Some artists undergo reinventions. What Nathaniel Rateliff accomplishes on his first LP with the Night Sweats — transforming himself from folk troubadour to funky soul bandleader — is a revelation. Rateliff comes on like Van Morrison fronting Booker T. & the MG's, reviving the glory days of the Stax label.
What I Need
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats Lyrics
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Oh, just think of the time
Thought of love so strange
Said you never knew
While I try my best
To cover our eyes
It's a common way to blame and hide the truth
I know that some will say it matters but little babe
Oh, but, come on and mean it to me
I need it so bad
I needed to try
I needed to fall
I needed your love I'm burning away
I need never get old
Taking our time
Ah just standing in the rain
Meaning what you said ah and mean it to me
All of these lies
Oh and never again
Come on and say it now, say it's a game
I know that some will say
It matters but little babe
Oh but come on and mean it to me
I need it so bad
Oh, mean it to me
I need it so bad
I needed to try
Needed to fall
I needed your love I'm burning awayI need never get old
I said I needed to try
Needed to fall
I needed your love I'm burning away
I need never get old
I said I needed to try
Needed to fall (I needed)
I needed your love I'm burning away
I need never get old
I need never get old
I need never get old
I need never get old
I need never get old
The lyrics to Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats's song "I Need Never Get Old" explore themes of love, aging, and the search for meaning in life. The singer is imploring their lover to be present with them, to share in the joys and struggles of life together. The opening lines, "Can we be there/Oh, just think of the time," suggest a desire to be fully present in the moment, unencumbered by regrets about the past or worries about the future.
The singer acknowledges that love can be a strange and unfamiliar force, but asserts their commitment to trying their best to make it work, even if it means "covering our eyes" to the truth. There is a sense that the singer is asking for reassurance, seeking validation from their loved one that their feelings are reciprocated. They sing, "I know that some will say it matters but little babe/Oh, but, come on and mean it to me/I need it so bad."
Throughout the song, the singer makes it clear that they need their partner's love in order to feel alive. The repetition of the chorus, "I needed to try/Needed to fall/I needed your love I'm burning away/I need never get old," underscores the urgency of this desire. By the end of the song, the singer has reached a place of acceptance: they acknowledge the inevitability of aging, but express a newfound sense of hope that with their lover's support, they "need never get old."
Line by Line Meaning
Can we be there
Is it possible for us to be together?
Oh, just think of the time
Think of all the good times we could have together
Thought of love so strange
The idea of love is a mysterious thing
Said you never knew
You claimed to never have experienced it before
While I try my best
Despite my efforts to hide it
To cover our eyes
To avoid facing the truth
It's a common way to blame and hide the truth
It's a common defense mechanism to avoid accepting responsibility for our actions
I know that some will say it matters but little babe
I know some people will say it doesn't matter, but it does to me
Oh, but, come on and mean it to me
Please be sincere and honest with me
I need it so bad
I really need your love
I needed to try
I needed to take a chance
I needed to fall
I needed to take risks and make mistakes
I needed your love I'm burning away
I need your love to survive, without it I feel like I'm fading away
I need never get old
With your love, I can feel forever young and alive
Taking our time
Let's take it slow and enjoy the moment
Ah just standing in the rain
Let's enjoy each other's company even in tough times
Meaning what you said ah and mean it to me
Be genuine with me and follow through on your promises
All of these lies
All the deception and untruths
Oh and never again
We should never experience that level of dishonesty again
Come on and say it now, say it's a game
Let's be honest about our feelings and not play games
I needed to try
I needed to take a chance
Needed to fall
I needed to take risks and make mistakes
I needed your love I'm burning away
I need your love to survive, without it I feel like I'm fading away
I need never get old
With your love, I can feel forever young and alive
I said I needed to try
I acknowledged that I needed to take a chance
Needed to fall (I needed)
I needed to take risks and make mistakes
I needed your love I'm burning away
I need your love to survive, without it I feel like I'm fading away
I need never get old
With your love, I can feel forever young and alive
I said I needed to try
I reiterated my need to take a chance
Needed to fall
I needed to take risks and make mistakes
I needed your love I'm burning away
I need your love to survive, without it I feel like I'm fading away
I need never get old
With your love, I can feel forever young and alive
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Nathaniel David Rateliff
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind