Fine and Mellow
Love's Bittersweet Dance: Fine and Mellow by Etta Jones
Lyrics
My man don't love me
Expresses dissatisfaction with her partner's lack of love.
Treats me oh, so mean
Describes how her partner treats her in a harsh and unkind manner.
My man don't he love me
Reiterates the absence of love from her man.
Treats me awful mean
Emphasizes the negative and cruel treatment she receives.
He's the lowest man
Portrays her partner as the worst man she has encountered.
That I've ever see
Reinforces the idea of her partner's low moral character.
He wears high drape pants
Details the distinctive appearance of her partner's clothing.
Stripes are really yellow
Highlights the specific color and style of his pants.
He wears high drape pants
Repeats the description of her partner's high drape pants.
Stripes area really yellow
Reiterates the color and style of the stripes on his pants.
But when he starts in to love me
Contrasts his appearance with his behavior when expressing love.
He's so fine and mellow
Describes the positive qualities of his love when he shows it.
Love will make you drink and gamble
Associates love with behaviors like drinking and gambling.
Make you stay out all night long
Expands on the negative consequences of love, such as staying out all night.
Love will make you drink and gamble
Reiterates the impact of love on one's actions and decisions.
Make you stay out all night long
Stresses the tendency of love to lead to undesirable behavior.
Love will make you do things
Acknowledges that love can drive individuals to do morally wrong things.
That you know is wrong
Emphasizes the conflict between love and ethical behavior.
But if you treat me right, baby
Conditions her commitment on being treated well by her partner.
I'll stay home every day
Expresses willingness to stay committed if treated with kindness.
If you treat me right, baby
Reiterates the desire for a positive and respectful relationship.
I'll stay home every day
Expresses the intention to remain faithful with proper treatment.
But you're so mean to me, baby
Conveys the partner's current mistreatment and its impact.
I know you're gonna drive me away
Anticipates being driven away due to the partner's unkindness.
Love is just like a faucet
Compares love to a faucet, implying its ability to be controlled.
It turns off and on
Associates the unpredictable nature of love with a faucet turning on and off.
Love is like a faucet
Reiterates the analogy of love being similar to a faucet.
It turns off and on
Emphasizes the fluctuating and uncertain nature of love.
Sometimes when you think it's on, baby
Reflects on the sudden and unexpected changes in the presence of love.
It has turned off and gone
Conveys the idea that love can disappear abruptly, leaving emptiness.
Comment