I Got It Bad
The Red Holloway/Clark Terry Sextet Lyrics

The lyrics to The Red Holloway/Clark Terry Sextet's song I Got It Bad express the feeling of being deeply and hopelessly in love with someone who does not treat you as well as they should. The singer acknowledges that others may advise her to move on and forget about the person causing her pain, but she cannot help her feelings. She is so madly in love with this person that she cannot bear the thought of living without them, despite the fact that they do not treat her with the sweetness and gentleness that she deserves.

The song's opening lyrics, “Though folks with good intentions, Tell me to save my tears” sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer knows that she is in a bad situation, but cannot help herself. She is a victim of her own emotions and in love with someone who doesn't love her back in the same way. The lines, “But when the fish are jumpin', And Friday rolls around, My man an' I, we gin some, We pray some, and sin some” illustrate the complexity of the situation. The singer and her lover have good times together but also engage in destructive behavior.

Overall, the lyrics express the agony of being in love with someone who does not love you back in the same way. The singer knows she is in a bad situation but cannot help her emotions. The song is a powerful lament on the pain that love can cause.