I Got You
Little Walter and Otis Rush Lyrics

The song I Can't Quit You Baby by Little Walter and Otis Rush is a blues classic that is all about love and the hardships that come along with it. The lyrics largely revolve around the idea that the singer loves the person they are singing to so much that they can never quit them completely, but they must take a break from the relationship for a while. The opening lines "I can't quit you baby, but I got to put you down a little while" signify that the singer is taking a temporary break from the relationship. However, this does not mean that their love has gone away, as they continue to convey their deep affection for the other person throughout the song.

The reason for the break is that the person they love has been causing problems in their life. The lines "yes you mess up my happy home, babe, made me mistreat my only child" suggest that the person has come between the singer and their family life. Despite this, the singer cannot stop loving the person they are singing to.

As the song progresses, the singer echoes their love for the person by saying "you know I love you babe, my love for you I can never hide". The constant repetition of this line emphasizes the strength of their love. However, this love comes with a great cost, as the singer is exhausted and can barely keep going. They say "well, I'm so tired I could cry, I could just lay down and die". This illustrates the deep emotional and physical turmoil that loving someone can bring.

The song's chorus "when you hear me moanin' and groanin' babe, you know it hurt me way down inside" is a starling reminder of the depth of pain that comes with love. The line "oh you know it hurt me way down inside" is a powerful statement about the impact of love on one's emotions. The end of the lyrics "yes when you hear me howlin' babe, ooh, you know you're my desire" indicates that despite all the heartache, the singer still yearns for the other person.