Not Cause I Wanted To
Bonnie Raitt · Slipstream [2012]
Well I'm calling you
'Cause you deserve to know
You are not the reason that I had to go,
Late at night in these hotel rooms
I think of all I've lost,
And what I've put you through
If I knew the reason
I would tell you why somehow
The feeling slipped away
I only did what I had to do
Not 'cause I wanted to.
I've got a guilty heart
And a troubled mind
No matter where I go
They're never far behind
I'd like to think
That you'd forgiven me
But forgiveness ain't enough
To wash my conscience clean
Oh, and if I knew the reason
I would tell you why somehow
The feeling slipped away
I only did what I had to do
Not 'cause I wanted to.
I only did what I had to do
Not 'cause I wanted to.
'Cause you deserve to know
You are not the reason that I had to go,
Late at night in these hotel rooms
I think of all I've lost,
And what I've put you through
If I knew the reason
I would tell you why somehow
The feeling slipped away
I only did what I had to do
Not 'cause I wanted to.
I've got a guilty heart
And a troubled mind
No matter where I go
They're never far behind
I'd like to think
That you'd forgiven me
But forgiveness ain't enough
To wash my conscience clean
Oh, and if I knew the reason
I would tell you why somehow
The feeling slipped away
I only did what I had to do
Not 'cause I wanted to.
I only did what I had to do
Not 'cause I wanted to.
Not Cause I Wanted To
Recorded on Bonnie Raitt's 2012 album Slipstream, 'Not Cause I Wanted To' stands as a poignant addition to her extensive discography. The track exemplifies Raitt's signature blend of bluesy sensibility and soulful vocal delivery, characteristic of her work spanning from her early 1970s recordings to her later releases. While the song does not appear on her most celebrated albums from the 1970s or 1980s, it maintains the emotional depth and acoustic integrity that defined her career. Released decades after her initial fame, the recording reflects her continued mastery of the genre and her ability to craft intimate, resonant performances that resonate with listeners across generations.