About the song
Janis Joplin, the iconic American singer known for her powerful vocals and raw, uninhibited stage presence, left an indelible mark on the music industry. Among her many soulful ballads, “Careless Love” stands out as a poignant and deeply personal expression of unrequited love.
Released in 1971, “Careless Love” is a cover of a traditional blues song that has been performed by numerous artists over the years. However, Joplin’s rendition is widely considered to be the definitive version, capturing the essence of the song’s heartbreak and longing with a raw emotional intensity that few others can match.
The song opens with a slow, melancholic piano riff, setting the stage for Joplin’s impassioned vocals. Her voice, imbued with a world-weary weariness, weaves a tale of unrequited love, of a heart that has been repeatedly broken and yet still yearns for connection.
Joplin’s lyrics are simple yet profound, capturing the universal pain of unrequited love. She sings of a lover who is “careless with my love,” who has taken her heart and left her with nothing but emptiness. Despite this betrayal, she cannot deny her lingering feelings, confessing that she still “cares for you so.
The song’s emotional intensity builds as Joplin’s vocals soar, her voice becoming a raw instrument of emotion. She pleads with her lover to return her affection, to see the depth of her love for him. Yet, she knows that her pleas are in vain, and the song ends with a sense of resignation and despair.
“Careless Love” is more than just a breakup song; it is a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the face of rejection. Joplin’s passionate performance lays bare the depths of human emotion, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, we are capable of profound love and longing.
The song’s legacy has been cemented by its inclusion in numerous films, television shows, and documentaries. It has also been covered by countless artists, each bringing their own interpretation to Joplin’s iconic version.
“Careless Love” remains a timeless classic, a poignant ballad that speaks to the universal experience of unrequited love. Joplin’s raw, emotional performance has ensured that the song will continue to touch hearts for generations to come.
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Lyrics
Oh love, oh love, oh careless love,
Oh love, oh love, oh careless love.
Oh love, oh love, oh careless love,
Now now don’t you see what your careless love has done.
Well you worried my mother till she died
And you caused my father to lose his mind.
Now damn you I’m goin’ to shoot you, Lord, I’m gonna shoot you both right down,
I’m gonna spare no one of you child till you spin next dyin’.
Oh love, oh love, oh careless love.
Oh love, oh love, oh careless love.
Oh love, oh love, oh careless love
Oh Lord, don’t you see what, what your careless love has done.
Oh yeah.
Careless love now don’t know see how you follow me down,
Careless love, don’t you see how you follow me down.
Well, you robbed me out of my silver, Lord, and out of my gold
Ever since you been a-ridin’ by side.
Oh love, oh love, oh careless,
Oh love, yes oh love, oh careless love.
Oh love, I said love, oh careless love now
Don’t you see what your careless love has done, yeah.