His life took a turn, though, as he became a victim of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as stints with manic depression that found him hospitalized in a mental health facility. He had almost disappeared entirely when he started performing again on rare occasions in the early 1990s, often working with Tyrone Davis or Otis Clay.
Carr had suffered from lung cancer for many years, spending the end of his life in a nursing home in Memphis. At the age of 58, James Carr died there from his battle with the disease on January 7, 2001. It is said that he had been analphabetic.
Pouring Water On A Drowning Man
James Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I missed my calling 'cause I should have been a clown
How much more, how much more could I stand
When you're pouring water on a drowning man, I like that
Put me on the right track
And then you let me down
You stab me in the back, yes you do baby
Criticize my loving
Won't you try, just try to understand
You're pouring water, I got to tell you about it, on a drowning man
You're pouring water on a drowning man
You treat me like the fool that I am
You brag that I like everything you do
You put salt in my wounds it's sad but it's true
You warm me with your kissin' then you leave me in the cold
How can I know your wishes, when you tell me, when I've never been told, alright
I cry in mercy baby, just try to understand
You're pouring water, I got to tell you about it, on a drowning man, yeah
You're pouring water, ha ha, you see I'm a drowning man
Oh I got tears in my eyes, I'm a drowning man
Don't me drown, oh baby, I'm a drowning man
Don't let me drown
The lyrics of Pouring Water On A Drowning Man by James Carr are about a man who is being mistreated and abused by his partner. The opening lines describe the partner as someone who pushes him when he's already falling and kicks him when he's down, making him feel like he should have been a clown all along. He's being taunted and criticized for his love, while his partner's behavior worsens' the more he tries to keep his head above water. He begs for her to "just try to understand" how she's pouring water on a drowning man, but the cycle continues.
The lyrics reveal a sense of desperation as the writer feels like he is drowning in his relationship. The partner gives him fleeting moments of warmth and love with kisses but always leaves him feeling cold and alone. He's left not knowing what the partner wants from him, feeling like he's never been told. The pain he feels is encapsulated in the line "you put salt in my wounds, it's sad but it's true". He's pleading for his partner to not let him drown, acknowledging that he has tears in his eyes and is indeed a drowning man.
Overall, the song describes a toxic relationship that constantly drags one person down while the other uses them as an emotional punching bag. The repeated line "pouring water on a drowning man" makes it clear that this is a situation where the partner is actively making things worse and not helping the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
You push me when I'm falling and you kick me when I'm down
You worsen my situation when I'm already struggling
I guess I missed my calling 'cause I should have been a clown
I think I would have been better suited as a fool
How much more, how much more could I stand
I can't take it anymore
When you're pouring water on a drowning man, I like that
Your actions hurt me but you seem to enjoy it
Put me on the right track
Give me guidance and direction
And then you let me down
You disappoint me after giving me hope
You stab me in the back, yes you do baby
You betray me when I trust you
Every time I turn around, oh
It seems like you're always ready to hurt me
Criticize my loving
You find fault in my affection
Won't you try, just try to understand
Please make an effort to comprehend my feelings
You're pouring water, I got to tell you about it, on a drowning man
Your behavior is worsening my already precarious situation
You treat me like the fool that I am
You take advantage of my vulnerability
You brag that I like everything you do
You wrongly assume that I enjoy your mistreatment
You put salt in my wounds it's sad but it's true
You deepen my pain and suffering
You warm me with your kissin' then you leave me in the cold
You give me affection only to later hurt me
How can I know your wishes, when you tell me, when I've never been told, alright
I can't fulfill your expectations if you don't communicate them to me
I cry in mercy baby, just try to understand
I'm pleading with you to have empathy for me
You're pouring water, I got to tell you about it, on a drowning man, yeah
You're making my situation worse and I need you to realize that
You're pouring water, ha ha, you see I'm a drowning man
You find my struggles amusing and you continue to worsen them
Oh I got tears in my eyes, I'm a drowning man
I'm overwhelmed with emotions and desperately need help
Don't me drown, oh baby, I'm a drowning man
Please don't let me suffer any longer, I can't do it on my own
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DANNY HUGH MC CORMICK, DREW LANE BAKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind