Macy Gray was originally hesitant to record a studio album due to what is, arguably, her most recognizable feature -- her voice. She started her music career as a songwriter. Her first album was actually a mistake; she was at the studio waiting for the person who was supposed to be singing her song, and the producer wanted to hear what one of the songs was supposed to sound like. Once she started singing, the producer liked the rough sound of her voice so much he offered her a record deal.
Love Me
Macy Gray Lyrics
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And the way he smiles it makes me sway
Saturday he's full of alcohol
And he says the things he really wants to say
And it hurts so bad how he treats me
I should be movin'
All the scars I've had, how he treats me
But he loves me, he loves me
Ask me how I know
That he loves me, he loves me
He tells me so
Sometimes I break down and cry, in the night
But he loves me, he loves me
All my friends are here to take my side
Givin' me advice and callin' me a fool
It's not that simple, it's not black and white
When all I am is the color blue
And it hurts so bad how he treats me
I should be movin'
All the scars I've had how he treats me
I should be movin'
But he loves me, he loves me
Ask me how I know
Yeah he loves me, he loves me
He tells me so
Sometimes I break down and cry in the night
But he loves me, he loves me
He's an angel, he's my heaven every once
In a while now, in a while now
It's like paradise, it's like I can fly
But it's been a while now, a while
Sometimes I break down and cry (I)
But he loves me, he loves me, he loves me
He told me so
Ooh And it hurts so bad how he treats me
Ooh I should be movin' now
Ooh I should be movin' now
But you see (But he loves me)
Ooh
The lyrics to Macy Gray's song "Love Me" depict a complicated and dysfunctional relationship. The singer is describing her partner's behavior, how he alternates between affectionate and loving ("He calls me baby, calls me beautiful") and destructive ("Saturday he's full of alcohol"). Despite the hurtful treatment she receives from him ("And it hurts so bad how he treats me"), she feels torn and unable to leave the relationship ("I should be movin'"). The singer acknowledges the advice and support of her friends, but expresses that the situation is more complex than it appears ("It's not that simple, it's not black and white").
The repetition of the phrase "But he loves me, he loves me" shows the internal conflict the singer is experiencing. Despite the pain and turmoil in the relationship, she still clings to the belief that her partner loves her, relying on his claims of love and affirmation ("He tells me so"). The lyrics also suggest a longing for the moments when the relationship is good and loving, representing a temporary escape from the difficulties faced ("He's an angel, he's my heaven every once in a while now").
Line by Line Meaning
He calls me baby, calls me beautiful
He affectionately addresses me as 'baby' and compliments my beauty
And the way he smiles it makes me sway
His captivating smile has a mesmerizing effect on me
Saturday he's full of alcohol
On Saturdays, he consumes a lot of alcohol
And he says the things he really wants to say
Under the influence of alcohol, he expresses his true feelings
And it hurts so bad how he treats me
His actions towards me cause me significant emotional pain
I should be movin'
I should be leaving or ending the relationship
All the scars I've had, how he treats me
The emotional wounds I've endured due to his treatment
But he loves me, he loves me
Despite everything, he claims to love me
Ask me how I know
If you ask me how I'm aware of it
That he loves me, he loves me
He repeatedly expresses his love for me
He tells me so
He communicates this to me directly
Sometimes I break down and cry, in the night
Occasionally, I become overwhelmed with emotions and cry during the night
All my friends are here to take my side
My friends are present to support and defend me
Givin' me advice and callin' me a fool
They offer guidance and sometimes criticize my choices
It's not that simple, it's not black and white
The situation is complex and cannot be reduced to simple terms
When all I am is the color blue
I am feeling blue, melancholic or sad
He's an angel, he's my heaven every once
He is like an angel to me, my personal paradise occasionally
In a while now, in a while now
But it has been a long time since that period
It's like paradise, it's like I can fly
It feels like heaven, as if I have the ability to soar
But it's been a while now, a while
But it has been a considerable duration since then
Sometimes I break down and cry (I)
Occasionally, I succumb to tears
But he loves me, he loves me, he loves me
Nevertheless, he claims to love me deeply
He told me so
He has explicitly expressed his love to me
Ooh And it hurts so bad how he treats me
Oh, and it is extremely painful how he behaves towards me
Ooh I should be movin' now
Oh, I should be leaving now
But you see (But he loves me)
However, you must understand (but he claims to love me)
Ooh
Oh
Lyrics © SILVER SIDE PRODUCTIONS, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jon Jackson, Natalie Hinds, Tamir Barzilay
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on I Try
Redemption Song - Macy Gray - Lyrics
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold out to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs