Gettin' You
just.one.duran Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sonny Boy Williamson I (John Lee)
(Big Bill Broonzy)
Big Bill Broonzy - vocal
John Lee Williamson - harmonica
Chicago July 30, 1942
With Blind John Davis - piano, Big Bill Broonzy - guitar
Alfred Elkins - imb
The Essential Recordings of Sonny Boy Williamson
Indigo Recording Ltd IGOCD 2014
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
Yeah, the day I met her
Long, old lonesome day
Why don't you hear me talkin'?
Pretty mama, listen to what I'm sayin'
We-ell, that day I found you
A long old lonesome day
Well, an' it seem like tomorrow
I'll be the same old way
Well, tell me baby
What's gettin' wrong wit'ch you?
Why don't you hear me, pretty mama
Listen to what I'm sayin', bay-by?
Tell me baby
Baby, what's gettin' wrong wit'ch you, now?
Well, ya don't treat me nothin'
Baby, like you used to do
(You got it John, take it an' keep it!)
(harmonica - Sonny Boy & instrumental)
Now, an remember babe
I kneeled down on your flo'?
Why don't you hear me
Or listen to what I'm sayin'?
Yee-eah, remember baby
When I kneeled down on the floor, now?
A-now but if you forgive me this time
I won't never do that no mo'
Now, but I'm goin' downtown
See the chief police
Why don't ya hear me talkin'
Or listen to what I'm sayin'?
Yee-eay, goin' downtown
A-see the chief police
Now because these women 'round here
A-won't let me see no peace.
~
The song "Gettin' Wrong With You" by Sonny Boy Williamson is a classic blues song that speaks to a familiar theme of unrequited love. In the opening verse, the singer reflects on the day he met the woman who has captivated his attention, and he implores her to listen to him. He muses that despite having found her that long, lonesome day before, tomorrow he will continue to feel the same sense of emptiness that prompted him to seek her attention in the first place.
The refrain of the song, "Tell me baby, what's getting wrong wit'ch you?" underscores the singer's sense of confusion and frustration as he tries to understand why the woman he loves no longer treats him the way she used to. He has kneeled on her floor and begged for forgiveness, but she still won't listen. In the final verse, the singer suggests he will go to the police to solve his problem, suggesting perhaps that he is fed up with the way other women treat him when they see his attachment to this one woman.
Overall, the song presents a melancholy portrait of love that is desired but unattainable. The repetitive nature of the refrain emphasizes the singer's sense of bewilderment and captures the emotional intensity of his desire.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, the day I met her
On the day I met her
Long, old lonesome day
It was a long and lonely day
Why don't you hear me talkin'?
Why aren't you listening to me?
Pretty mama, listen to what I'm sayin'
Listen to what I'm telling you, dear
We-ell, that day I found you
That was the day I first met you
A long old lonesome day
It was a very long and lonely day
Well, an' it seem like tomorrow
It feels like tomorrow will be the same as today
I'll be the same old way
I'll be feeling just as lonely and down as today
Well, tell me baby
Hey, tell me, baby
What's gettin' wrong wit'ch you?
What's going on with you?
Why don't you hear me, pretty mama
Why aren't you listening to me, honey?
Listen to what I'm sayin', bay-by?
Pay attention to what I'm telling you, my love
Tell me baby
Tell me, baby
Baby, what's gettin' wrong wit'ch you, now?
What's happening with you these days, my love?
Well, ya don't treat me nothin'
You're not treating me as well as you used to
Baby, like you used to do
Like you did in the past, my love
(You got it John, take it an' keep it!)
(spoken to harmonica player John Lee Williamson to continue playing)
(harmonica - Sonny Boy & instrumental)
(harmonica solo and instrumental music play)
Now, an remember babe
Hey, remember, my dear
I kneeled down on your flo'?
When I got down on my knees on your floor?
Why don't you hear me
Why aren't you listening to me?
Or listen to what I'm sayin'?
Pay attention to what I'm telling you, my love
Yee-eah, remember baby
Yes, my love, remember
When I kneeled down on the floor, now?
When I got down on my knees on the floor, my dear
A-now but if you forgive me this time
Now, if you forgive me this time
I won't never do that no mo'
I promise I won't do it again
Now, but I'm goin' downtown
Now, I'm going downtown
See the chief police
To see the police chief
Why don't ya hear me talkin'
Why aren't you listening to me?
Or listen to what I'm sayin'?
Pay attention to what I'm telling you, my love
Yee-eay, goin' downtown
Yes, I'm going downtown
A-see the chief police
To see the police chief
Now because these women 'round here
It's because all these women around here
A-won't let me see no peace.
Don't let me have any peace.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind