I Gotta Have My Baby Back
Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard & Ray Price Lyrics
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I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
Can't sleep, can't eat because I lost my sweet, baby, sweet
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
Alone in the tavern, people all around laughing
And dancing, paintin' the town
The jukebox is playing songs about you
Oh baby, come on home
Without my baby, I just can't get along
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
Oh baby, come on home
Without my baby, I just can't get along
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
The song I Gotta Have My Baby Back is a classic country tune by Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price. The lyrics express the desperate longing of the singer for his lost love. The song opens with the singer expressing how much he misses his love and how much it hurts him to be without her. The chorus repeats the line "I gotta have my baby back," emphasizing the intensity of the singer's longing. The second verse takes place in a tavern where the singer is alone, surrounded by people laughing and dancing. The jukebox plays songs that remind him of his love and make him feel blue.
The song's lyrics are straightforward and relatable, as most people have felt the pain of losing someone they love. The tune has a classic country sound, with a slow tempo, a simple melody, and twangy guitar chords. The vocals of each of the three singers complement each other perfectly, with Willie Nelson's distinct voice adding a touch of melancholy to the song.
The song was originally released in 1982 as part of the album "San Antonio Rose" by Willie Nelson and Ray Price. The album received widespread critical acclaim, and the song became a country music classic. The song has since been covered by various artists, including Hank Williams Jr. and George Strait.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby, I miss you so very much, it hurts me, baby
I long for my sweetheart so dearly that the pain of being apart is overwhelming me.
I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
I cannot go on without my love, I must have them by my side again.
Can't sleep, can't eat because I lost my sweet, baby, sweet
The absence of my beloved has left me restless and unable to take care of myself.
Alone in the tavern, people all around laughing
I am surrounded by others enjoying themselves, but I am stuck in my loneliness.
And dancing, paintin' the town
While everyone else is having fun, I am consumed by thoughts of my lost love.
The jukebox is playing songs about you
Even the music seems to be mocking me by reminding me of my love.
Songs with memories making me blue
These songs only deepen my sadness and nostalgia.
Oh baby, come on home
I am pleading with my love to return to me.
Without my baby, I just can't get along
I am unable to function normally without my beloved.
I gotta, I just gotta, I gotta have my baby back
My desire to be reunited with my love is an absolute necessity for my wellbeing.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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