But On The Other Hand Baby by Ray Charles and His Orchestra (2024)

[1st Verse]

You know I'm hooked for you mama
That's why you sling your weight around

You Know I'm hooked for you mama
That's why you sling your weight around

But as long as your lovin' beats your hoggin'
Little Girl I'll never put you down

[2nd Verse]

You argue when I leave for work
You argue when I get home
Everything I try to do for you
You always say that I'm wrong
I bring you home all my money
Except the little I keep for expense
And when I get home to you mama you always tell me
''Ray you ain't got nooo sense''

[Chorus]

But on the other hand baby
You I can understand

Ah, But when you put your loving arms around me honey
You make me forget about everything

[3rd Verse]

I think about the lousy way you treat me
Your always-raising sin
I know that you know that I know
That you've got another man
Ah, Half the time that I'm at home
I have to go to a café and eat
And when you argue all night long
I have to go down to the den and sleep

[Chorus]

But on the other hand baby
Your loving eases all my pain

And when you put your loving arms around me honey
You make old Ray forget about everything

written by J. Dean [London UK]

In Ray Charles's song 'But On the Other Hand Baby', the lyrics depict an emotionally complex relationship between the singer and his lover. The singer is undoubtedly attached to his lover, even though she 'sling[s] [her] weight around' and argues with him all the time - both when he leaves for work and returns home. However, the singer loves her, no matter how much she bickers, and he continues to bring home all his money to her, except for some for expenses. Even when he gets home, she tells him that he has no sense. Despite all this, when she embraces him, her love helps him forget all his problems and the way she treats him.

The third verse introduces another layer to this relationship, as the singer reveals that he knows his lover, who always argues with him, is seeing another man. Half the time when he's at home, he has to leave to eat at a café because of her. He also has to go down to the den and sleep when she argues with him all night. The singer seems to be in a love-hate relationship with his lover, as he acknowledges the terrible way she treats him, but still sticks around because her love can ease his pain.

You know I'm hooked for you mama
You are aware that I am deeply in love with you, my dear.

That's why you sling your weight around
You take advantage of my love for you, which is why you behave recklessly.

But as long as your lovin' beats your hoggin'
As long as your love for me is greater than your selfishness, I will always stay by your side.

Little girl I'll never put you down
I will always support you and never leave you, even when times are tough.

You argue when I leave for work
You start arguments when I leave to go to work.

You argue when I get home
You continue the arguments when I come back home.

Everything I try to do for you
My efforts to do things for you and our relationship are met with resistance.

You always say that I'm wrong
You constantly criticize me and make me feel inadequate.

I bring you home all my money
I give you all the money I earn.

Except the little I keep for expense
I only keep a small amount for my personal expenses.

And when I get home to you mama you always tell me 'Ray you ain't got nooo sense'
When I come back home to you, you insult me and make me feel worthless.

But on the other hand baby
Despite your negative behavior, there is another side to you.

You I can understand
I am able to empathize with you and your struggles.

Ah, But when you put your loving arms around me honey
However, when you show me affection and care, everything else fades away.

You make me forget about everything
Your love has the power to make me forget about all the problems and challenges we face.

I think about the lousy way you treat me
I reflect on the poor treatment I receive from you.

Your always-raising sin
Your constant nagging and arguing causes me great distress.

I know that you know that I know
I am aware that you are aware that I know about your infidelity.

That you've got another man
You have another man in your life.

Ah, Half the time that I'm at home
Most of the time when I am at home.

I have to go to a café and eat
I have to go out to eat since you do not provide for me.

And when you argue all night long
When you spend the whole night arguing with me.

I have to go down to the den and sleep
I have to sleep in the den to escape from the incessant arguments.

But on the other hand baby
Despite all of this, there is still a positive aspect to our relationship.

Your loving eases all my pain
Your love has the power to ease all the emotional pain I experience.

And when you put your loving arms around me honey
Your affectionate embrace has a comforting effect on me.

You make old Ray forget about everything
Your love has the ability to make me forget about all the negative aspects of our relationship.