There is a devent chance that I Ain't Got You might have been the first son… Read Full Bio ↴There is a devent chance that I Ain't Got You might have been the first song Keith Richards committed to tape: it certainly figured on a 4-track demo recorded with Mick Jagger and Dick Taylor in 1962, shortly before Little Boy Blue & The Blue Boys mutated into The Rolling Stones. The Band's enthusiasm for Mississippi blues-man Reed flourished, and they used many of his songs in their repertoire - right up 'til 2016, with Little Rain on their Blue & Lonesome album.

I Ain't Got You
Jimmy Reed Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I got a Eldorado Cadillac
Wit's a spare tire on the back
I got the charge account at Goldblatt
But I ain't got you

I got a tavern and a package store
Don't matter where I go
You keep the ring in my nose

But I ain't got you

I got a tavern an'a package store
I hit the numbers, four-forty four
I got a mojo and don't you know?
I'm all dressed up, no place to go

I got a-women to the right of me
I got a-women to the left of me
I got a-women's all around me
But I ain't got you

I got a-women on the right of me
I got a-women to the left of me
I got a-women all around me
But I ain't got you
But I ain't got you

But I ain't got you
But I ain't got you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jimmy Reed's "I Ain't Got You" seem to be about a man who has everything materialistically but is missing the one thing that truly matters to him, which is a woman he loves. He mentions his Eldorado Cadillac and his charge account at Goldblatt, indicating that he has plenty of money and possessions. However, these things do not bring him happiness because he does not have the love of the woman he desires.

The man seems to be surrounded by women, as he says he has them to the right and left of him and all around him. However, these women are not the one he truly wants, and he feels unfulfilled without her. He has a ring in his nose, indicating that the woman he desires has a hold on him and he is willing to do anything to make her happy.

The repetition of the phrase "But I ain't got you" emphasizes the man's longing and sadness, as he feels incomplete without his love. The lyrics suggest that money and possessions cannot provide true happiness and that love is the most important thing in life.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a Eldorado Cadillac
I own a luxurious Eldorado Cadillac car

Wit's a spare tire on the back
It has a spare tire attached to the back of the car

I got the charge account at Goldblatt
I have a credit account at Goldblatt store

But I ain't got you
But I don't have you, the one I truly desire

I got a tavern and a package store
I own a tavern and a package store business

Don't matter where I go
It doesn't matter where I go

You keep the ring in my nose
You have me under your control like a bull with a ring in its nose

But I ain't got you
But I don't have you, the one I truly desire

I got a tavern an'a package store
I own a tavern and a package store business

I hit the numbers, four-forty four
I won a lottery prize of $444

I got a mojo and don't you know?
I possess a magical charm for good luck

I'm all dressed up, no place to go
I am dressed up and have nothing important to do or nowhere to go

I got a-women to the right of me
There are women on my right side

I got a-women to the left of me
There are women on my left side

I got a-women's all around me
There are women all around me

But I ain't got you
But I don't have you, the one I truly desire

I got a-women on the right of me
There are women on my right side

I got a-women to the left of me
There are women on my left side

I got a-women all around me
There are women all around me

But I ain't got you
But I don't have you, the one I truly desire

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Calvin Carter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01I Ain't Got You

Jimmy Reed

02Baby What You Want Me to Do2:19

03You Don't Have To Go3:04

04Found Love2:18

05Honest I Do2:42

06You Got Me Dizzy2:51

07Big Boss Man3:07

08Take Out Some Insurance2:24

09Boogie in the Dark2:33

10Going to New York2:17

11Ain't That Lovin' Baby2:13

12The Sun Is Shining2:51

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Comments from YouTube:

@luvsavengedsevenfold

9y↑25

I'm a big Jimmy Reed fan, and I definitely love this song. Billy Boy Arnold does a great rendition of this song, too. Calvin Carter from Vee Jay Records was the one who wrote the song, and both Jimmy Reed and Billy Boy Arnold were with Vee Jay.

I'm not sure which rendition was actually recorded first, but I think Jimmy Reed's rendition was released a year earlier.

@OthO67

9y↑3

Don't forget the Aerosmith version off their Live Bootleg! album....

@renodavid

8y↑9

It was pretty much standard practice in those days for record company owners to claim songwriting credit for songs actually written by their artists. Just another way for them to steal from the artist. Actually, I've always been under the impression that this was a Billy Boy Arnold song and I'm pretty sure it was credited that way on early Yardbirds albums. The clever lyrics are pretty much an Arnold trademark.

@parson6868

6y↑1

Yes,I think too

@Weird_Old_Uncle_Kenny

4y↑6

I know this song from the 1964 Yardbirds version featuring Eric Clapton on lead guitar. Much faster, exciting version, well produced. Instead of a Cadillac it's a "Maserati GT with the snake-skin upholstery"

@calmdownimgladyougottosee8377

I'll never forget the first time I heard BIG BOSS MAN by Jimmy Reed! Oh, I thought it was the bomb!

@lorenmcleod2816

8y↑8

This song put me on my way to a wonderful career playin' the blues, dives, dumps, but oozin' the blues, arenas that he should have got to play, I jimmy reed all around me all the time...it doesn't get any better...listen for his wife whispering the lyrics into his ear...

@lastdaysguitar

12y↑1

SOOO CLASS!!!! Thanks for posting this gem!!!

@tattyshoesshigure5731

Always loved the Animals cover of this great song, it’s great to hear the Jimmy Reed original with its super fine harmonica & piano breaks!

@79tazman

The Animals did a cover of this? I know the yardbirds did a cover of this tune but I did not know the animals did a cover of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoZ1ybv6d30

@tattyshoesshigure5731

@79tazman It’s on their Animal Tracks LP, along with some others like compilations I’m sure.
https://youtu.be/Gpdfacoj_-Q

@robharper4096

When I was in the Brumbeats this was our favourite song. Long time ago but it's still a great song sung by a great blues man.

@skiddoo-fr9ex

3y↑1

It's a great song and there have been some decent covers, but not of them come within a country mile of the original!

@littlewalter44

2y↑1

Lest we forget. This is the original version from 1955, and to my mind easily the best. I love the “charge account at Orbachs”! and other great lyrics, super piano by Henry Gray.

@davidcarreon8035

2y↑1

Goldblatts, a Chicago area department store with locations in the city and suburbs. In the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.

@torobejaran5922

10y↑8

Mr. Jimmy Reed. The Great One. No these are Blues for real. ..

@john_atco

13y

thanks for uploading this.great one of his best.

@cowboybilly1

12y

Don't get more bluesie than this..

@LyfaLeeZhure_DavidShawn

10y↑3

Best version EVER was when "Dice" did his "improvised" studio rendition during "Ford Fairlane"--lyrics were changed, keyboards, horns, and backup singers were all added. A very dynamic way of proving a point to "Julie Grendal"...

@brucehartley3858

Lyfa Lee Zhure absolutely - that version kicked total ass

@79tazman

The Yardbird version rocks!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoZ1ybv6d30

@tbash69

4y↑3

My favorite version of this song is by Blue Oyster Cult titled as Maserati GT on their album On Your Feet, or On Your Knees. Just can't sit still when I hear it.

@elvispresley718

12y↑1

still soundz good doesn't it

@MRATOMIC-yz2cx

6y↑7

Steven, Joe, Tom, Joey and Brad of Aerosmith have a great version of this on their Live Booteg album.

@meldrew728

This is more powerful than the recording I have. Is it a remaster?

@bcs817

44w

Yardbirds version was first I heard.
Jimmy wrote so many SLICK tunes.

@bobwhite1146

12y

Check out the Blue Oyster Cult live version--cool and different. This is a killer song.

@AllenGarberGuitarFun

2y↑1

Jimmy Reed recorded it first in 1955.

@cityzen2717

4y↑9

The yardbirds did a banging version. "I ain't got you." Just a 1,001 substitutes.

@tr762

6y↑1

Esta es canción con la que EC surgió con el sonido que hizo la diferencia. El solo de JP en Whola Lotta Love tomo la misma estructura. Pero esta version es soberbia!!! Asi se fue construyendo la historia del rock ingles.

@allancerf9038

for me, the yardbirds version is the killer. i had it on mono vinyl once. unbelievable. keith relf wasn't the greatest vocalist (one lung) but he KILLS it on the 'birds version. clapton also kills it.

