I Can't Quit You Baby
John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers Lyrics

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We-eeell, I can't quit you, baby
But I got to put you down alittle while
We-eeell, I can't quit you, darlin'
But I've got to put you down alittle while
Well, you done made me
Mess up my happy home
Made me mistreat my only child
An now, when you hear me

Moanin' an a-groanin'
Well, you know it hurted
A-way down inside

We-eeell, you hear me moanin' an groanin'
You know it hurt way down inside

Lo-ord, when you hear me holler
Woo, you know my love won't
Will never die

'Have mercy, mama'
'Have mercy on me'

'Alright, woman!'

Weee-ll, when you see me cryin', baby
Don't let my tears fall in vain
Weee-ll, when you see me cryin', darlin'
Please, don't let my tears fall in vain
Lo-ord, I don't know what to do
My heart is filled with pain

'Alright'

'Alright'

'Alright woman'

Weee-ll, when ya hear me holl'in, baby
You know it hurt way down inside.

Overall Meaning

The opening line of 'I Can't Quit You Baby' immediately reveals the internal struggle the singer is facing in his relationship. He admits to being unable to leave his lover (referred to as 'baby' and 'darling'), but also expresses the need to 'put [her] down a little while'. The repetition of this line emphasizes the desperation felt by the singer, torn between his love for his partner and his need to take a break from the relationship. The second stanza reveals the impact this struggle has taken on the singer and those around him. He acknowledges how his lover has 'made [him] mess up [his] happy home' and 'mistreat [his] only child', highlighting the destructive nature of their relationship.

The chorus repeats the pain that the singer has been feeling. The moaning and groaning is a testament to the agony he is experiencing. The lyrics are a metaphor for the deep emotional trauma that he undergoes each time he tries to resist his partner's allure. The song's bridge places the singer in a vulnerable position, as he pleads repeatedly for mercy. His pleas are further emphasized at the end, with a cry for help - '"have mercy, mama" have mercy on me' - but there is a sense that his cries for help will go unanswered.

Line by Line Meaning

We-eeell, I can't quit you, baby
I am emotionally attached to you and cannot let go

But I got to put you down alittle while
However, I need a break from this attachment

Well, you done made me
You have caused me to do something I regret

Mess up my happy home
You have negatively affected my personal life

Made me mistreat my only child
You have even made me neglect my own family

An now, when you hear me
So now, when you listen to me

Moanin' an a-groanin'
Crying and complaining

Well, you know it hurted
You know how much pain I am in

A-way down inside
Deep within my soul

We-eeell, you hear me moanin' an groanin'
As you hear me cry and complain

You know it hurt way down inside
You know how deeply it is affecting me