The song "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)" by Gladys Knight is a cover of a popular jazz song written by Duke Ellington and Paul Francis Webster. The lyrics describe a person who is in a troubled relationship and feels unappreciated by their partner. They express how their partner never treats them sweet and gentle the way they should. The person admits that they have strong feelings for their partner, but the relationship is not reciprocated in the same way. The line "My poor heart is sentimental, not made of wood" suggests that the person is emotionally vulnerable and longs for love and affection. The repeated phrase "I got it bad, and that ain't good" emphasizes their emotional suffering and dissatisfaction in the relationship. The song mentions the routine of the weekends, where the person and their partner pray, drink gin, and sometimes engage in sinful behavior together. Despite these moments, the person realizes that their partner does not love them the way they love their partner. The lyrics also express the person's dilemma of being advised by well-intentioned people to save their tears and move on from the relationship. However, the person acknowledges that they are glad they are madly in love with their partner and cannot imagine a life without them. They pray to the Lord above, asking for their partner to love them the way they should. The comparison to a lonesome weeping willow lost in the woods and the act of hugging a pillow suggest the person's loneliness and longing for affection. Overall, the song portrays a person deeply in love but feeling unfulfilled and unappreciated in their relationship. They express their emotional turmoil and hope for their partner's love and attention.
