- Careless Love
"Careless Love" is a traditional
song of obscure origins.Blues versions are popular; the lyrics change from version to version, but usually speak of the heartbreak brought on by "careless love." Frequently, the narrator threatens to kill his or her wayward lover.:Love, oh love, oh careless love,:You fly to my head like wine, :You've ruined the life of many a poor girl,:and you nearly wrecked this life of mine
"Careless Love" was one of the best known pieces in the repertory of the
Buddy Bolden band inNew Orleans, Louisiana at the very start of the 20th century, and has remained ajazz standard andblues standard . Hundreds of recordings have been made in folk, blues, jazz, country, and pop styles; some of the more notable versions include those byBessie Smith ,Marilyn Lee ,Ottilie Patterson ,Pete Seeger , and George Lewis.Big Joe Turner recorded it several times over his long career.Fats Domino made a recording of it in1951 , and it has also been sung byElvis Presley , Entrance,Louis Armstrong ,Lonnie Johnson ,Dave Van Ronk ,Leadbelly ,Janis Joplin ,Siouxsie Sioux ,Joan Baez ,Ray Charles ,Dr. John ,Madeleine Peyroux ,Bob Dylan andJohnny Cash ,Frankie Laine , andHarry Connick Jr. W. C. Handy's "Loveless Love"
W. C. Handy's song "Loveless Love" uses the familiar melody of "Careless Love". The lyrics compare loveless love to
synthetic goods andartificial food ::Oh love oh love oh loveless love:Has set our heart on goal-less goals:From milkless milk and silkless silk:We are growing used to soul-less souls
:Such grafting times we never saw:That’s why we have a pure food law:In everything we find a flaw:Even love oh love oh loveless love
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