There are multiple artists called Jerry Butler:

1) Jerry Butler, Jr… Read Full Bio ↴There are multiple artists called Jerry Butler:

1) Jerry Butler, Jr. (born December 8, 1939 in Sunflower, Mississippi) is an American soul singer also known as "The Ice Man" because of his cool demeanour while singing often intensely emotional lyrics.

Butler was dubbed the "Iceman" by a Philadelphia disc jockey while performing in a Philadelphia theater. However, Butler achieved what eluded many earlier Doo Wop groups during the 1950s and 1960s — longevity. Butler’s solo career had a string of hits, including "He Will Break Your Heart," "Moon River," "Make It Easy On Yourself," "Let It Be Me" (the Everly Brothers classic re-done as a duet with Betty Everett), "Brand New Me," "Ain’t Understanding Mellow," (duet with Brenda Lee Eager), and "Never Gonna Give You Up," followed by two hugely successful albums The Iceman Cometh in 1968 and Ice On Ice in 1970. The Iceman Cometh garnered Butler three Grammy nominations. Jerry Butler further made recordings for Philadelphia International Records in the 80's. His most noted song for the label was "Cooling Out"

I'm A-Telling You
Jerry Butler Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you

I got up, I go to work
I try real hard to do my job.
But before the day is done
I find out I done something wrong.

Chorus:
(I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
Days are getting longer
And my nights are getting shorter
And my way gets softer
And my work gets harder.)

Now when I get home, the wife is mad
The little girl, she's feeling bad.
Little junior, he's got the blues
Says he needs a pair of baseball shoes.

Repeat chorus
Now in everything that I do
I'm trying to make one dream come true
And maybe someday, Lord I'll find
Satisfaction and peace of mind...whoa

Repeat chorus

Now.....hooom hooom fade out

Overall Meaning

Jerry Butler's song "I'm a Telling You" is a soulful plea for understanding and compassion from those around him as he struggles to balance his work life and home life. In the song, the singer describes his daily routine of going to and working hard at his job, but despite his efforts, he still manages to make mistakes. When he returns home, his family is upset - his wife is angry, his daughter is feeling ill, and his son wants a new pair of baseball shoes. The chorus "Days are getting longer, and my nights are getting shorter, and my way gets softer, and my work gets harder" highlights the singer's increasing exhaustion and inability to keep up with the demands of his job and family. He longs for some sort of relief, something that will allow him to find satisfaction and happiness in life.

The song speaks to the struggles of many working-class people who are trying to provide for their families while facing everyday challenges. It's a relatable expression of the difficulties of balancing work and family life, and the frustration and weariness that can result from it. The song's bluesy, soulful sound captures the sadness and weariness that comes with these struggles, creating a moving and powerful expression of the human condition.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm a-telling you, Oh I'm a-telling you
I am trying to emphasize something important and worth noticing

I got up, I go to work
I wake up and head to my workplace

I try real hard to do my job.
I put forth a great effort to perform my work duties

But before the day is done
However, before the day ends

I find out I done something wrong.
I realize I made a mistake

Days are getting longer
The daytime is seemingly lasting longer

And my nights are getting shorter
The nighttime is seemingly becoming shorter

And my way gets softer
My path becomes gentler or less difficult

And my work gets harder.
However, my job becomes more challenging

Now when I get home, the wife is mad
When I arrive home, my spouse is angry

The little girl, she's feeling bad.
My daughter is upset

Little junior, he's got the blues
My son is feeling down

Says he needs a pair of baseball shoes.
He expresses his desire for new athletic footwear

Now in everything that I do
Regardless of what I am doing

I'm trying to make one dream come true
I am aiming to achieve a particular goal

And maybe someday, Lord I'll find
It's possible that I will eventually come across

Satisfaction and peace of mind...whoa
A sense of contentment and calmness

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MAYFIELD, J. BUTLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS