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.
The Weakness In Me
Joan Armatrading Lyrics
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In and quickly out of love
But to you I gave my affection
Right from the start
I have a lover who loves me:
How could I break such a heart?
Yet still you gained my attention
Why do you come here
When you know I've got troubles enough?
Why do you call me
When you know I can't answer the phone?
Make me lie, when I don't want to
And make someone else some kind of an unknowin' fool
You make me stare, when I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me?
Why do you come here
And pretend to be just passing by?
But I need to see you,
And I mean to hold you
Tightly
Feeling guilty, worried,
Waking from tormented sleep
This old love has me bound
But this new love cuts deep
If I choose now, I'll lose out
One of you has to fall
But I need you, and you
Why do you come here
When you know I've got troubles enough?
Why do you call me
When you know I can't answer the phone?
Make me lie, when I don't want to
And make someone else some kind of an unknowin' fool
You make me stare, when I should not
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me?
Why do you come here
And pretend to be just passing by?
But I need to see you,
And I mean to hold you
Tightly
The lyrics of "The Weakness In Me" by Joan Armatrading tell a story of a woman who finds herself drawn to a man who is not her current partner. She admits that she is not the type to easily fall in love, but she gave him her affection from the start. However, she also acknowledges that she has a lover who loves her and wonders why she still finds herself drawn to this other man. She questions why he continues to come into her life knowing that she has enough troubles with her current situation.
The lyrics also explore the conflicting emotions that the woman is experiencing. Despite feeling guilty and worried, she admits to needing and wanting to hold this other man tight. She is torn between her deep old love and this new intense feeling. She realizes that she has to choose between the two, but it won't be an easy decision. She feels weak for being unable to stay faithful to her partner and giving in to her attraction towards this other man.
Overall, "The Weakness In Me" is a poignant reflection on love, temptation, and the internal struggles that people face when they find themselves drawn to someone who is not their partner. The lyrics are honest and vulnerable, making it a relatable song for many.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not the sort of person who falls
Typically, I don't fall in love easily
In and quickly out of love
and my feelings aren't fleeting.
But to you I gave my affection
However, I gave my heart to you right away.
Right from the start
At the beginning of our relationship.
Why do you come here
Why do you visit me when you know I'm dealing with a lot?
When you know I've got troubles enough?
I already have enough problems to deal with.
Why do you call me
Why do you phone me when you know I can't answer?
When you know I can't answer the phone?
When you know I can't respond to you because of my situation.
Make me lie, when I don't want to
Sometimes you make me lie even though I don't want to.
And make someone else some kind of an unknowin' fool
You make me deceive someone who doesn't realize what's happening.
You make me stare, when I should not
You make me look at you even when it's not appropriate.
Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me?
Is it your power over me, or is all of this happening because I'm weak?
And pretend to be just passing by?
Why do you act like you're just walking by and not actively seeking me out?
But I need to see you
I need to look at you because I can't seem to help myself.
And I mean to hold you
I also want to embrace you in a tight hug.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOAN ANITA BARBARA ARMATRADING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind