Taylor was born as Cora Walton on a farm just outside Memphis, Tennessee. In 1954, Taylor left Memphis for Chicago with her husband, truck driver Robert "Pops" Taylor. In the late 1950s she began singing in Chicago blues clubs and was spotted by Willie Dixon in 1962, leading to wider performances and her first recording contract. In 1965, Taylor was signed by Chess Records, for which her single Wang Dang Doodle (written by Dixon, and a hit for Howlin' Wolf five years earlier) became a major hit, reaching number four on the R&B charts in 1966 and selling a million copies. Taylor recorded many versions of this Dixon-penned song over the past several decades and added more material, both original and covers, but never repeated that initial chart success.
National touring in the late 1960s and early 1970s improved her fan base, and she became accessible to a wider record-buying public when she signed with Alligator Records in 1975. Recording over a dozen albums for that label (many nominated for Grammy awards), she came to dominate the female blues singer ranks, winning 24 W. C. Handy Awards -- more than any other artist. After her recovery from a near-fatal car crash in 1989, the 1990s found Taylor in movies such as Blues Brothers 2000. She opened a blues club on Division St. in Chicago in 1994, but closed it in 1999. Taylor released a new album in 2007 called "Old School."
Koko Taylor influenced such musicians as Bonnie Raitt, Shemekia Copeland, Janis Joplin, Shannon Curfman, and Susan Tedeschi.
Koko Taylor died on the afternoon of June 3rd 2009 (at the age of 80), while recovering from surgery to repair gastrointestinal bleeding. Koko Taylor is still referred to by fellow blues musicians and her fans as the "Queen of the Blues".
Bad Case of Loving You
Koko Taylor Lyrics
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I've got to find, find, find my baby yet
I need you to soothe my head
And turn my blue, blue, blue heart to red
Doctor, doctor, give me the news
I've got a bad case of lovin' you
Because no pill's gonna heal my ills
Your pretty face don't make a pretty heart
I learned that, baby, yeah, right from the start
You think that I'm just a little bit shy
Tell me baby, tell me, baby, why you make me cry?
Doctor, doctor, give me the news
I got a bad case of lovin' you
'Cause no pill's gonna heal my ills
I got a bad case of lovin' you
I know you like it, you like it your way
Oh baby, baby, baby, you gonna pay
You got me down, twenty one to zip
A pretty smile, baby, and a kiss on the lip
Shake my fist and knock on wood
I've got it bad, baby and then I'm good
Doctor, doctor, give me the news
I got a bad case of lovin' you
Because no pill's can heal my ills
I got a bad case of lovin' you
Lovin' you, lovin' you, oh, lovin' you
Lovin' you, lovin' you, lovin' you
The song "Bad Case of Loving You" by Koko Taylor is a blues-rock song that describes the singer's overwhelming emotions for their lover. The song opens with the singer unable to sleep on a hot summer night, and she is compelled to find her lover. She believes that her lover's presence would give her peace of mind and color her blue heart with love. However, the singer soon realizes that her lover is not the faithful type; her pretty face masks a malicious heart, and she often makes the singer cry. Despite all of these negative experiences, the singer is in too deep to break free; she has a bad case of loving her.
The chorus of "Doctor, doctor, give me the news, I've got a bad case of lovin' you" is repeated several times and is the central idea of the song. No medication can heal the singer's lovesick heart; she is hopelessly in love with her questionable lover. The singer acknowledges that her lover enjoys being in control of the relationship, and she has tolerated this unfairness for too long. The song concludes with the singer admitting that even though her situation is not ideal, she is willing to endure the pain because of the strong love she has for her partner.
Line by Line Meaning
One hot summer night, I can't rest
I couldn't sleep on a hot summer night and I am restless until I find my lover
I've got to find, find, find my baby yet
I am actively searching for my lover and cannot stop until I find them
I need you to soothe my head
I require my lover's comfort to calm my mind
And turn my blue, blue, blue heart to red
I need my lover to bring happiness and love into my life and dispel my sadness
Doctor, doctor, give me the news
I need to know the diagnosis because I am suffering from a deep affliction
I've got a bad case of lovin' you
I am deeply in love and cannot control my feelings
Because no pill's gonna heal my ills
There is no remedy or medicine that can cure my love sickness
Your pretty face don't make a pretty heart
Your outward appearance does not correspond to your inner nature
I learned that, baby, yeah, right from the start
I learned this fact about you from the very beginning of our relationship
You think that I'm just a little bit shy
You perceive me as reserved and hesitant
Tell me baby, tell me, baby, why you make me cry?
Why do you cause me pain and make me cry?
I know you like it, you like it your way
You enjoy having things done according to your preferences
Oh baby, baby, baby, you gonna pay
You will have to suffer the consequences of your actions and behavior
You got me down, twenty one to zip
You have defeated me effortlessly and I have no defense to protect myself
A pretty smile, baby, and a kiss on the lip
Your charming appearance and physical affection easily disarm me
Shake my fist and knock on wood
I am trying to ward off bad luck and misfortune by making a gesture and knocking on wood
I've got it bad, baby and then I'm good
My love sickness is severe but it ultimately brings me happiness
Lovin' you, lovin' you, oh, lovin' you
In the end, I am still deeply in love with you
Lovin' you, lovin' you, lovin' you
My love for you continues to grow and endure
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN MOON MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind