who wants it:
https://uloz.to/file/lEsf9krggDXF/wilson-pickett-funky-stuff-mp3
Guillaume Joan Pépin Viano
Both are giants
Wilson have maybe a more thicker abrasive scream though .
But they re pretty much twins originators
Imagine its like having Billy cobham and alphonse mouzon on the same stage .