The Fabulous Thunderbirds is a blues rock band that got started in 1974, th… Read Full Bio ↴The Fabulous Thunderbirds is a blues rock band that got started in 1974, the group being best known for the massive 1986 hit "Tuff Enuff". The band's original line-up included guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, the older brother of the influential blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, and got popular in Texas' underground rock scene. After performing for several years in the Austin, Texas area, the guys earned a recording contract with Chrysalis Records and later signed to Arista. The first two albums, released in 1979 and 1980 (with Keith Ferguson on bass and Mike Buck on drums), did not initially sell well but are now regarded as classic blues rock recordings.

Their style has mixed Texas blues with the harmonica-laced swamp blues sounds of the likes of Slim Harpo and Lazy Lester, both of whom the T-Birds have covered. Their third album, 1981's 'Butt Rockin'', took the band closer to classic rhythm and blues while featuring added piano and brass section sounds played by additional musicians. The band broke into the mainstream in 1986 with their album 'Tuff Enuff'. The single of the same name was featured in the Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster film 'Tough Guys' alongside their follow-up single, which they titled "Wrap It Up". A lively, powerful tune, "Tuff Enuff" has been played frequently over the years on many rock n roll stations. The band's music was also played in John Cusack's 1987 movie 'Hot Pursuit'.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds' next album, titled 'Hot Number', fell off the charts quickly and alienated many of the bands' long-time fans due to its slick, pop-oriented sound. The band then began a long series of line-up changes and obscure, yet somewhat improved, albums throughout the 90s. Drummer Mike Buck left the band in 1980, and guitarist Jimmie Vaughan left in 1990. More recently, the group has had line-up made up of original member Kim Wilson alongside guitarist/vocals Nick Curran, guitarist Kirk Flecther, Jimi Bott on drums, Ronnie James Weber on bass, and former Canned Heat member Gene Taylor on keyboards.

The official T-Birds website is at http://www.fabulousthunderbirds.com/

Alumni of the T-birds include:

Duke Robillard Fran Cristina Gene Taylor Jimi Bott Keith Ferguson Kid Bangham Kirk Fletcher Mike Buck Preston Hubbard Richard Innes Ronnie James Weber Steve Hodges Willie Campbell Kid Ramos Jimmie Vaughan Nick Curran Troy Gon

Got Love If You Want It
The Fabulous Thunderbirds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Got love if you want it, babe
Got love if you want it, babe
Got love if you want it
Got love if you want it

Got love if you want it
We can rock awhile
We can rock awhile

Quit teasin' me, babe
Quit teasin' me, babe
With your fine brown frame
With your fine brown frame

If you let me love you, babe
I'll be your lovin' man
I'll be your lovin' man

Now, here you come, babe
Now, here you come, babe
With your hair combed down
With your hair combed down

I know you been ballin'
Talk's all over town
Talk's all over town

Now, the next door neighbor
Now, the next door neighbor
Peepin' through the blind
Peepin' through the blind

Don't worry, nobody
That's all this time
That's all this time

I love you, little woman
I love you, little woman
But then I do myself
But then I do myself

But you mistreat me, baby
For someone else

For someone else

For someone else
For someone else

Overall Meaning

The Fabulous Thunderbirds's "Got Love If You Want It" is a blues song that is all about a guy who is head over heels in love with a woman and will do just about anything to make her happy. The song opens with the line, "Got love if you want it, babe," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The guy is basically telling the woman that he has all the love in the world to give her, but he needs her to return his affection. He then goes on to say that they can "rock awhile," which implies that he'll be there for her no matter what she wants to do.

The chorus of the song repeats the line "Got love if you want it," which serves as a kind of mantra for the guy. He is reminding the woman that he is available to her anytime she needs him. He then tells her to stop teasing him with her "fine brown frame" and let him love her. He promises to be her loving man if she would just let him in. The verse ends with an image of the woman coming toward him with her hair combed down. This is clearly meant to be a seductive image, and the guy is clearly drawn to her.

In the next verse, the guy addresses some gossip that's been going around town. Apparently, the woman has been "balling" and everyone is talking. However, the guy tells her not to worry because "nobody" knows what's really going on between them. He professes his love for her and then admits that he sometimes mistreats himself because of his love for her. The song ends ominously with the line, "But you mistreat me, baby, for someone else." This implies that the guy is afraid the woman he loves is seeing someone else and that his love may not be enough to keep her.

Line by Line Meaning

Got love if you want it, babe
I have love to give if you desire it, my dear

Got love if you want it
I possess love if you're seeking it out

We can rock awhile
We can engage in pleasurable activities for some time

Quit teasin' me, babe
Stop playing with me, my love

With your fine brown frame
Your desirable body, with its brown complexion

If you let me love you, babe
If you allow me to love you, my dear

I'll be your lovin' man
I will be the man who loves you deeply

Now, here you come, babe
And now, you arrive, my love

With your hair combed down
Your hair is neatly styled

I know you been ballin'
I am aware that you have been seeing other people

Talk's all over town
Everyone is gossiping about it