He began recording for his own DRK label, before signing to Boardwalk Records in 1981. His first minor hit was a cover of The Penguins' "Earth Angel" that year. His first album for Boardwalk also featured the track "She's Got Papers On Me", the lament of a married man wanting his mistress, which was interrupted by his wife, played by Betty Wright, setting out her view of the situation.
His breakthrough single came in 1982 with "If It Ain't One Thing It's Another", which reached # 1 on the U.S. soul chart and # 47 on the Billboard Hot 100. He had recorded and released an earlier version of the song for DRK in 1975 - in which he muses on the problems in his life, covering everything from an ugly pregnant girlfriend to the need to read the Bible - and was persuaded to re-record and update it by an old friend, including it on his Mr. Look So Good! album before it was issued as a single.
He had several less successful follow-ups before Boardwalk Records folded in 1983. He then signed with RCA Records, but was dropped after several unsuccessful singles and albums. Renamed simply "Dimples", he continued to record for the Columbia and Life labels. He also worked as a record producer with 9.9, Pat Benatar and The Ohio Players among others.
Fields died in Novato, California in 2000 as the result of a stroke.
If It Ain't One Thing
Richard Dimples Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know when you feel like even your blues have blues
If it ain't one thing it's another
If it ain't one thing it's another
It's a crazy mixed up world, it's a dog eat dog world
Life is full strife, people just aren't nice
Racial resentment adds to this contentment
Talk to any guy he'll tell you taxes are too high
Books movies are corrupt, suicide is way up
Kids are a sorry lot, some folks say it's 'cause of pot
Phony ego trips, everyone has flipped
If it ain't one thing it's another
If it ain't one thing it's another
Everybody's shacking up, married folks are packing up
Country's going up in smoke, Where is Noah with his boat
Blacks marching on dc, 400 years still not free
Martin paid all a man can pay, still he's not a holiday
Folks messing with my mind, make me Frankenstein
This woman by my side, she's Dr. Jeckyl Mr. Hyde
Can't get my head on right, problems day and night
Try to calm my nerves I've tried smoke, Doctors give me dope to cope
If it ain't one thing it's another
If it ain't one thing it's another
If it ain't one thing it's another
My funky two bit job went on strike
I've put up with a lot of crap I don't like
And to add to my woes, this ugly woman named Sadie called and said she's having my baby
Lord have mercy
From my day of birth I've called hell on earth
A number is all I am, ain't got no frills don't give a...
If you don't got no pull, you've got to put up with a lot of bull
This funky world is cold, I oughta flush myself down the...
If it ain't one thing it's another
If it ain't one thing it's another
If it ain't one thing it's another
If it ain't one thing it's another
My friends, I wonder if it's ok if I talk to you this evening
A long time ago my old grandmother bless her heart
Used to sit me on her knee and pull out her Good Book,
And she said my son, my child, don't you ever get to grown, to famous, to rich to forget the man upstairs
And she used to turn to Matthew chapter 24, and there the disciples would talking to the master
And they said Lord tell us what will be the sign of your coming
And the end to all this confusion on Earth
And the Good Lord said, my children watch out that nobody deceive you
For the last days, there'll be lots of tribulation, wars, and famines
And earthquakes on different places on the Earth
And there will be no understanding among the people of the Earth
He said but as you see these things occuring,
Don't become too discouraged, just lift yours head up high
Because your deliverence is getting nearer
And he spoke about the proclamation about coming kingdom or goverment of god
That will eventually take over this Earth and rule over the whole Earth
And turning to Daniel chapter two,
And there Daniel describes that this kingdom won't be an earthly kingdom
But it will be ruled by God
Note in the book of Revelations it talks
About how there will be a man who'll be Jesus
And whose faithful 144, 000 who would bring all of mankind back to perfection
Aw, somebody out there knows exactly what I'm talking about
Issiah, Issiah, a long time ago said I see old people growing young again
I see lame people running and leaping just like a gazeelle
And blind people will see again
And we won't have to worry about our children going out to play at night
They'll be able to play with a snake, brotherhood
There'll be brotherhood and peace and tranqulaity on the earth
Aw it makes me feel good when I read over in Revelations
That it say God would wipe out every tear from my eyes
Yeah that's in Revelations chapter 21,
Why don't you pick up a Good Book and read all about it for yourselves
And my friends I don't know if I'll ever see you again
Life is certainly uncertain these days
I'm sure you'll agree to that
But keep dreaming the big dream
Get down on your knees and ask the big guy in the sky for his spirit to sustain you
And pray for me, I'll be praying for you.
The lyrics of Richard Dimples Fields's song, titled "If It Ain't One Thing It's Another," express the idea that life is full of challenges and difficulties. The song seeks to relate to individuals who are going through a tough time and who may feel like even their blues have blues. The world is portrayed as a "dog eat dog" one, full of strife, where everyone is "talking smack" and running games. Racial resentment is also highlighted as one of the factors that contribute to people's discontentment. Additionally, the lyrics touch on various themes, such as high taxes, corrupt media, increased suicide rates, and drug use amongst youngsters.
Fields highlights the difficulties of being in a relationship in the modern world, where infidelity and emotional betrayal are rampant issues. He mentions the example of his ex-partner, who is likened to Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde. The song also touches on societal issues such as poverty and inequality, particularly surrounding the idea that only those with power and influence can evade a lot of the troubles that ordinary people face. The song concludes by urging people to hold onto hope and believe that someday things will get better, with the help of a divine intervention.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm making this song for all the people who at times in their lives feel bad
This song is for everyone who experiences hardships in life and feels down sometimes.
You know when you feel like even your blues have blues
Sometimes it feels like even your sadness has its own sadness.
If it ain't one thing it's another
Life has a way of throwing one challenge after another at us.
It's a crazy mixed up world, it's a dog eat dog world
The world we live in is chaotic and competitive.
Life is full strife, people just aren't nice
Life is full of conflicts and people can be unkind.
Everybody's talking smack, Running games on this and that
People are always gossiping and manipulating situations for their own benefit.
Racial resentment adds to this contentment
Racial tension contributes to the overall discontent in society.
Talk to any guy he'll tell you taxes are too high
Most people feel that taxes are too high and burdensome.
Books movies are corrupt, suicide is way up
People believe that the media is full of corrupting influences and suicide rates are increasing.
Kids are a sorry lot, some folks say it's 'cause of pot
Some people blame the use of marijuana for the poor state of the younger generation.
Phony ego trips, everyone has flipped
People are often dishonest about their intentions and many seem to have lost their minds.
Everybody's shacking up, married folks are packing up
Marriage is becoming less common and more people are choosing to cohabitate instead.
Country's going up in smoke, Where is Noah with his boat
Society seems to be heading towards disaster and people are looking for a savior.
Blacks marching on dc, 400 years still not free
Despite centuries of struggle, African Americans still face challenges and discrimination.
Martin paid all a man can pay, still he's not a holiday
Although Martin Luther King Jr. sacrificed his life for civil rights, many people don't appreciate his legacy enough to celebrate it as a national holiday.
Folks messing with my mind, make me Frankenstein
People's actions and words can make someone feel like a monster or out of control.
This woman by my side, she's Dr. Jeckyl Mr. Hyde
The person's significant other has split personalities and is unpredictable.
Can't get my head on right, problems day and night
The person is overwhelmed with problems and can't seem to find a solution.
Try to calm my nerves I've tried smoke, Doctors give me dope to cope
The person has tried using drugs to deal with their anxiety, and even doctors have prescribed medications to cope with their problems.
My funky two bit job went on strike
The person's low-paying job went on strike, making their already difficult situation worse.
I've put up with a lot of crap I don't like
The person has endured many unpleasant situations they don't enjoy.
And to add to my woes, this ugly woman named Sadie called and said she's having my baby Lord have mercy
On top of all their troubles, a woman the person doesn't find attractive called to say she's pregnant with their child, adding to their worries.
From my day of birth I've called hell on earth
The person believes they have been experiencing various hardships since they were born.
A number is all I am, ain't got no frills don't give a...
The person feels like they are simply a number and don't have any special qualities or characteristics.
If you don't got no pull, you've got to put up with a lot of bull
If a person doesn't have any influence or connections, they'll have to endure a lot of nonsense from others.
This funky world is cold, I oughta flush myself down the...
The person feels like the world is unpleasant and unsatisfying, and may even feel like they should end their own life.
My friends, I wonder if it's ok if I talk to you this evening
The person addresses the listeners and asks if they can speak to them.
A long time ago my old grandmother bless her heart Used to sit me on her knee and pull out her Good Book, And she said my son, my child, don't you ever get to grown, to famous, to rich to forget the man upstairs
The person's grandmother used to read to them from the Bible and taught them to remember God no matter what their circumstances in life.
And she used to turn to Matthew chapter 24, and there the disciples would talking to the master And they said Lord tell us what will be the sign of your coming And the end to all this confusion on Earth
The grandmother would read to the person from the Bible, where the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of his return and the end of the chaos on Earth.
And the Good Lord said, my children watch out that nobody deceive you For the last days, there'll be lots of tribulation, wars, and famines And earthquakes on different places on the Earth And there will be no understanding among the people of the Earth He said but as you see these things occuring, Don't become too discouraged, just lift yours head up high Because your deliverence is getting nearer And he spoke about the proclamation about coming kingdom or goverment of god That will eventually take over this Earth and rule over the whole Earth And turning to Daniel chapter two, And there Daniel describes that this kingdom won't be an earthly kingdom But it will be ruled by God
The person recites a passage from the Bible where God tells his followers to watch out for deception and that there will be many trials and struggles in the world. However, God promises that his Kingdom will eventually rule over the Earth, as described in the book of Daniel.
Note in the book of Revelations it talks About how there will be a man who'll be Jesus And whose faithful 144, 000 who would bring all of mankind back to perfection
The person notes that the book of Revelations talks about Jesus and his faithful followers, who will bring humanity back to a state of perfection.
Issiah, Issiah, a long time ago said I see old people growing young again I see lame people running and leaping just like a gazeelle And blind people will see again And we won't have to worry about our children going out to play at night They'll be able to play with a snake, brotherhood There'll be brotherhood and peace and tranqulaity on the earth Aw it makes me feel good when I read over in Revelations That it say God would wipe out every tear from my eyes Yeah that's in Revelations chapter 21, Why don't you pick up a Good Book and read all about it for yourselves
The person recites a passage from Isaiah and notes how he foresaw a time when old people would become young and the sick and blind would be healed. The person is pleased when they read from the book of Revelations that God will wipe away all tears.
And my friends I don't know if I'll ever see you again Life is certainly uncertain these days I'm sure you'll agree to that But keep dreaming the big dream Get down on your knees and ask the big guy in the sky for his spirit to sustain you And pray for me, I'll be praying for you.
The person acknowledges the uncertainty of life and encourages people to dream big and turn to God for strength. They close by asking for prayers and promising to pray in return.
Writer(s): fields, wilson
Contributed by Aiden L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ibn Afrika
2023 And this tune is still staying strong. Bless up Richard, this is exquisite.
Robert Degrandis
The words of this song, are like a prophesy for nowadays. RIP, RICHARD. 🙏🙏
don pitts
Preacher was quoting it this morning
Robert Degrandis
@don pitts Amen. 💐
Clubbin Mag
The significance of this song goes deep not just for America.. even to the state of the world.. even more than that.. he didn’t know he was about to die when this song was being recorded. So him saying “I might not see ya” and him talking about heaven and all that was prophetic to the world and to himself.
Awesome job Rich! You will never be forgotten because of gems like this.
Michele Szuba
So true!!! Ty didn't know whole story! My jam for over 30yrs!!!
JCMthebrand
Huh? He dies 18 years after this record was released. What did you mean?
Linda Clark
This song has a powerful message for us all
Laura Guerro
And it's true. Nerves going up and smoke and the doctor gives you dope to cope. I know exactly what he's talking about here.
Mary Guiles
To bad that more people don't set back and really listen to what he is saying and really think about the song after it is finished