Jeffrey Osborne began his professional singing career in 1969 with a popula… Read Full Bio ↴Jeffrey Osborne began his professional singing career in 1969 with a popular funk and soul group called Love Men Ltd. The band moved to Los Angeles in 1970 and changed its name to L.T.D. Osborne was originally brought on as the drummer and eventually became the lead vocalist. After more than ten years with the band, he decided to pursue a solo career, which produced such Top 40 hits as "Don't You Get So Mad," "Stay With Me Tonight," and "Love Power," which he performed with Dionne Warwick.

Born in Providence, RI, Jeffrey Osborne was the youngest of 12 children and was constantly bombarded with music as he was growing up. He had five brothers and six sisters, some of whom went on to have music careers. His father, Clarence "Legs" Osborne, was a popular trumpeter who played with Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, and died when Jeffrey was only 13. His mother, Wanita, is ancestored by a Pequot Indian sachem. His oldest brother, Clay Osborne, is a singer and pianist, and Billy, another brother, is a songwriter and producer in Los Angeles. But Osborne's father had the greatest influence on his musical career; Clarence "Legs" Osborne turned down many top band offers during his career to be with his family. It was only after receiving his mother's encouragement that Jeffrey left for Los Angeles to play with L.T.D. At the age of 15, he sat in with the O'Jays when the drummer was too tired to play, and went on to play with them for two weeks. It was at a Providence nightclub that fate brought him together with the band Love Men Ltd. in 1969.

Osborne's solo career has brought him five gold and platinum albums, including Stay With Me Tonight, Aymuk, and Only Human. He also recorded an album of duets with popular singer James Ingram, and scored an international hit with "On the Wings of Love" in 1982. Osborne's touring and recording continue to keep him busy much of the time, but he also devotes some of his time to charity work.

Every Little Bit Hurts
Jeffrey Osborne Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
Every night I cry
Every night I die
Every night I wonder why
You treat me cold
Yet you won't let me go
Every little hurt does

Every little hurt does
To you I am a toy
And you're the girl
Who has the say
Why I should play
Yeah you hurt me
Desert me I just can't take
The loneliness you give me
I just can't go
Another night this way
Come back to me
Darlin' you'll see
I can give you all the things
You wanted me for
If you will stay with me
Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts
Every night I cry
Every night I die
Every night I wonder why
You treat me cold
Yet you won't let me go
Come back to me
Darlin' you'll see
I can give you all the things
That you wanted me for
If you will stay with me
Every little bit hurts

Every little bit hurts
Every little bit hurts

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jeffrey Osborne's "Every Little Bit Hurts" speaks to the pain and loneliness that comes with being in a one-sided relationship. The lyrics describe the emotional turmoil the singer experiences as he wonders why he's being treated so coldly by his lover. Osborne's voice conveys anguish and heartbreak, as he repeats the refrain "every little bit hurts" throughout the song. The singer is resigned to his fate, acknowledging that he is "a toy" to his lover, who is the one pulling the strings.

Osborne's lyrics portray him as a victim of his lover's whims, helpless to break free from a relationship he knows is wrong for him. He begs with his lover to come back to him and see that he can give her everything she's ever wanted. His desperate plea reveals his deep devotion to this person, despite their mistreatment of him. The song ends on a melancholic note, with Osborne once again repeating the refrain, "Every little bit hurts", as he resigns himself to another night of loneliness and pain.

Line by Line Meaning

Every little bit hurts
Each small pain causes me great suffering and sorrow

Every night I cry
I shed tears of pain and heartache each night

Every night I die
I feel like a part of me dies inside every night

Every night I wonder why
I am constantly questioning why you treat me so coldly

You treat me cold
You show no warmth, kindness or love towards me

Yet you won't let me go
Despite treating me poorly, you refuse to end our relationship

Every little hurt does
The smallest painful action from you affects me deeply

To you I am a toy
In your eyes, I am merely an object to be used and manipulated

And you're the girl
You hold the power and control in our relationship

Who has the say
You make all the decisions and have the final say in our relationship

Why I should play
I am unsure of why I must continue to participate in a relationship that brings me pain