I've Got To Use My Imagination
The Pips Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've really got to use my imagination
To think of good reasons
To keep on keepin' on (keep on keepin' on)

Got to make the best of (best of, best of) a bad situation (bad situation)
Ever since that day (ever since that day) I woke up and found
That you were gone (gone, gone)
Darkness all around me
Blackin' out the sun
Old friends call me
But I just don't feel like talkin' to anyone

Emptiness has found me
And it just won't let me go
Go right on livin'
But why, I just don't know
(You're too strong not to keep on keeping on) Yes, I am

(You're too strong not to keep on keeping on) staring down reality
Don't do me no good
'Cause our misunderstanding
Is too well understood (too well understood)

Such a sad, sad season (sad, sad season)
When a good love dies (when a good love dies)
Not a day goes by (not a day goes by)
When I don't realize (realize)

I've really got to use my imagination (I've got to use)
To think of good reasons (I've got to use)
To keep on keepin' on (I've got to use)

I've got to make the best of (best of, best of) a bad situation (bad situation)
Ever since that day (ever since that day) I woke up and found that you were gone

(You're too strong not to keep on keeping on)
(I've got to use my imagination) my imagination
(I've got to use my imagination) to think of good reasons
(I've got to use my imagination) to keep on pushin' on
I said I've got to make the best of (best of, best of)
Of a bad situation (bad situation)
Ever since that day (ever since that day) I woke up and found that you were gone




(You're too strong not to keep on keeping on) I really got to use
(I've got to use) that imagination, gotta think of good reasons

Overall Meaning

The Pips's song "I've Got To Use My Imagination" is an emotional ballad that speaks of the struggles of moving forward after a breakup. The lyrics express the need to use one's imagination to find the motivation to keep on going during tough times. The song begins with the singer acknowledging the difficulty in finding good reasons to keep moving forward. The chorus reasserts the need to use one's imagination to get through such tough times.


The first verse continues the theme of having to make the best out of a bad situation since the singer has woken up to find that their lover is gone. The second verse describes how the darkness surrounding them has made them push away from their friends and how emptiness has taken over. The last section of the song conveys the bitter-sweetness of memories of a failed love.


Overall the lyrics suggest that imagination is the only way to push through and find motivation when life gets tough. The singer exemplifies this by mustering courage to keep on and embark on a new beginning by making the best of bad circumstances.


Line by Line Meaning

I've really got to use my imagination
I need to be creative in my thinking


To think of good reasons
To find positive motivation to continue


To keep on keepin' on
To persevere and not give up


Got to make the best of (best of, best of) a bad situation
Turn a negative situation into a positive one


Ever since that day (ever since that day) I woke up and found that you were gone
Since my loved one left me, everything seems bleak


Darkness all around me
My depression has taken over


Blackin' out the sun
The world seems to have lost its brightness and happiness


Old friends call me
People are trying to reach out to me


But I just don't feel like talkin' to anyone
But I am too overwhelmed to interact with anyone


Emptiness has found me
I am consumed by loneliness


And it just won't let me go
I can't escape this feeling


Go right on livin'
It's important to keep going


But why, I just don't know
But it's hard to see the point in continuing without my loved one


(You're too strong not to keep on keeping on) Yes, I am
I know I need to be strong and keep moving forward


Staring down reality
Facing the harsh truths of my situation


Don't do me no good
But it doesn't help me to dwell on it


'Cause our misunderstanding
Because of the communication issues between us


Is too well understood (too well understood)
The reasons for our separation are all too clear


Such a sad, sad season (sad, sad season)
A time of deep sadness


When a good love dies (when a good love dies)
When a once-great relationship comes to an end


Not a day goes by (not a day goes by)
Every day I am reminded of my loss


When I don't realize (realize)
When I don't fully comprehend the depth of my sadness


I said I've got to make the best of (best of, best of)
I know I need to make the most of what I have


Of a bad situation (bad situation)
Even though things are tough


(I've got to use my imagination) my imagination
I need to be creative and find new ways to cope


(I've got to use my imagination) to think of good reasons
To find positive motivations for continuing


(I've got to use my imagination) to keep on pushin' on
To keep persevering even when it's hard


I really got to use (You're too strong not to keep on keeping on) I've got to use
I absolutely have to make use of my strength to keep going


That imagination, gotta think of good reasons
I need to be resourceful and find positive reasons to keep living




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barry Goldberg, Gerry Goffin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@ivanhamilton

I've really got to use
My imaginationㅤ
To think of good reasons
To keep on keepin' on (keep on keepin' on)
Got to make the best of (best of, best of)
Of bad situation (bad situation)
Ever since that day (ever since that day)
I woke up and found
That you were gone (gone, gone)
Darkness all around me
Blockin' out the sun
Old friends call me
But I just don't feel like talkin' to anyone
Emptiness has found me
And it just won't let me go
I go right on livin'
But why, I just don't know (you're too strong, got to keep on keepin' on)
Yes, I am
Staring down reality
Don't do me no good
'Cause our misunderstanding
Is too well understood (too well understood)
Such a sad, sad season (sad, sad season)
When a good love dies (when a good love dies)
Not a day goes by (not a day goes by)
When I don't realize (realize)
Ooh, ooh, oh, I've really got to use (I've got to use)
My imagination (I've got to use)
To think of good reasons (I've got to use)
To keep on keepin' on (I've got to use)
I've got to make the best of (best of, best of)
Of bad situation (bad situation)
Ever since that day (ever since that day)
I woke up and found out
That you were gone (you're too strong, got to keep on keepin' on)
I really have got to use (I've got to use)
A real imagination (I've got to use)
To think of good reasons (I've got to use)
To keep on pushin' on (I've got to use)
I said I've got to make the best of (best of, best of)
Of bad situation (bad situation)
Ever since that day (ever since that day)
I woke up and found out
That you were gone (you're too strong, got to keep on keepin' on)
Oh, I've really got to use (I've got to use)
My imagination (I've got to use)
To think of good reasons (I've got to use)
To keep on pushin' on



All comments from YouTube:

@KrishnaKumar-bz5uu

The first omen got me here

@luminyam6145

Is there anything better than Gladys Knight and the Pips? No, no there is not.

@lillianmunster4734

I Agree with Ya 💯

@michaelfurminger6432

Man, that chick can sing!

@lillianmunster4734

I Agree with Ya 💯👏❤️

@ruthdixon7807

fantastic...whether on vee jay, motown or buddha, they were consistent hit makers.

@darlenezamora1277

Thank you Miss Gladys Knight. ⚘

@lillianmunster4734

🌹❤️🌹🎶⭐

@melodysanger103

THIS WEEK IN MUSIC HISTORY

50 YEARS AGO (October 9, 1973): Gladys Knight and the Pips released their album “Imagination” (#1 R&B album charts; #9 pop album charts). This was their first album on Buddah Records after they left Motown a few months ago.
[10/10/2023]

@thomasporter5965

Amen and amen sisters & brothers!!!! So powerfully uplifting in the deepest despair!

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