I Ain't Got Nobody
Ruby Braff and Ralph Sutton Lyrics
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Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him
Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad
My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good
But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some
He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good
Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good
The lyrics to "I Ain't Got Nobody" by Ruby Braff and Ralph Sutton are about a woman who is so deeply in love with her man that she can't bear to live without him, even though he doesn't treat her well. Though others advise her to save her tears, she is too wrapped up in her emotions to do so. She knows that she should be treated sweet and gentle by her man, but he doesn't. Her heart is too sentimental, and she can't help but feel the way she does.
The song also touches on the idea that she and her man have some sort of codependency - they drink, pray, and sin together. Despite this, she acknowledges that he doesn't love her the way she loves him, which just furthers her pain. The repetition of the line "I've got it bad and that ain't good" emphasizes the depth of her emotions and the consequences that come with it.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of heartbreak and longing that many people can relate to. The woman is torn between her love for her man and the fact that he doesn't treat her well. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, striking a chord with listeners who have experienced unrequited love or a difficult relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears
Even though people with good intentions advise me not to cry
Well I'm so mad about him I can't live without him
I am so deeply in love that life without him is unbearable
Never treats me sweet and gentle The way he should
My lover does not treat me with the affection I deserve
I've got it bad And that ain't good
I am in a bad situation and it's taking its toll on me emotionally
My poor heart is so sentimental Not made of wood
My heart is filled with emotion, I am vulnerable
I've got it so bad And that ain't good
Things are really difficult for me and it's not a good situation
But when the fish are jumpin' And Friday rolls around
Despite my troubles, I still have good times
My man an' I, we gin some We pray some, and sin some
My lover and I have a complex relationship, filled with ups and downs
He don't love me like I love him The way he should
My lover does not reciprocate my deep feelings
I've got it bad And that ain't good
I am in a difficult situation that is taking an emotional toll on me
Yes I've got it bad And that ain't good
My situation is not good, and it is taking its toll on me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind