I Got a Problem
Love's Triangle Blues: Albert Collins' Struggle with Choices
Lyrics
I've got a problem, I say I got a problem
Expressing the acknowledgment of having a problem.
I got a problem people, I've got a problem
Reiterating the presence of a problem and addressing it to people.
I got a problem 'bout my woman
Specifically mentioning a problem related to the speaker's woman.
I got a problem 'bout my wife
Extending the problem to the speaker's wife.
An' all you, when you see me stand here, two's in my life1
Suggesting the existence of two important individuals in the speaker's life.
I know you might be wonderin', did I wreck my life?
Anticipating curiosity about whether the speaker's actions have negatively impacted his life.
Well, I got a problem 'bout my woman, ha!
Reiterating the problem concerning the speaker's woman.
I got a problem 'bout my wife
Repeating the problem in the context of the speaker's wife.
Now my wife is number one, my woman is number two
Establishing a hierarchy between the speaker's wife and woman, with the wife being number one.
My woman would do things for me, that my wife wouldn't do
Highlighting actions of the woman that the wife wouldn't do, creating a dilemma for the speaker.
'Cause I dig my wife, but you understand
Expressing affection for the wife but acknowledging the complexities of relationships.
Sometime it takes two y'all, to satisfy one man
Suggesting that sometimes multiple individuals are needed to satisfy one man.
My problem started out
Indicating the beginning of the speaker's problem.
When I started messin' 'round with number three
Revealing involvement with a third person (number three) leading to complications.
She called up my wife, an' told on my woman an' me
Describing the consequences of the speaker's actions, involving communication between wife and woman.
Now my wife packed up her clothes
Narrating the wife's reaction by packing up and leaving.
Went home to her mother
Describing the wife's action of returning to her mother.
My woman went off, an' found another lover
Highlighting the woman's response of finding another lover.
I've got a problem, uh, huh!
Reiterating the presence of a problem.
I got a problem with my wife
Restating the problem specifically with the wife.
Got a problem with my woman, yeah
Restating the problem specifically with the woman.
Got a problem with my wife (talk, talk, talk)
Repeating the problem with both the wife and woman.
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