Signed to Radar Records they quickly made an impact with their debut LP. "First Offence" containing the hit singles "Dirty Water" (U.S. top forty) and Jimmy McCracklin's "The Walk" (UK. top forty).
These high standards have been maintained over 13 subsequent releases for "New Rose", "Revenge", "Mute/Sonet" and "Last Call" record labels.
The original line up is still together and playing in the UK and all over Europe.
I'm Down
The Inmates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't cry 'cause you're laughing at me
I'm down, I'm down, I''m down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
Man buys ring, woman throws it away
Same old thing happen every day
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
We're all alone and there's nobody else
She'll still moan "Keep your hands to yourself"
I'm down, I'm down, I''m down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
How can you laugh when you know I'm down, woo
A baby you know I'm down
I guess I'm down
I'm down on the ground
I'm down
Ah, baby I'm upside down
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
I'm down
The Inmates' song "I'm Down" is a bluesy rock and roll tune that speaks to the experience of being brought low by a lover's deception. The song's lyrics are simple and direct, eschewing metaphor or oblique references in favor of a plainspoken expression of emotion. The repeated refrain, "How can you laugh when you know I'm down," serves as a kind of mantra of wounded pride, with the singer's insistence on his emotional state highlighting the emotional distance between him and his lover.
One of the most interesting aspects of the song is its straightforward musical structure, which highlights the raw feeling of the lyrics. The stripped-down instrumentation of the Inmates' version of "I'm Down" consists of little more than guitar, bass, drums, and vocals, with each instrument working together to create a driving, blues-inflected sound that complements the singer's feelings of frustration and anger. Similarly, the song's lyrics are presented in a simple, unadorned style, with no flowery language or convoluted imagery to obscure the emotional content of the words.
In the end, "I'm Down" is a powerful expression of the pain and confusion that can come with romantic betrayal. By articulating his feelings so directly, the singer of the song is able to expose the heart of his emotional struggles, and the result is a song that resonates with listeners even decades after its initial release.
Line by Line Meaning
You tell lies thinking I can't see
You deceive me and think I'm oblivious to it
You can't cry 'cause you're laughing at me
You pretend to sympathize with me but you're secretly amused by my misfortunes
I'm down, I'm down, I'm down
I'm feeling very low and dejected
How can you laugh when you know I'm down
Why are you finding my sadness amusing?
Man buys ring, woman throws it away
The man tries to show affection to the woman but she rejects it
Same old thing happen every day
This scenario occurs repeatedly
We're all alone and there's nobody else
There's no one around to intervene or witness the situation
She'll still moan 'Keep your hands to yourself'
She'll complain despite not having any interest in being intimate
A baby you know I'm down, I guess I'm down
Even though I'm usually composed, my current situation has caused me to feel low
I'm down on the ground
My emotional state is affecting me physically
Ah, baby I'm upside down
My situation has turned me entirely on my head
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm down
My sadness is all-consuming and affecting me greatly
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN LENNON, PAUL MCCARTNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind