I'll Be Good to You
Ray Charles Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I want to know, baby
Just how you feel, girl
Said I want to know
If what you feel is real, girl

'Cause there's a reason
For the things that I say, what I talk about
But oh, I want to love ya girl
In a special way, come 'ere woman

We've been together, for so very long
I'd hate to break up, break up my happy home

(The way we stand and the way we lie)
The way we lie
(The way we love and the way we cry)
Girl, we cry
(Of all these things, there comes a time)
There's a time
(Makes me feel that it's worth a try)
Makes me feel
(I'll be good to you)

(Good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya, good to ya)
(I'll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya)

Girl you said, we've been together
So very long, very long
I would hate to break up, break up my happy home
Let me take off your shoes
Take a stand, now, and let me know how
Oooh always, baby always, and all your know-how, baby

(The way we stand and the way we lie)
Um-hum the way we lie
(The way we love and the way we cry)
The wa-ay-ay-ay, we cry
(Of all these things, there comes a time)
Oooo
(Makes me feel that it's worth a try)
Oooo
(I'll be good to you, good to ya, good to ya)
I'll be good
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya, good to ya)
(I'll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya)

(Good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
{I'll be good}
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya, good to ya)
{So good, to you}
(I'll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
{I'll be good}
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya)
{So good, to you}

Girl, I'll be good to you, baby
why'know I'll be good to you
Take you shopping, you know what I mean baby, anything you want
I'll be good to you
I'll give it up, with my credit cards,
Like Visa, MasterCharge, American Express,
Turn my pants upside down
Any day of the week
Ow-oh, you, you, you
Come here, give me love
Talk to me

(Good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
Girl I'll be good to you
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya, good to ya)
(I'll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
I'll be good to you
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya)
I'll be good to you, I said I will, I ain't lying, baby
Oooo-hoo

(Good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
{I'll be good}
I'll be good to you
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya, good to ya)
{So good, to you}
Girl, I'll be good to you
(I'll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
I'll be good to you
{I'll be good}
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya)
I'll be good to you, I said I will, I ain't lying, baby
{So good, to you}

Oooo-ooo
(Good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
{I'll be good}
Good to you, yeah!
(I'll be good to ya, I'll be good to ya, good to ya)
{So good, to you}
Yeah! Yeah! I'll be
(I'll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)

{I'll be good}
Whoo-hoo, well I'll be
I'll be good to you, I said I will, I ain't lying, baby




{So good, to you}
I'll be good to you

Overall Meaning

In "I'll Be Good to You," Ray Charles expresses his desire to know if his partner's feelings for him are genuine. He wants to love her in a special way and be good to her. The lyrics suggest that they have been together for a long time, and he doesn't want to break up their happy home. He offers to take off her shoes, take a stand, and do anything she wants. He promises to be good to her, to take her shopping, and give her everything she desires, even getting her anything she wants with his credit cards.


The lyrics of this song emphasize loving and caring for someone deeply. It is about the importance of the relationship and the desire to do whatever it takes to make the other person happy. Ray Charles's passionate voice conveys his desire to love and cherish his partner, making it a very romantic and emotional song.


This song has been covered by several other artists, including The Brothers Johnson, whose version features Michael Jackson on backing vocals. It was released as a single in 1976 and became a top 40 hit in the US. In 1990, The Brothers Johnson version appeared on the soundtrack of the film "Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight."


Line by Line Meaning

I want to know, baby
The singer expresses his desire to know how the girl feels.


Just how you feel, girl
The singer specifically asks the girl how she feels.


Said I want to know
The singer emphasizes his desire to know how the girl feels.


If what you feel is real, girl
The singer wonders whether the girl's feelings are genuine.


'Cause there's a reason
The singer explains that there is a reason behind what he says and does.


For the things that I say, what I talk about
The singer clarifies that there is a basis for his actions and words.


But oh, I want to love ya girl
Despite the reasons for what he says and does, the singer still wants to love the girl.


In a special way, come 'ere woman
The singer expresses his desire to love the girl in a unique way and beckons her closer.


We've been together, for so very long
The singer acknowledges that he and the girl have been together for a long time.


I'd hate to break up, break up my happy home
The singer expresses his reluctance to break up with the girl and lose their happy relationship.


(The way we stand and the way we lie)
The singer speaks of how they physically lie and stand together.


The way we lie
The singer repeats that the way they lie together is significant to him.


(The way we love and the way we cry)
The singer references the way they express their emotions with each other.


Girl, we cry
The singer affirms that they do cry together sometimes.


(Of all these things, there comes a time)
The singer acknowledges that despite everything, time still brings change.


Makes me feel that it's worth a try
The singer feels that their relationship is worth continuing to try even in the face of change.


(I'll be good to you)
The singer promises to be good to the girl.


(Good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
The singer repeats his promise to be good to the girl.


(Girl you said, we've been together)
The singer references the fact that the girl mentioned how long they've been together.


So very long, very long
The singer again highlights that they have been together for a long time.


I would hate to break up, break up my happy home
The singer repeats his reluctance to end their relationship and ruin their happy home.


Let me take off your shoes
The singer offers to take off the girl's shoes.


Take a stand, now, and let me know how
The singer asks the girl to express her feelings more assertively.


Oooh always, baby always, and all your know-how, baby
The singer assures the girl that she always knows how he feels and can rely on him.


(Um-hum the way we lie)
The singer once again mentions the way they lie as a significant aspect of their relationship.


The wa-ay-ay-ay, we cry
The singer repeats that they do cry together sometimes.


(Oooo)
The singer interjects an exclamation here.


(Makes me feel that it's worth a try)
The singer repeats his feeling that their relationship is worth continuing to try.


(I'll be good to you, good to ya, good to ya)
The singer repeats his promise to be good to the girl.


(So good, to you)
The singer emphasizes how good he will be to the girl.


(Good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
The singer repeats his promise to be good to the girl.


I'll be good to you
The singer affirms that he will be good to the girl.


I said I will, I ain't lying, baby
The singer makes it clear that his promise is genuine.


(Oooo-hoo)
The singer extends an exclamation here.


(So good, to you)
The singer emphasizes again how good he will be to the girl.


(Whoo-hoo, well I'll be)
The singer interjects an exclamation here.


Good to you, yeah!
The singer declares that he will be good to the girl.


Yeah! Yeah! I'll be
The singer repeats his declaration to be good to the girl.


(I'll be good to ya, good to ya, good to ya)
The singer repeats his promise to be good to the girl.




Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK SPIRO, STEPHEN KIPNER, STEPHEN ALAN KIPNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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