Come Back Baby
Ray Charles And His Orchestra Lyrics

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Oh, come back, baby
Oh, mama, please, don't go, yeah
'Cause the way I love you
Child, you'll never know

Oh, come back, baby
Yeah, yeah let's talk it over
Oh, one more time

Oh, now, now

Well, I admit, baby
That I was wrong
Don't you know, baby?
Child, you been gone too long

Oh, come back, baby
Yeah, yeah, let's talk it over one more time
Oh, now, now

Say, if I could holler
Like a mountain jack
Yeah, yeah
Oh people, I'd call my baby back

Oh, come back, baby, woo, yeah
Let's talk it over one more time
Oh, now, now

Now one of these days, baby
And it won't be long, yeah
You're gonna look for me, child, you know
And I'll be gone

So come back, baby

Yeah, yeah, Let's talk it over one more time
Oh, now

Overall Meaning

Ray Charles's song "Come Back Baby" is a song about a man who made a mistake, and he's now asking his lover to forgive him and come back. The song has a blues-feel, which helps convey the man's sorrow and regret. Charles sings, "Oh, come back, baby, oh mama please don't go" which demonstrates his love for his lover and his desire to keep her from leaving him. He then follows up with "Cause the way I love you child, you'll never know" which is an attempt to let his lover know that the depth of his love for her is unmatched. He then pleads his case and asks her to "let's talk it over one more time" which is a clear indication that he wants to rectify his wrongs.

Furthermore, Charles admits his wrongdoing and acknowledges that he was wrong to state, "Well, I admit, baby, that I was wrong" which shows he's taking responsibility for his actions. He points out that his lover has been gone for too long, and he's desperately hoping to have her back. Charles then uses figurative language in the line "Say, if I could holler, like a mountain jack" to illustrate how loud he would call for his lover to come back if he could. He ends the song with a clear warning to his lover, letting her know that she should come back soon since he won't be there forever.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, come back, baby
Ray Charles is begging for his lover to return to him.

Oh, mama, please, don't go, yeah
He is pleading with her not to leave him.

'Cause the way I love you
Ray Charles loves her with such depth that...

Child, you'll never know
...she could never fully understand.

Yeah, yeah let's talk it over
He wants to discuss their issues and work things out.

Oh, one more time
This is not the first time they have had a conversation like this.

Well, I admit, baby
Ray Charles is accepting responsibility for his mistakes in the relationship.

That I was wrong
He knows he made mistakes.

Don't you know, baby?
He wants her to understand that he is sorry.

Child, you been gone too long
Ray Charles misses her and thinks she has been away for too long.

Say, if I could holler
Ray Charles wishes he could yell loudly enough...

Like a mountain jack
...to get her attention from afar like a mountain man.

Oh people, I'd call my baby back
If he could, he'd use his voice to bring her back.

Now one of these days, baby
Ray Charles is warning her that one day soon...

And it won't be long, yeah
...she will regret not coming back to him.

You're gonna look for me, child, you know
She will come looking for Ray Charles.

And I'll be gone
But he will have moved on without her, leaving her to regret her choices.

So come back, baby
Finally, Ray Charles pleads with her once again to come back to him.

Yeah, yeah, Let's talk it over one more time
He still wants to work it out and discuss their issues in hopes of getting back together.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ray Charles

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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