Armatrading has mixed eclectic musical styles over decades of recording and performing. She has had several British hit singles, the biggest of which were "Love & Affection", "Me Myself I", and "Drop the Pilot". Her music is generally pop, with forays into rock, folk, jazz, and even reggae. Her popularity is primarily as an album artist.
She gained a new audience following her writing and performing "The Flight of the Wild Geese", which was used during the opening and end titles for the 1978 film The Wild Geese.
Armatrading first performed in a concert at Birmingham University for her brother at the age of about 16 (circa 1966). She only knew her own songs, but her brother asked her to perform something that would be familiar to the audience; she chose "The Sound of Silence".[9] She then performed her own songs around the local area with a friend from school, and played bass and rhythm guitar at local clubs.
Physical Pain
Joan Armatrading Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My head just aches
I'm feeling raw
I feel crucified
I don't feel great
I'm gonna lick my wounds
Hide my crying eyes
I told you lies
No touch sensation
No palpitations
Don't lick my lips
Don't lick my lips
In anticipation
I'm traumatized
And I feel confined
I seem so unsettled
I don't feel alive
I'm gonna lick my wounds
Hide my crying eyes
It's my own fault
I told you lies
No excitations
No good vibrations
Just a physical pain
Just a physical pain
Will I ever get to see you darling
This broken friendship
Means my broken heart
Are we ever gonna get together
Will I ever see your smiling face again
Can't wait
There's too much space
These empty rooms
Time on my hands
I'm gonna lick my wounds
Hide my crying eyes
It's my own fault
I told you lies
No excitations no good vibrations it's solitaire
I feel lost
I feel alone
With no desire
I feel numb
Will I ever get to see you darling
This broken friendship
Means my broken heart
Are we ever gonna get together
Will I ever see your smiling face again
Are we ever gonna get together
Are we ever gonna get together
Will I ever get to see you darling
This broken friendship
Means my broken heart
Are we ever gonna get together
Will I ever see your smiling face again
Are we ever gonna get together
Are we ever gonna get together
The lyrics of Joan Armatrading's song "Physical Pain" express the physical and emotional pain of a failed relationship. The singer's head is throbbing, and they feel raw and crucified, reflecting the emotional turmoil they're going through. They don't feel great and feel traumatized, confined, unsettled, and numb. The song's tone is resigned and hopeless as the singer longs for the return of the relationship with the person they have lied to.
The singer talks about licking their wounds and hiding their crying eyes, indicating that they are trying to recover from the pain of the lost relationship. However, the physical pain they feel is too much to bear, and they long to see their partner's smiling face again. The chorus repeats the phrase "no excitations, no good vibrations, just a physical pain" to emphasize how the end of the relationship has left the singer feeling empty and alone.
The song ends with the repeated question of whether the couple will ever get back together again or not. This repetition emphasizes the singer's hopelessness and lack of control over the situation, further underscoring the message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a physical pain
I am experiencing pain in my body
My head just aches
I have a headache
I'm feeling raw
I am feeling vulnerable and sensitive
I feel crucified
I feel as though I am suffering greatly, like I am on a cross
I don't feel great
I am not feeling well
I'm gonna lick my wounds
I am going to take time to heal and recover
Hide my crying eyes
I don't want others to see me cry
It's my own fault
I am responsible for the situation I am in
I told you lies
I have been dishonest with you
No touch sensation
I cannot feel physical touch
No palpitations
I am not experiencing a racing heart or excitement
Don't lick my lips
Please don't try to kiss me
In anticipation
I am not looking forward to what may happen
I'm traumatized
I am experiencing emotional pain from a past event
And I feel confined
I feel trapped and limited
I seem so unsettled
I am not at ease
I don't feel alive
I am not feeling energetic or invigorated
No excitations
I have no excitement or enthusiasm
No good vibrations
I am not feeling positive or happy
Just a physical pain
All I am experiencing is physical pain, nothing else
Will I ever get to see you darling
I wonder if we will ever see each other again
This broken friendship
Our friendship is damaged and unstable
Means my broken heart
My heart is hurting because of our broken friendship
Are we ever gonna get together
I am unsure if we will ever reconcile
Will I ever see your smiling face again
I miss you and want to see you again
Can't wait
I am looking forward to seeing you soon
There's too much space
I feel lonely and isolated in a large, empty room
These empty rooms
I am surrounded by empty rooms, emphasizing my solitude
Time on my hands
I have a lot of free time
It's solitaire
I am alone and have no one to play with
I feel lost
I am unsure of where I am or what to do
I feel alone
I feel lonely and isolated
With no desire
I am not feeling motivated or excited about anything
I feel numb
I am emotionally numb and not feeling any strong emotions
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
R Mouton
Man such a great song
Glenn Leahey
...saw Joan 2 nights ago at NYC's CITY WINERY. Her new album, NOT SO FAR AWAY, has a song entitled "No More Pain"...wondering how they'd go together as a "theme"...?