Hard To Handle

Album: Shake Your Money Maker (1990)
Charted: 45 26
Play Video
  • Baby here I am
    I'm the man on the scene
    I can give you what you want
    But you gotta' come home with me

    I have got some good old lovin'
    And I got some more in store
    When I get through throwin' it on
    You gotta' come back for more

    Boys will come along a dime by the dozen
    That ain't nothing but ten cent lovin'
    Pretty little thing, let me light your candle
    'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now, yes I am

    Action speaks louder than words
    And I'm a man of great experience
    I know you've got another man
    But I can love you better than him

    Take my hand don't be afraid
    I'm gonna prove every word I say
    I'm advertising love for free
    So you can place your ad with me

    Boys will come along a dime by the dozen
    That ain't nothing but ten cent lovin'
    Pretty little thing, let me light your candle
    'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now, yes I am

    Yeah
    Hard to handle now
    Oh baby

    Baby, here I am
    I'm the man on the scene
    I can give you what you want
    But you gotta' come home with me

    I've got some good old lovin'
    And I got some more in store
    When I get through throwin' it on you
    You got to come a-runnin' back for more

    Boys will come along a dime by the dozen
    That ain't nothing but ten cent lovin'
    Pretty little thing, let me light your candle
    'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now, yes I am

    Hard
    Hard to handle now
    Oh yeah, yeah yeah yeah

    Boys will come along a dime by the dozen
    That ain't nothing but ten cent lovin'
    Pretty little thing, let me light your candle
    'Cause mama I'm sure hard to handle now, yes I am

    Yeah
    So hard to handle now
    Oh yeah

    Baby
    Good lovin'
    Baby, baby
    Ohh, good lovin'
    I need good lovin'
    I got to have it, oh yeah
    Yeah
    So hard to handle, now, yeah Writer/s: Allen Alvoid Jr. Jones, Alvertis Isbell, Otis Redding
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 25

  • Messcenger from Texas"Now. Yessir. Am."
  • Mike from Los AngelesTom Jones did it better!
  • Steve H from Atlanta AreaI saw the Black Crowes at the Fox in Atlanta. They played Too Hot to Handle with a 6 horn group. It was amazing. I was on the 3rd row.
  • George from Vancouver BcI always heard "come on baby, let me light our cannipulls" & I don't see that in the lyrics -- it sounds NOTHING like "light your candles"
  • Tricia Short from BirminghamHe is saying, "get's around".
  • Song Lover from Boston, MassachusettsWhat movie does this song appear in as a karaoke scene? Totally bothering me that I can't remember!
  • Harold from Tamaqua, PaJeff, it does not sound like "Yes I Am"

    It most certainly is "GETS AROUND" even though many lyrics sites disagree. I do not have terrible hearing.
  • Don from Sevierville, TnTom Jones also recorded this song.
  • Jeff from Concord, CaI know the lyrics at the end of the chorus say: "Yes I am." But I've listened to the Otis and Black Crowes versions hundreds of times and I swear it sounds like: "Yes-a-ram." What's up with that?
  • Bender from East West Virginia, VaA band out of Saratoga Springs called Chet J. Flocko and The Drunks do a cool version on there CD entitled "Sugar Laced Icicles".
  • Joycemorrison from Phthank you Otis, for writing this song. guaranteed to energize the hell outta me everytime i hear it. The Black Crowes... gotta love 'em.
  • Amy from Rapid City, SdEtta James has a fantastic version of this song, too.
  • Jimmy from Birmingham, MiI have the Grateful Dead cover of it...I personally love the bluesish/light rock guitar messing around stuff about it. they did an excellent job- its great to listen to!
  • Merve from Stockton-on-tees, EnglandThe Crowes have a horn section on the new 'Freak n' Roll' DVD, and Hard to handle sounds reeal awesome.
  • Rob from Vancouver, CanadaI like the version in "the commitments" movie. Pretty close to Otis.
  • Rudy from Long Beach, CaI have to agree with Shane, I thought it was awesome when I heard her singing it. I've been trying to find a copy of it, anyone have any ideas?
  • Johhny from London, MtThe solo is amazing on the song.
  • Brettt from Voodoo Lounge, Txthe grateful dead version is really long
  • Joshua from Twin Cities, MnSeveral years ago I heard an alternate mix of "Hard to Handle" which includes a horn section. I've neither heard it nor been able to find it on CD since then.
  • Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI love Ottis redding's version. The Black crows' version rocks to. Where can you find the greatful dead one again? I'm not a huge fan of there's but that'd be cool to here.
  • Shane from Van Buren, ArSurely the most surreal version of this song is by Mae West. She performed it in her 70's as a big dance number in the film "Myra Breckenridge".
  • Andy from Cleveland, OhIt's not so hard to find Grateful Dead covering this song anymore. You can find it among the bonus tracks on the "Festival Express" DVD. A very cool DVD to add to your collection, and there is a lot of Dead material on it circa 1970.
  • Andy from London, EnglandThe Crowes version is vitually note-for-note the same as SNAFU's from their album "All Funked Up" c.1975. I had a vinyl copy back then (long gone and now regarded as 'rare', sob!) and played it to death - when I first heard the Crowes version, I thought it must be SNAFU's reissued cos it's so close. "All Funked Up" has been reissued on CD by AngelAir, I just found, and I'm ordering one as it was a cracking album. Can't wait!
  • Barry from Chicago, IlThe Dead were doing down right crazy versions of Hard to Handle in the late 60s and early 70s with Ron "Pigpen" McKernen on vocals, percussion, organ, and god knows what else...This is most likely where the black crowes got their inspiration to cover the Ottis Redding classic.
  • Matthew from Raleigh, NcThe Greatful Dead did a great cover of this song back in the early eighties.
    It can only be found on bootlegs, and one of the "backstage pass" videos
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. Televangelists

Jesus Thinks You're a Jerk: Rock vs. TelevangelistsSong Writing

When televangelists like Jimmy Swaggart took on rockers like Ozzy Osbourne and Metallica, the rockers retaliated. Bono could even be seen mocking the preachers.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TV

90210 to Buffy to Glee: How Songs Transformed TVSong Writing

Shows like Dawson's Creek, Grey's Anatomy and Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the way songs were heard on TV, and produced some hits in the process.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.