The Impressions were an American music group from Chicago, Illinois, active… Read Full Bio ↴The Impressions were an American music group from Chicago, Illinois, active from 1958 until 1983, whose repertoire included doo-wop, gospel, soul, and R&B.

The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.

Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.

Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)

Discography

Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire

Finally Got Myself Together
The Impressions Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I felt like the skid row was my destiny
And I'm a changed man

Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah hey)
Now I know just who I am (I'm a changed man baby)
Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know)
Now I know just who I am (listen to me baby)

A little smoke, get a little drink,
Kept my head bad, so I couldn't think
Love came along late one night
And I finally see the light
I'm a changed man

Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah hey)
Now I know just who I am (I'm a changed man baby)
Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah baby)
Now I know just who I am (just look at me now)

Look at the smile on my face (just look at me now)
Just look at the smile on my face (just look at me now)
Don't just glance as you walk by (look at me now)
Look me straight in my eyes (hey, I'm changed, yeah baby)

Finally got myself together (and now I know)
Now I know just who I am (baby, I'm changed, baby hey)
Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah baby)
Now I know just who I am (Things I use to do baby)

Finally got myself together (come on baby, I don't do no more,)
Now I know just who I am (the places I used to go baby)
Finally got myself together (come on girl, I don't want no more)
Now I know just who I am (come on, come on baby)

Finally got myself together (come on baby, come on baby, come on baby)

Overall Meaning

The Impressions’ hit single Finally Got Myself Together is a soulful, introspective tune that is about finding oneself amidst confusion and darkness. The lyrics talk about feeling lost, unloved, and abused, and not knowing what's wrong with oneself. The singer's confused state of mind is so profound that they feel like skid row is their destiny. However, the song takes a positive turn, and the singer goes on to express how they have finally found themselves and claim to be a changed person.

The lyrics describe the singer's journey of self-discovery and overcoming their shortcomings. They attribute their newfound awareness to the intervention of a significant other who came into their life one night and showed them the light. Now they are a changed man, and they know just who they are. The lyrics indicate that the singer has transformed their habits, activities, and desires, and they are no longer the person they used to be.

Finally Got Myself Together is an uplifting song about self-awareness, self-acceptance, and growth. It highlights how a person can change their life for the better when they find the motivation and support they need. The song's soulful music and moving lyrics resonate with anyone who has been lost and found themselves again.

Line by Line Meaning

Finally got myself together (now I know)
After going through a period of turmoil and confusion, I have finally gained a sense of clarity and direction in my life.

Now I know just who I am (I'm a changed man)
This newfound understanding has allowed me to gain a strong sense of identity and positive transformation.

Felt uptight and so confused
I was experiencing a great deal of stress and uncertainty in my life.

Felt unloved and I felt abused
I struggled with feeling neglected and mistreated by others.

I didn't know what was wrong with me
I lacked an understanding of the root causes of my struggles.

I felt like the skid row was my destiny
I had resigned myself to a bleak and hopeless future.

And I'm a changed man
However, I have since undergone a significant transformation and no longer feel trapped by my past struggles.

A little smoke, get a little drink,
I coped with my problems by turning to drugs and alcohol as a source of temporary relief.

Kept my head bad, so I couldn't think
Unfortunately, these habits only served to cloud my judgment and exacerbate my problems.

Love came along late one night
Fortunately, I eventually found love and companionship, which helped to lift me out of my despair.

And I finally see the light
This love allowed me to gain a new perspective and to start seeing my life more positively.

Look at the smile on my face (just look at me now)
I am now happy and content with my life and can proudly show off the positive changes I've made.

Don't just glance as you walk by (look at me now)
I want others to recognize the positive growth that I've undergone and to truly take notice of the person I've become.

Finally got myself together (come on baby, I don't do no more,)
I am now free from the negative habits and behaviors that once held me back.

Now I know just who I am (come on, come on baby)
With this newfound sense of identity and inner peace, I am ready to confidently face whatever life throws my way.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: E. TOWNSEND

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Mr. MiguelV237

3y↑7

Finally got myself together (now I know)
Now I know just who I am (I'm a changed man)
Finally got myself together (but now I know)
Now I know just who I am

Felt uptight and so confused
Felt unloved and I felt abused
I didn't know what was wrong with me
I felt like the skid row was my destiny
And I'm a changed man

Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah hey)
Now I know just who I am (I'm a changed man baby)
Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know)
Now I know just who I am (listen to me baby)

A little smoke, get a little drink,
Kept my head bad, so I couldn't think
Love came along late one night
And I finally see the light
I'm a changed man

Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah hey)
Now I know just who I am (I'm a changed man baby)
Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah baby)
Now I know just who I am (just look at me now)

Look at the smile on my face (just look at me now)
Just look at the smile on my face (just look at me now)
Don't just glance as you walk by (look at me now)
Look me straight in my eyes (hey, I'm changed, yeah baby)

Finally got myself together (and now I know)
Now I know just who I am (baby, I'm changed, baby hey)
Finally got myself together (and now I know, know, know, yeah baby)
Now I know just who I am (Things I use to do baby)

Finally got myself together (come on baby, I don't do no more, )
Now I know just who I am (the places I used to go baby)
Finally got myself together (come on girl, I don't want no more)
Now I know just who I am (come on, come on baby)

Finally got myself together (come on baby, come on baby, come on baby)

All comments from YouTube:

Mr. MiguelV237

3y↑7

Edward Caraway

4y↑9

This is music!

jeffery smith

Oh man I Jeffrey D haven't heard this old cut since about 1975 myself and tonight 2/22/23 I singing some of the words in my until I said now I remember, went to YouTube and found it. Missy Genx you are right the brain IS something else,
What's up Lady? ☺️