@RobinEdgar

7y↑1

For me, the Blue Öyster Cult version of 'I Ain't Got You' (Maserati GT) on BÖC's 'On Your Feet Or On Your Knees' double live album is THE killer. :-)

@davidboehm7558

4y↑1

Jeff Beck also kills it, Clapton was playing with John Mayall at the time of the recording.

@Allan-et5ig

@David Boehm Nah. I don't know what you're talking about - you are aware of an invention, "the internet?" Here's the official track listing and the guitarist who played on it I Ain't Got You" Writer(s) (Calvin Carter Lead Guitar(s)Clapton, 19/9/64 19/9/64 1:59 This song was recorded in 1964 dude, not 1966 when Clapton joined The Bluesbreakers.
Here's the liner note from the Yard Birds Story produced by Gomelsky: For Your Love features three songs from Jeff Beck's first recording sessions with the Yardbirds: "I'm Not Talking", "I Ain't Done Wrong", and "My Girl Sloopy". Clapton provided the guitar for the remainder of the tracks.
You confusion stems from the first American Yardbirds album For Your Love had both guitarists. Apart from the fact that the sound/style of the guitar on I Ain't Got You is obviously Clapton. (Clapton, who had left the band four months earlier, is not pictured on the album cover nor mentioned in the liner notes.)

@XiaNingTian

6y↑1

Clicked this because I heard the Blues Brothers play it. Figured let's listen to the original. I love hearing the differences. Respect to this, but I love the Blues Brothers version more. In the end, it's all great music.

@unclematt3168

5y↑1

this is brilliant - im walking down the street- grooving..I got women to the left of me..

@chrissarina981

5y↑1

I love The blues Brothers version of the song

@hammertownpavao

I tell you what I do got ! I got an unconditional love for J.R !

@stephenslade4622

Marvelous.

@timswift315

(that is to say) Fancy women all around me , .......this puts me in mind of a sketch series that depicted a hobo opening a can of beans in a fancy place with fancy women all around -and even looking down their noses at him.

@trfesok

In my Yardbirds playlist.

@luvsavengedsevenfold

Jimmy Reed is so cute!! <3

@dogparkdawn

Great Blues and the picture shows those white patent leather shoes, the ones my dh had on when I met him. Oh yeah!

@AmorionPax

Goodbye Jimmy Reed
Goodbye so long

@lopeztattoo

10y

CSR Inland Empire style. Tecato Power Y-Que we love you jimmy.

@kordier

8y↑7

The Yardbirds did a cover, too.

@1blastman

6y↑2

One of my favorite covers by them.

@L1V2P9

4y↑1

@1blastman It was very true to the original, not like other blues tunes that got corrupted and disfigured in the 60s and 70s. But that was before another Jimmy came on the scene!

@tylerjoneslll1705

8y↑1

DAD and MAMA together for 60

@damamae950

43w

No one did this with the same greasy feel Jimmy Reed put on it. Period.

@Fr3derick

12y

Awesome Grandma mary

@lewischristian1924

Lemon Song - Led Zeppelin.

@ksdaman

11y↑1

Billy Boy's version ain't a cover.

@Cruz0e

13y

its rock n roll now :D watch?v=XNxT2QRZeGc&feature=related

@SUNNYRHOADES9

12y

Aerosmith Covered this song to..

@marg0507

9y↑1

Goldbalts has been out of business @ 30 years.

@littlewalter44

It’s Orbachs.

@grahambell4310

Not according to Calvin Carter.

@jarirusi

13y

Thanks.

@catsoandahalf

7y↑5

I used to have a charge acccount at Goldblatt's........

@jdgzan1634

You're an old fart! I should know, so am I.

@jamesanderson348

Catso Mann I use to shop at Goldblatts...

@timswift315

Catso Mann I was not able to determine what the lyrics we're until you pointed this outout , ( "I got a charge account at Goldblatt's")

@guitarslinger48

12y

@SUNNYRHOADES9 , Everyone's covered this song...lol The Yardbirds, The Animals, Aerosmith, Billy Boy Arnold, Andrew Dice Clay....

@frankroger1551

no offence men but the Animals did the best version!

@gregmccurry5619

really they are a great band so are the zombies.

@diosseacontigo8822

7y↑1

Mojo 4.40.4

@shaunw9270

7y↑2

Nothing beats this . The Yardbirds did a wicked cover , but this is THE shit ! ;-)

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