Careless Love (Traditional - Reimagined)

[Voice: Male bari-tenor, G2–E4. Weathered, intimate blues storyteller. Traditional sections mournful and melodic; rap sections conversational, reflective, and increasingly resolute.] [Intro — slow, intimate] Love, oh love, oh careless love, Oh love, oh love, oh careless love, You fly through my head like wine. Oh love, oh love, oh careless love, You fly through my head like wine. [Verse 1] Love, oh love, oh careless love, You wrecked the life of many a poor girl. You wrecked the life of many a poor girl, And you caused me to weep, You caused me to mourn, You caused me to lose my happy home. [Chorus] Careless love, careless love, Oh, how you trouble me. Careless love, careless love, You brought me misery. You fly through my head like wine, Then leave me wondering why. Oh love, oh love, oh careless love, Why won't you let me be? [Rap 1 — restrained] I saw the warning signs, I just called them something sweet. Called the chaos passion, Called the running back a need. Thought if I loved harder, I could make the wrong things right, But you can't turn a warning Into a promise overnight. Sometimes we don't fall in love, Sometimes we fall into a dream. We paint another person As the person that we need. Then reality comes knocking When the fantasy is gone, And you realize forever Wasn't strong enough to hold on. [Verse 2] I love my baby, And I know she loves me, But sometimes that old careless love Won't let a poor heart be. It follows me in the morning, It follows me at night, And every time I try to leave it, It pulls me back inside. [Chorus] Careless love, careless love, Oh, how you trouble me. Careless love, careless love, You brought me misery. You fly through my head like wine, Then leave me wondering why. Oh love, oh love, oh careless love, Why won't you let me be? [Rap 2 — firmer] Maybe I was careless too. That's the bitter part. You can't blame another person For every crack inside your heart. I ignored what I knew, I stayed when I should've gone, Kept calling it devotion While the damage carried on. Love can build a house, Love can tear that house apart. Love can make you feel ten feet tall, Then bring you to your knees in the dark. But love ain't the villain. Love ain't always to blame. Sometimes two wounded people Keep passing around the same pain. [Verse 3] I love my baby, But my baby don't love me. I love my baby, But my baby don't love me. I tried to make her happy, But she wouldn't let me be. [Bridge] You caused me to weep, You caused me to mourn, You caused me to lose The home I once called home. But I'll carry what I learned When I finally walk away: A heart can heal from careless love If you give it room to stay. [Rap 3 — building] So here's what I'm taking When I leave this broken door: Love deserves some wisdom, Not just wanting something more. Don't mistake obsession for devotion, Don't mistake control for care. And don't hold somebody captive Just because you need them there. If love comes back tomorrow, I'll meet it standing tall. I'll give it both my hands, But I won't give it all. Love should make you human, Not erase you from the frame. And if it asks me to disappear, I won't answer to that name. [Final Chorus — full] Careless love, careless love, Oh, how you trouble me. Careless love, careless love, You brought me misery. You fly through my head like wine, But now I know the sign. Oh love, oh love, oh careless love, You don't get the rest of mine. [Outro — intimate] Love, oh love, oh careless love, You fly through my head like wine. Love, oh love, oh careless love... This time, I'll be fine.