Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City

Bobby "Blue" Bland

About Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City

"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" is a 1974 R&B song, written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh, and first recorded by Bobby "Blue" Bland for the ABC Dunhill album Dreamer. While Bland scored a minor hit with the song, landing in the top ten of the R&B charts, it is perhaps best known through cover versions and samples. While it is ostensibly a love song, some critics have also heard it as a lament on urban poverty and hopelessness; the cover version by reggae singer Al Brown even changes most of the lyrics to magnify this emphasis. The song is featured on the soundtracks to the 2009 film Fighting and the 2011 crime drama The Lincoln Lawyer. 


Year:
1974
3:53
3,557 
#15

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Ain't no love in the heart of the city
Ain't no love in the heart of town
Ain't no love and it's sure 'nough a pity
Ain't no love cause you ain't around

When you were mine
Oh, I was feeling good
Cause you lovlied up
This whole neighborhood

But now that you're gone
You know the sun don't shine
From the city hall to the county line
That's why I said

Ain't no love in the heart of the city
Ain't no love in the heart of town
Ain't no love and it sure is a pity
Ain't no love cause you ain't around

Every place that I go
Oh, it seems so strange
Without you there
Things have changed

The nights are cold

There's a blanket of gloom
Another trick I saw
In my lonely room

I said ain't no love
In the heart of the city
Ain't no love in the heart of town
Ain't no love, ain't any pity
Ain't no love cause you ain't around

And now that you're gone
Oh, the sun don't shine
From the city hall to
The county line, I said

Ain't no love in the heart of the city
Ain't no love in the heart of town
Ain't no love, it sure is a pity
Ain't no love cause you ain't around
Cause you ain't around

Ain't no love in the heart of the city
Ain't no love in this great big old town
Ain't no love and ain't it a pity
Ain't no love cause you ain't around

Ain't no love in the heart of the city
Ain't no love in the heart of this town

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Bobby "Blue" Bland

Robert Calvin Bland (born January 27, 1930) better known as Bobby "Blue" Bland, is an American singer of blues and soul. He is an original member of the Beale Streeters, and is sometimes referred to as the "Lion of the Blues". Along with such artists as Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Junior Parker, Bland developed a sound that mixed gospel with the blues and R&B. more »

3 fans

Written by: Dan Walsh, Michael Alan Price

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City" belongs to the genre of blues and soul music.
Release Date
The song was first released in 1974.
Parent Album
It is part of Bobby "Blue" Bland's album titled "Dreamer."
Billboard Ranking
In 1974, the song peaked at number 9 on the Billboard R&B chart.
Song Composer
The song was written by Michael Price and Dan Walsh.
Cover Versions
Several artists have covered this song, including Whitesnake in 1984, Jay-Z in 2001, and Black Label Society in 2011.
Commercial Use
It has been used in TV commercials for brands like Nissan and Amazon Kindle.
Notable Mentions
Jay-Z's sample of this song in "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)" was produced by Kanye West.
Live Performances
Whitesnake's live performance of this song was included in their 1980 debut EP "Snakebite."
Tribute
The song also featured as a tribute during the fourth episode of the TV series "The Deuce," commemorating the legacy of Bobby "Blue" Bland after his death in 2013.
Music Style
The tune is characteristic of Bobby "Blue" Bland's melding of Southern blues and soul, which was often melodic yet gritty.
Iconic Line
The song is often recognized by its iconic line "Ain't no love, in the heart of the city, ain't no love, in a part of town."
Popular Reception
Upon its release, the song gained popularity for its robust soulful rhythm and deeply emotive lyrics.

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