Guilty
Joe Cocker Lyrics
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And I shouldn't come by I know
But I found myself in trouble
And I had nowhere else to go
Got some whiskey from the barman
Got some cocaine from a friend
I just had to keep on movin'
Guilty, baby I'm guilty
And I'll be guilty the rest of my life
How come I never do what I'm supposed to do
How come nothin' that I try to do ever turns out right?
You know, you know how it is with me baby
You know, I just can't stand myself
And it takes a whole lot of medicine
For me to pretend that I'm somebody else
In Joe Cocker's song "Guilty," the singer confesses his guilt to his lover after a night of drinking and drugs. He admits to poor decision-making and failing to follow through on his intentions. He seems to be stuck in a cycle of self-destructive behavior and relies on the comfort of his lover to soothe his emotions.
The lyrics highlight the struggle of addiction and the difficulty of breaking free from its hold. The singer is trapped in a pattern of behavior that he knows is harmful but cannot seem to escape. He recognizes the impact of his actions on those around him and feels remorse for his mistakes. However, he also acknowledges that he feels powerless to change and requires "medicine" to pretend to be someone else.
Overall, the lyrics of "Guilty" showcase the complexity of addiction and the impact it can have on individuals and those close to them. The song reflects the struggles of recovering from addiction and the importance of having a support system to help overcome the challenges that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes, baby, I been drinkin'
Admitting to being under the influence of alcohol.
And I shouldn't come by I know
Acknowledging that coming to see the person was not a good idea.
But I found myself in trouble
Imply that a problematic situation is a reason for showing up.
And I had nowhere else to go
Expressing a feeling of desperation and having no other choice.
Got some whiskey from the barman
Obtaining and drinking alcoholic beverage.
Got some cocaine from a friend
Using an illegal drug.
I just had to keep on movin'
Insinuating the necessity of going forward.
'Til I was back in your arms again
Implying a desire to be near and intimate with the person.
Guilty, baby I'm guilty
Accepting responsibility for wrongdoing.
And I'll be guilty the rest of my life
Feeling regretful and ashamed for a long time.
How come I never do what I'm supposed to do
Asking a rhetorical question about lack of success in fulfilling necessary actions.
How come nothin' that I try to do ever turns out right?
Asking a rhetorical question about lack of success in general.
You know, you know how it is with me baby
Acknowledging the familiarity of past actions and behaviors.
You know, I just can't stand myself
Expressing self-hatred and disgust.
And it takes a whole lot of medicine
Admitting the need to self-medicate in order to feel better.
For me to pretend that I'm somebody else
Describing the use of substances to disguise one's true self and problems.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADRIAN NEWMAN, JOHAN BANG-JOHANSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind