Got It Bad, And That Ain'T Good Poem by gershon hepner

“I got it bad, and that ain’t good, ”
sang Peggy Lee. She put it well,
for if you love me as you should
you wouldn’t always give me hell
for having it as bad as Peggy
by loving you which may be ain’t
because you’re tall and blonde and leggy,
which would be nice, since I’m no saint,
but rather since, to be specific,
you’re everything that I desire:
both good and bad you are terrific,
a heaven giving me hellfire.
But please don’t ask me, “Is that all
there is? ” for you will surely garner
from this man whom you hold in thrall
much more, and soon enough, mañana.


Peggy Lee, who died in Bel Air on January 21,2002, is credited with having a hand in writing more than 200 songs, in most cases as a lyricist. Among the hits she wrote were 'I Don't Know Enough About You, ' 'It's a Good Day, ' and 'Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me) .' Her name is indelibly linked with a number of songs, including 'Golden Earrings, ' 'Fever, ' 'Lover, ' 'Big Spender, ' 'You're My Thrill, ' 'I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good, ' 'Them There Eyes' and the haunting Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller tune that became her signature in later years, 'Is That All There Is? '


1/23/02