"Haven't Got Time for the Pain" is a song written by Carly Simon and

Jacob Brackman Jacob Brackman (born 1943) is an American writer, journalist, and musical lyricist. After graduating from Harvard University in 1965, he went to work for ''Newsweek'' as a journalist. He remained there for six months and was then hired by ''The ...

that was first released on Simon's 1974 album '' Hotcakes''. It was also released as a single, reaching No. 14 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Billboard

Adult Contemporary chart The Adult Contemporary chart is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine and lists the most popular songs on adult contemporary radio stations in the United States. The chart is compiled based on airplay data submitted to ''Billboard'' by sta ...

Lyrics and music

The song, composed in the key of

G major G major (or the key of G) is a major scale based on G, with the pitches G, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Its key signature has one sharp. Its relative minor is E minor and its parallel minor is G minor. The G major scale is: Notable composi ...

, contains a ii-V-I progression common in R&B and

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...

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. 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. 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." 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." Instrumentation includes piano, played by Simon herself, drums and string instruments, plus acoustic guitar played by Simon's then-husband

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, havi ...

. Viglione praises producer

Richard Perry Richard Van Perry (born June 18, 1942) is an American record producer. He began as a performer in his adolescence while attending Poly Prep, his high school in Brooklyn. After graduating from college he rose through the late 1960s and early 1970 ...

for "very cleverly accentuating Simon's emotions" by using classical instruments in the song. Simon was pregnant with her first child,

Sally Sally may refer to: People *Sally (name), a list of notable people with the name Military * Sally (military), an attack by the defenders of a town or fortress under siege against a besieging force; see sally port *Sally, the Allied reporting na ...

, during the recording sessions. The pregnancy prevented her from singing the highest notes of "Haven't Got Time for the Pain", so these notes were covered by a backing singer who sounded similar to Simon. The album was released with this uncredited replacement vocal, but after Sally was born in early 1974, Simon re-recorded the part, singing it herself for the 7-inch single release. The string-and-percussion outro at the end of the song was composed by cellist Paul Buckmaster and drummer

Ralph MacDonald Ralph Anthony MacDonald (March 15, 1944 – December 18, 2011) was a Trinbagonian-American percussionist, songwriter, musical arranger, record producer, steelpan virtuoso and philanthropist. His compositions include "Where Is the Love", a Gra ...

. Weller describes the string interlude as "operatic."

Reception

Rolling Stone Magazine ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its cove ...

'' critic

Jon Landau Jon Landau (born May 14, 1947) is an American music critic, manager, and record producer. He has worked with Bruce Springsteen in all three capacities. He is the head of the nominating committee for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and re ...

described "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" as Simon's "best single to date"; this following such hit singles as "

Anticipation Anticipation is an emotion involving pleasure or anxiety in considering or awaiting an expected event. Anticipatory emotions include fear, anxiety, hope and trust. When the anticipated event fails to occur, it results in disappointment (if posit ...

" and "

You're So Vain "You're So Vain" is a song written in 1971 by American singer and songwriter Carly Simon and released in November 1972. It is one of the songs with which Simon is most identified, and upon its release, reached No. 1 in the United States, Canada, ...

." '' Billboard'' described it as a "pretty ballad" that is somewhat similar to some of her earlier songs and praised Simon's vocal performance. '' Cash Box'' said that "Carly's vocals are as bright and sensitive as ever and work this ballad perfectly" and that "Richard Perry’s usual incredible production touch adds the necessary depth and makes this one of Carly’s most exciting single outings to date." 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. Music critic Robert Christgau called "Haven't Got Time for the Pain" "the most insidious let's-write-God-a-love-song to date". Author Bruce Pollock described it as a "

yuppie Yuppie, short for "young urban professional" or "young upwardly-mobile professional", is a term coined in the early 1980s for a young professional person working in a city. The term is first attested in 1980, when it was used as a fairly neu ...

credo." "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 ''Carly Simon Collector's Edition'' is a special edition compilation of Carly Simon songs on three discs in an attractive tin box, released by Madacy Entertainment, on March 31, 2009. The thirty songs are selections from Simon's first eleven s ...

'' in 2009.

In popular culture

The song was heard in commercials for the ibuprofen brand Medipren in the late 1980s.

Track listing

;7" single * "Haven't Got Time For The Pain" – 3:50 * "Mind On My Man" – 2:57

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Personnel

* Carly Simon – vocals, piano *

– acoustic lead guitar *Jimmy Ryan – acoustic rhythm guitar *

Klaus Voormann Klaus Otto Wilhelm Voormann (born 29 April 1938) is a German artist, musician, and record producer. Voormann was the bassist for Manfred Mann from 1966 to 1969, and performed as a session musician on a host of recordings, including " You're So ...

– bass guitar *

Jim Keltner James Lee Keltner (born April 27, 1942) is an American drummer and percussionist known primarily for his session work. He was characterized by Bob Dylan biographer Howard Sounes as "the leading session drummer in America". Howard Sounes. ''Dow ...

– drums * Lani Groves – backing vocals * Carl Hall – backing vocals *

Tasha Thomas Tasha Thomas ( – November 8, 1984) was an American singer and actress, known for her role as Aunt Em in the original Broadway production of ''The Wiz''. Thomas also had a hit single, "Shoot Me (With Your Love)", from her 1979 album, ''Midni ...

– backing vocals *

– percussion * Paul Buckmaster – string and woodwind arrangements, conductor *

– producer

References

External links

Carly Simon's Official Website
{{Authority control 1974 songs 1974 singles Carly Simon songs Songs written by Carly Simon Songs written by Jacob Brackman Song recordings produced by Richard Perry Elektra Records singles