The paths of Johnny Hodges (John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges, nicknames: "Rab… Read Full Bio ↴The paths of Johnny Hodges (John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges, nicknames: "Rabbit", "Jeep". b. July 25, 1907, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, d. May 11, 1970) and Duke Ellington are eternally intertwined. While Hodges is now universally acknowledged as one of the seminal alto saxophonists in jazz he was, at times, overlooked as an artist in his own right; somehow hidden in the penumbra of The Duke Ellington Orchestra, for which Mr. Hodges was the lead alto player for many decades (doubling on soprano saxophone in the '30's and '40's as well).

Hodges was apparently aware of this effect, leaving the Ellington orchestra in the 1950's, to be replaced by the stellar alto man, Willie Smith, formerly the lead alto star of the Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra. This situation somehow benefitted neither Ellington or Hodges, with the Ellington orchestra losing a certain luster despite Mr. Smith's excellence, and with major stardom just beyond Mr. Hodges' reach.

Luckily for the listener the recordings Mr. Hodges left behind as a leader, while arguably eluding stardom for the artist at the time, are nonpareil examples of relaxed swing, subtle inflection and perfect phrasing, peerless tone and seemingly effortless technique. More luck for the listener, Mr. Hodges later rejoined the Ellington fold, returning a signature sound to the orchestra's unique palette for many years after.

It has been reported that the Ellington orchestra worked nearly 365 days a year. When asked about this grueling schedule Mr. Ellington said something to the effect that he would settle for nothing less than the finest artists for his orchestra. What with the necessarily high salaries accorded an orchestra of virtuosos, the band had to work often in order to survive. Certainly no one in the Ellington orchestra more exemplified Mr. Ellington's highest standards than Johhny Hodges.

I Got It Bad
Johnny Hodges Lyrics

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The poets say that all who love are blind
But I'm in love and I know what time it is!
The Good Book says "Go seek and ye shall find
"Well, I have sought and my what a climb it is!
My life is just like the weatherIt changes with the hours
When he's near I'm fair and warmer
When he's gone I'm cloudy with showers;in emotion
Like the ocean it's either sink or swim

When a woman loves a man like I love him
Never treats me sweet and gentle the way he should
I got it bad and that ain't good!
My poor heart is sentimental not made of wood
I got it bad and that ain't good!
But when the weekend's over and Monday rolls aroun'
I end up like I start out just cryin' my heart out
He don't love me like I love him nobody could
I got it bad and that ain't good
Like a lonely weeping willow lost in the wood
I got it bad and that ain't good!
And the things I tell my pillow no woman should
I got it bad and that ain't good!
Tho folks with good intentions ell me to save my tears
I'm glad I'm mad about him I can't live without him

Lord above me make him love me the way he should
I got it bad and that ain't good

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Johnny Hodges's song 'I Got It Bad' tell the story of a woman deeply in love with a man who doesn't reciprocate those same feelings. The opening lines suggest that love can sometimes make people blind to reality, but the singer isn't blind to the fact that she's in love. She quotes from the Bible, saying that she has sought after love and found it, but it hasn't been an easy journey. She compares her life to changing weather patterns - when he's around, she feels happy and warm, but when he's gone, she's left feeling sad and lonely. Loving someone so deeply can be compared to the ocean - sometimes you're swept away and sometimes you're left to struggle and swim on your own.

The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is hopelessly in love, despite the fact that the man she loves doesn't treat her how she deserves to be treated. She uses the metaphor of her heart being made of wood to suggest that she's vulnerable and sensitive, but her lover doesn't seem to care. The chorus is a declaration of her love, even though it causes her pain. She's like a lonely weeping willow, lost in the woods, and she confesses to her pillow the deep, emotional secrets she can't tell anyone else. Despite others advising her to stop crying over him, she can't help it - loving him is a part of who she is. The final line is a plea to a higher power to make the man she loves love her back the way she deserves, even though she knows deep down that may never happen.

Line by Line Meaning

The poets say that all who love are blind
People say that love makes you blind, but I am in love and still aware of what's happening around me.

But I'm in love and I know what time it is!
Despite my love, I am aware of the reality of my situation.

The Good Book says "Go seek and ye shall find
The Bible says that if you search for something, you will find it.

"Well, I have sought and my what a climb it is!
I have sought for love, and the journey has been difficult and challenging.

My life is just like the weather
My emotions change constantly, like the weather.

It changes with the hours
My emotions can shift rapidly.

When he's near I'm fair and warmer
When my lover is near, I am happier and more content.

When he's gone I'm cloudy with showers;in emotion
When my lover is gone, I am sad and emotional.

Like the ocean it's either sink or swim
My love for him feels like a risk, where the outcome is either success or failure.

When a woman loves a man like I love him
My love for him is deep and intense, like that of a woman for her man.

Never treats me sweet and gentle the way he should
My lover does not always treat me kindly and affectionately, which makes me upset.

I got it bad and that ain't good!
My feelings for him are strong and deep, but they are causing me pain and sorrow.

My poor heart is sentimental not made of wood
My heart is emotional and easily affected by my love for him.

But when the weekend's over and Monday rolls aroun'
After a weekend spent with my lover, I feel the effects of his absence when Monday arrives.

I end up like I start out just cryin' my heart out
I end up crying just as much as I did before the weekend, due to the pain of missing him.

He don't love me like I love him nobody could
My love for him is so intense that it cannot be replicated by anyone else.

Like a lonely weeping willow lost in the wood
I feel lost and alone, like a willow tree separated from its group.

I got it bad and that ain't good!
My feelings for him are causing me distress and heartache.

And the things I tell my pillow no woman should
I confide in my pillow and share secrets about my love for him that I wouldn't share with anyone else.

Tho folks with good intentions ell me to save my tears
Although people tell me to stop crying and move on, I cannot help the pain of my love for him.

I'm glad I'm mad about him I can't live without him
Despite the pain, I cannot imagine life without my lover and I am glad to be madly in love with him.

Lord above me make him love me the way he should
I pray for divine intervention to make my lover love me as he should and alleviate my pain.

I got it bad and that ain't good
My love for him is causing me distress and heartache, which is not good for me.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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