I Got It Bad
Toni Tennille Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Though folks with good intentions
Tell me to save my tears
Well I'm so mad about him
I can't live without him

Never treats me sweet and gentle
The way he should
I've got it bad

And that ain't good

My poor heart is so sentimental
Not made of wood
I've got it so bad
And that ain't good

But when the fish are jumpin'
And Friday rolls around
My man an' I, we gin some
We pray some, and sin some

He don't love me like I love him
The way he should
I've got it bad
And that ain't good

Yes I've got it bad
And that ain't good

Overall Meaning

In Toni Tennille's song "I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good", the lyrics convey a sense of deep love and longing for a man, despite his lack of affection in return. The singer acknowledges that others may tell her to move on and save her tears, but she cannot help feeling madly in love with this man who does not treat her gently or show her the love and attention she deserves. Her heart is sentimental and emotional, and she recognizes that she has it bad and it just isn't good for her well-being.

In the second verse, the singer describes how she and her man spend their time, even though he does not love her in the same way. They enjoy each other's company and engage in activities like gin, prayer, and sin. The song ends with the singer repeating the assertion that she has it bad and that it isn't good for her, emphasizing the power of her emotions even though they are not reciprocated in the same way.

Overall, the lyrics of the song convey a sense of desperation and longing for love even when it is not returned in the same way. The sentiment is relatable for many listeners who have experienced unrequited love, and Toni Tennille's voice adds to the emotional depth of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Though folks with good intentions Tell me to save my tears Well I'm so mad about him I can't live without him
Although people tell me to stop crying and move on, I am still deeply in love with him and cannot imagine my life without him.

Never treats me sweet and gentle The way he should I've got it bad And that ain't good
He does not treat me as lovingly as I deserve. I am deeply in love with him despite his mistreatment towards me.

My poor heart is so sentimental Not made of wood I've got it so bad And that ain't good
My heart is very sensitive and emotional, and I cannot help but love him deeply despite any hardships in our relationship.

But when the fish are jumpin' And Friday rolls around My man an' I, we gin some We pray some, and sin some
Although our relationship may have its ups and downs, we still enjoy spending time together and engage in various activities, both good and bad.

He don't love me like I love him The way he should I've got it bad And that ain't good
I love him deeply, but he does not return the same amount of love and affection. Despite this, I cannot help but still love him.

Yes I've got it bad And that ain't good
I am hopelessly in love with him, and this is not a good situation for me to be in emotionally.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, GUY WEBSTER/WEBSTER MUSIC
Written by: DUKE ELLINGTON, PAUL WEBSTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS