Coolidge's early career was as a backing vocalist, for artists such as Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and Leon Russell. Her performance of "Superstar" on the Cocker/Russell Mad Dogs and Englishmen album helped gain her attention. She became known as "The Delta Lady" and inspired Leon Russell to write a song of the same name for her. It was during this time that she met Kris Kristofferson; the two married in 1973. With him, she recorded several duet albums which sold well, and earned them a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 1974 for From the Bottle to the Bottom, and in 1976 for Lover Please.
In 1997, Coolidge was one of the founding members of Walela, a Native American music trio, that also includes Coolidge's sister Priscilla and Priscilla's daughter Laura Satterfield. The trio released albums in 1997 and 2000. Walela means hummingbird in Cherokee.
Ain't That Peculiar
Rita Coolidge Lyrics
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Stay away too long and I can't do without you
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
I know flowers go through rain
But how can love go through pain
Ain't that peculiar
Ain't that peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all
Your lies seem true
But if the truth makes love last longer
Why do lies make my love stronger
Ain't that peculiar
Peculiar as can be
Ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
I know love can last through years
But how can love last through tears
Now ain't that peculiar baby
A peculiar-arity
Ain't it peculiar baby
Peculiar as can be
Said I don't understand it baby
It's so strange sometimes
The lyrics of Rita Coolidge's song Ain't That Peculiar narrate a seemingly dysfunctional and one-sided relationship where despite the hurt inflicted by the partner, the singer is unwaveringly in love with them. The opening lines "Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you" sets up the underlying theme of the song - the peculiar nature of love which can be tested by pain and deception. The singer acknowledges the hurt caused by their partner, but their love for them continues to grow stronger.
The use of the phrase "peculiar-arity" serves to emphasize the complexity of love and the contradictions it may present. The lyrics talk about how the partner's lies and hurtful behavior are designed to inflict pain, yet the singer's love continues to endure. The chorus line "Ain't that peculiar, Peculiar as can be" is a playful and catchy refrain that conveys the complicated emotions and thoughts of the singer. Despite the confusion and uncertainty, the love for the partner remains steadfast.
The song's bridge talks about the pain that the singer has experienced because of their partner's actions, comparing it to a child who has lost their home. The lyrics also mention how tears do not always influence outcomes and reflect the puzzling nature of love. The repeated phrase "Ain't it peculiar baby" serves as a reminder of the strange, and often unexplainable, facets of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Honey you do me wrong but still I'm crazy about you
Despite your wrongdoings towards me, I still love you deeply.
Stay away too long and I can't do without you
When you're not around, I feel incomplete and unable to function normally.
Every chance you get you seem to hurt me more and more
You constantly inflict emotional pain upon me with every opportunity you get.
But each hurt makes my love stronger than before
In some strange way, the pain you cause me only makes my love for you grow stronger.
I know flowers go through rain
Just like how flowers need rain to grow, relationships also need to go through difficult times to flourish.
But how can love go through pain
But it's difficult to understand how love can endure and survive through the painful moments.
You tell me lies that should be obvious to me
You knowingly deceive me with lies that should be easy for me to recognize.
I've been so much in love with you baby til I don't want to see
My love for you has blinded me to the point where I don't want to acknowledge the truth about your lies and actions.
That things you do and say are designed to make me blue
Your actions and words are intentionally meant to bring me sadness and sorrow.
It's a doggone shame my love for you makes all Your lies seem true
It's unfortunate that my love for you has given your lies a sense of truth and credibility in my eyes.
But if the truth makes love last longer Why do lies make my love stronger
It's perplexing how truth is supposed to strengthen love, yet my love for you becomes stronger despite all the lies.
I cried so much just like a child that's lost its home
I'm so emotionally devastated that I'm crying uncontrollably, like a lost child.
Maybe baby you think these tears I cry are tears of joy
You might be under the impression that my tears are tears of happiness or contentment instead of tears of sadness.
A child can cry so much until you do everything they say
A child's persistent crying might lead others to give in to their requests or demands.
But unlike a child my tears don't help me to get my way
Unlike a child, my tears don't serve as a means to manipulate or control you.
I know love can last through years
Love is capable of enduring for many years.
But how can love last through tears
However, it's difficult to understand how love can survive and persist during times of extreme emotional pain.
Said I don't understand it baby
I confess that I don't comprehend how love can coexist with heartache and suffering.
It's so strange sometimes
It's bewildering at times.
Ain't that peculiar
It's unusual or strange indeed.
Peculiar as can be
It's as unique and unconventional as possible.
Ain't that peculiar baby
It's remarkable and noteworthy in a bizarre way, my dear.
Peculiar-arity
The quality of being strange and distinctive.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, William Robinson Jr., Robert Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind