23 FEBRUARY 1966
This was a song about a man in prison, and is supposedly loosely based on an old prison work chant titled 'Rosie', which I'm actually familiar with and have to say that the word 'loosely' needs to be emphasised here. Nevertheless it is a typically cool bit of slow-burning hard-edged rock from the Animals, very much in the style of their preceding singles 'We Gotta Get out of This Place' and 'It's My Life'. And of course the subject matter was in keeping with songs such as 'House of the Rising Sun'. The Animals were not known for love songs.
The excellent video clip below is from a US TV show, and shows them still doing the 'matching band suits' thing that had been so common in '64-'65.
B-side: 'Outcast'; 'You're On My Mind' (USA)
Released: February 1966
Highest chart position: #12 (UK), #34 (US)
Length: 3:44
Label: Decca F12332; MGM 13468 (USA)
Producer: Tom Wilson
'Sittin' here lonely like a broken man
Sell my time and do the best I can
I wasn't boss this around in me
I don't want your sympathy, yeah
Oh baby, oh baby, I just need your tender lovin'
To keep me sane in this burnin' oven
When my time is up, be my ....[?]
Like Adam's work on God's green earth
My reaper, my reaper baby, ....[?] is my reaper, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby baby baby c'mon c'mon c'mon, yeah
Ice cold waters runnin' in my brain
They drag me back to work again
Pains and blisters on my minds and my hands
From living daily with those canvas bags
Thoughts of freedom their drivin' me wild
And I'll by happy like a new born child
We'll be together, girl, you wait and see
No more walls to keep your love from me
Yeah, can't you feel my love
Baby, baby, need you, squeeze you,
Noooo-body but, nobody but, you girl, I love you, need you
All right, I said everything's gonna be all right
And if you don't believe what I say
Just listen baby and I'll tell you
Can't you feel my love
Can't you see my skill
Can't you yell my love
It's getting louder
It's getting louder
A little closer, yeah
I said baby, I need you, c'mon, squeeze, please
Lord, I love you, I need you, yeah
Yeah, right by my side
I need you here by my side
But I can't help it baby
But, I'll be home soon
I'll be home soon, yeah
All right, whoa:..'