I Gotta Have My Baby Back
Merle Haggard/Ray Price/Willie Nelson Lyrics
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I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
Can't sleep, can't eat because I lost my sweet, baby, sweet
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
Alone in the tavern, people all around laughing
And dancing, paintin' the town
The jukebox is playing songs about you
Oh baby, come on home
Without my baby, I just can't get along
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
Oh baby, come on home
Without my baby, I just can't get along
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
The song, "I Gotta Have My Baby Back" by Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson is a classic country ballad about a man who is deeply missing his lover. The opening lines express the depth of his emotions, stating that it hurts him so much to be without his loved one that he can’t sleep or eat. The singer is extremely vulnerable because his lover is everything to him, and he needs her back at any cost.
The imagery portrayed in the lyrics shows the singer alone in a tavern, surrounded by people who are enjoying themselves, which highlights his loneliness even more. The fact that the jukebox is playing songs about his lover means that he can't escape the memories and thoughts of their relationship. He needs his lover back to alleviate his pain and loneliness.
The plea for his lover to come back to him is repeated throughout the song, which reinforces the singer's desperation. The chorus repeats that he just can’t get along without his lover, and he just has to have her back. The entirety of the song presents this man's deep love for his lover, as it has left him utterly heartbroken without her.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby, I miss you so very much, it hurts me, baby
I long for my lover deeply, to the point where it causes me pain.
I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
I absolutely need my baby to return and be with me.
Can't sleep, can't eat because I lost my sweet, baby, sweet
The absence of my significant other has caused me to lose my appetite and ability to sleep.
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
I cannot bear to be without my baby, and must have them return to me.
Alone in the tavern, people all around laughing
Despite being surrounded by others enjoying themselves, I find myself isolated and alone.
And dancing, paintin' the town
Others are able to enjoy themselves freely and without restraint, but I cannot join in their revelry.
The jukebox is playing songs about you
The music I hear only serves to remind me of my lover.
Songs with memories making me blue
The songs I hear stir up memories that make me sad.
Oh baby, come on home
I am begging my lover to return to me.
Without my baby, I just can't get along
I am unable to live my life as normal without the presence of my significant other.
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
I cannot live without my lover and I need them to return to me.
Oh baby, come on home
Once again, I am pleading for my lover to come back to me.
Without my baby, I just can't get along
I am incapable of functioning as I normally would without my significant other.
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
My need for my lover's return is urgent and undeniable.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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