Haven't Got Time for the Pain

"Haven't Got Time for the Pain" is a song written by Carly Simon and Jacob Brackman that was first released on Simon's 1974 album Hotcakes. It was also released as a single, reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[1] It is also known for its use in commercials for the ibuprofen brand Medipren in the late 1980s.[2]

"Haven't Got Time for the Pain"
Single by Carly Simon
from the album Hotcakes
B-side"Mind on My Man"
ReleasedApril 1974
RecordedAutumn 1973 at The Hit Factory, New York City
GenreSoft rock
Length3:50 (Album Version) 3:36 (7” Single)
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Richard Perry
Carly Simon singles chronology
"Mockingbird"
(1974)		 "Haven't Got Time for the Pain"
(1974)		 "Attitude Dancing"
(1975)

Lyrics and music

The song, composed in the key of G major, contains a ii-V-I progression common in R&B and jazz.[3] It features a musical break reminiscent of Norman Whitfield's work with Motown Records, particularly The Temptations. Allmusic critic Joe Viglione described "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" as sounding like a sequel to "The Right Thing to Do," from Simon's previous album No Secrets from 1972.[4] The lyrics state that after a new, wonderful person has entered the singer's life, she no longer has time or reason for suffering over past lovers lost.[5] According to author Sheila Weller, the lyrics reflect Simon's life at the time - she has no more use for "self-obsession" or "existential angst."[6] Viglione describes Simon's vocals as being "perfectly in tune," and Weller describes the passion expressed by her "bleating voice" as undercutting the "vow of emotional peace" in the lyrics, which according to Weller "gives the song its edge."[4][6] Instrumentation includes piano, played by Simon herself, drums and string instruments, plus acoustic guitar played by Simon's then-husband James Taylor.[4] Weller describes the string interlude (arranged and orchestrated by Paul Buckmaster) as "operatic."[6] Viglione praises producer Richard Perry for "very cleverly accentuating Simon's emotions" by using classical instruments in the song.[4]

Reception

Rolling Stone Magazine critic Jon Landau described "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" as Simon's "best single to date"; this following such hit singles as "Anticipation" and "You're So Vain."[6] Billboard described it as a "pretty ballad" that is somewhat similar to some of her earlier songs and praised Simon's vocal performance.[7] Viglione describes it as "one of the classiest as well as one of the simplest" of the many successful singles released by female vocalists in 1974.[4] Music critic Robert Christgau called "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" "the most insidious let's-write-God-a-love-song to date".[8] Author Bruce Pollock described it as a "yuppie credo."[9]

Other appearances

"Haven't Got Time for the Pain" has been included on several Carly Simon compilation albums, including The Best of Carly Simon in 1975, Clouds in My Coffee in 1995, The Very Best of Carly Simon: Nobody Does It Better in 1999, Anthology in 2002, Reflections: Carly Simon's Greatest Hits and Carly Simon Collector's Edition in 2009.[4]

Vikki Carr covered "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" on her 1974 album One Hell of a Woman.[10] Lesley Gore covered it on her 1982 album The Canvas Can Do Miracles.[11]

References
  1. "Hotcakes awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  2. Magahem, J. (December 20, 1989). "Commercial Success". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  3. "Haven't Got Time For the Pain".
  4. Viglione, J. "Haven't Got Time for the Pain". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  5. Fornatale, P.; Ayres, B. (1998). All You Need Is Love. Fireside. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0684845296.
  6. Weller, S. (2008). Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--And the Journey of a Generation. Simon & Schuster. p. 443. ISBN 9780743491471.
  7. "Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. May 4, 1974. p. 60. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  8. Christgau, R. (1981). Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide. Da Capo Press. p. 353. ISBN 9780306804090.
  9. Pollock, B. (2014). Rock Song Index: The 7500 Most Important Songs for the Rock and Roll Era (revised ed.). Routledge. p. 135. ISBN 9781135462963.
  10. Theakston, R. "Ms. America/One Hell of a Woman". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  11. "The Canvas Can Do Miracles". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-05-14.
  12. http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.5057&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.5057.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.5057
  13. "Top 100 1974-06-29". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
  14. Bac-lac.gc.ca
  15. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
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