I'll Go Crazy
James Brown and The Famous Flames Lyrics
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If you leave me, I'll go crazy
'Cause I love you, love you
Oh, I love you too much
If you quit me, I'll go crazy
If you forget me, I'll go crazy
'Cause I love you, love you
You've got to live for yourself
Yourself and nobody else
You've got to live for yourself
Yourself and nobody else
The lyrics to James Brown and The Famous Flames's song "I'll Go Crazy" display a profound level of love dependency. In the first two lines, the singer states that if their lover were to leave them, they would go insane. The repetition of the words "crazy" and "love you" emphasizes the intensity of the emotions involved. The singer is so deeply attached to their partner that the idea of losing them shakes the very foundation of their sanity. This fear of losing their partner is extended in the next two lines when the singer states that if their lover were to quit them or forget them, they would still go insane. The emphasis on the "love you" in the last line echoes the same intensity from the previous verses.
The final lines of the song add a layer of instruction to the song. The singer states that one must live for themselves and nobody else. This final line brings the theme of the song full circle. The fear of losing a partner can cause a person to lose themselves in the relationship, and the singer is providing a caution against this. The balance of love for oneself and love for one's partner is essential and goes hand in hand with the level of dependency someone has on their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
If you leave me, I'll go crazy
If you decide to end our relationship, I will become mentally unstable
If you quit me, I'll go crazy
If you give up on me, I will lose my mind
'Cause I love you, love you
Because I have an intense emotional attachment to you
Oh, I love you too much
I care for you excessively
If you forget me, I'll go crazy
If you erase me from your memory, I will become irrational
You've got to live for yourself
You must prioritize your own needs and desires
Yourself and nobody else
No one else should dictate your life choices
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@91Kingscrib84
James Brown lived the rep of 'The hardest working man in show business'. He was a relentless dancer onstage, performances gruelling! He took the art of 'recovery from exhaustion' to the extreme, coming back to the stage after seeming to need help walking - more than once! He was a maestro and had the audience in the palm of his hand at all times. There'll never be another James Brown.
@The_Sword3
The one and only, James Brown. I feel so fortunate to have grown up listening to his music.
@TheJetfighter666
Me too! My brother and I watched all his television performances on Ed Sullivan , Shindig and Hullaballo etc... growing up in the 60’s. Not until I was well into my forties did I start to really appreciate how great the man’s music was. I just came here from a book I was reading. Brother Wayne Kramer’s Great biography, The Hard Stuff!! Killer book and killer song. James will always be Soul Brother # 1.
@GreenCoilRecords
James could croon before he could shout, which is why his shouting style was precise and tuneful, and balanced so well between band and vocalist, silence and sound. A master on the scale of a Beethoven.
@zeromold
This tune never gets old. But I do.
@srercrcr
Tell me about it!!
@rachelbaker3295
loving this song..... always a pleasure to listen to some old skool classics!
@looknn
It's hard to believe JB left us nearly 10 years ago. People will be listening to JB 100 years from now. My very first concert was JB in San Jose, CA. I was 16 years old. One of the best nights of my life!
@srercrcr
Similar here...Ray Charles in '62. I was just a few feet from the stage (stand up audience), the Raelets stood right over me!! I still hear Margie singing to me!!!!
@PutOnASweater
The first concert I saw was also with James Brown, I thought he was the best there was...and then I saw Jackie Wilson....no comparison...Jackie is the man...