The band started as an acoustic blues trio in the mid 1960s with singer and guitarist J. Geils (born February 20, 1946; died April 10, 2017), bassist Danny Klein (Dr. Funk) and harpist Richard Salwitz (stage name Magic Dick). The band formed under the name Snoopy and the Sopwith Camels while Geils was attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute for a couple of semesters. In 1967 the band switched focus, starting to play electric guitar and bass and recruiting drummer Stephen Jo Bladd and fast-talking ex-disc jockey singer Peter Wolf, born Peter Blankenfeld, both from Boston. The following year Seth Justman joined as an organist, and the group signed to Atlantic Records in 1970.
The J. Geils Band first received FM radio airplay with the live single "First I Look at the Purse", then had several hit singles in the 1970s, the most successful of which was "Must Of Got Lost" (1974). Later in the 1970s, the band signed with EMI America Records.
The band had good success covering soul singles. Besides the well-known aforementioned "First I Look at the Purse" from The Contours, they covered the more obscure "I Do" from The Marvelows and "Ain't Nothing But a House Party" from The Showstoppers.
The group's commercial fortunes improved in the early 1980s, first with the humorous "Love Stinks", then with their great success with the Freeze Frame album which included "Centerfold" (#1 for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100) and then the title cut (#4). Wolf left the group in 1983 for a solo career not long after, over disagreements about whether to continue to take the band in more of a popular direction, or continue with the purist tradition.
The band went on to record one more album of new material, You're Gettin' Even While I'm Gettin' Odd, after Wolf left. He was not replaced, and Seth Justman took over most of the vocal duties. The album produced only one single - "Concealed Weapons", a song about breasts - and was not a success. The band toured in support of the album, but never again recorded anything new. The group then disbanded in 1985 after contributing the title song to the 1985 horror film Fright Night.
The group was not reunited with Wolf until 1999, and subsequently broke up again when ticket sales proved extremely disappointing. Wolf continues to tour with his own backup band, and the rest of the Geils band makes occasional appearances. Since the semi-retirement of the band, Geils has been restoring sports cars in Massachusetts.
On 22 May 2006, the six original members had a surprise reunion, the first time they had all played together in over 20 years, at bassist Danny Klein's 60th birthday party at Scullers Jazz Club in Boston.
Since 2009 they are reunited once more.
The band disbanded in 2017 after the death of bandleader J. Geils.
I Could Hurt You
The J. Geils Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel like Ace
My life is different now
2019 almost caught a case
I heard you fucked that bitch, had to put a bag over her face
I heard yo family hate you, heard you a disgrace
If you wasn't with me starving, no you can't go no plate
Remember I was working hard now I'm just laughing to the bank
And that bitch big body like tank
I just got off the phone with my ex bitch
Say she jealous, she wanna get spanked
I just poured up four lines of that good wok and had me a nice little drive to the bank
Lately I'm feeling like Melly, got murder my mind, think I need see a shrink
In the trap house and I was like fourteen and I seen em cooking the crack in the sink
And this stack of money way too long for me and you to link
Spend that money so damn fast its gone before I even blink
But I save way more than I spend, I ain't as dumb as you think
I got racks, these diamonds wetter than a sink
Fur my coat, I think this shit called a mink
Dirty money from the trap
I feel like Ace
My life is different now
2019 almost caught a case
I heard you fucked that bitch, had to put a bag over her face
I heard yo family hate you, heard you a disgrace
If you wasn't with me starving, no you can't go no plate
Remember I was working hard now I'm just laughing to the bank
Bentley, no key push to start
And that bitch big body like tank
I just got off the phone with my ex bitch
Say she jealous, she wanna get spanked
The J. Geils Band's song "I Could Hurt You" is a melancholy reflection on the past and a bittersweet celebration of success. The lyrics, spoken from the perspective of someone who has risen from the trap to financial success, reflect his satisfaction with his new life and the knowledge that he has left the past behind. He indulges in the trappings of wealth, from the Bentley with push-start ignition to the fur coat he wears.
The singer can also be heard reflecting on his former friends who he says can't share in his wealth due to their not having been with him during his struggles. He talks about being associated with people who have criminal histories and hints at them potentially dragging him down with them. He also talks about his struggles with mental health, referring to the rapper YNW Melly and stating that he might need to see a therapist. The song's overall tone is one of triumph and celebration, showcasing the artist's ability to rise above their circumstances while also leaving the listener with a sense of the harsh reality of the trap.
Line by Line Meaning
Dirty money from the trap
The money earned from illegal activities and drug dealing
I feel like Ace
The rapper feels powerful and successful like the character Ace in the movie 'Paid in Full'
My life is different now
The artist's life has changed since he started earning more money and success in his career
2019 almost caught a case
The rapper almost got in trouble with the law in 2019
I heard you fucked that bitch, had to put a bag over her face
The artist heard that someone he knows had to cover a woman's face during a sexual encounter
I heard yo family hate you, heard you a disgrace
People close to the artist have expressed negative feelings about someone he knows, calling them a disappointment
If you wasn't with me starving, no you can't go no plate
The artist remembers that only those who struggled with him during tough times are allowed to benefit from his success
Remember I was working hard now I'm just laughing to the bank
The artist has worked hard to achieve his success and is now earning a lot of money
Bentley, no key push to start
The artist has a luxury car that starts without using a key
And that bitch big body like tank
A woman the artist knows has a large and impressive body like a tank
I just got off the phone with my ex bitch
The artist recently spoke to his ex-girlfriend
Say she jealous, she wanna get spanked
The artist's ex-girlfriend is jealous and wants to engage in sexual activity with him
I just poured up four lines of that good wok and had me a nice little drive to the bank
The artist consumed drugs and drove to the bank to handle financial matters
Lately I'm feeling like Melly, got murder my mind, think I need see a shrink
The artist feels a similar mindset to rapper YNW Melly, who was charged with murder, and may need psychological help
In the trap house and I was like fourteen and I seen em cooking the crack in the sink
The artist was exposed to drug use at a young age and witnessed the process of making crack cocaine
And this stack of money way too long for me and you to link
The artist has a lot of money that he cannot share with just anyone
Spend that money so damn fast its gone before I even blink
The artist spends money quickly and easily, and it seems like it disappears almost instantly
But I save way more than I spend, I ain't as dumb as you think
The artist is smarter with his money than people may assume
I got racks, these diamonds wetter than a sink
The artist has a lot of money and diamonds that shine brightly
Fur my coat, I think this shit called a mink
The artist believes that his fur coat is made from a type of animal called a mink
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jackson Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind