Joan Armatrading, The Weakness In Me | Throwback Vibez

In the sixth edition of Throwback Vibez (2026), we recollect and reflect on “The Weakness In Me” by Joan Armatrading.

Can you feel those vibes, those surefire Throwback Vibez?! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past. Ah, there is nothing like a good oldie to get you fired up! The records featured in this column feature gems from the 20^th century, with a few exceptions. All genres of music are welcome. In the sixth edition of Throwback Vibez (2026), we recollect and reflect on “The Weakness In Me” performed by Joan Armatrading.  

Word.  Matters of the heart had English singer/songwriter Joan Armatrading (b. 1950) feeling some type of way on “The Weakness In Me”.  It prompted the question, “Are you so strong, or is all the weakness in me?” Thought-provoking! “The Weakness In Me” is the fifth track from the Grammy-nominated musician’s 1981 album, Walk Under Ladders. Armatrading penned this not-at-all weak musical gem while Steve Lillywhite (b. 1955) produced it.

 

From the start, “The Weakness In Me” is fantastic.  Accompanying this ballad is warm piano, an active, robust bass line, and steady drums.  As the track progresses, more colorful music touches accentuate it, including keyboard and the grittier strums of guitar.  As awesome as the backdrop is, Joan Armatrading is the star of the show, wowing with her expressive, nuanced vocals.  Her tone is beautiful and pure.  Even though she’s commanding, Armatrading never under- nor over-sings.  She provides just the right amount of oomph and punch.  The melodies she sings are tuneful, while the lyrics are incredibly memorable and relatable.  “This old love has me bound,” Armatrading sings in the second verse, and adds, “But the new love cuts deep.” Poetic and incredibly sincere.  She concludes, within the same verse, “One of you has to fall / And I need you, and you.” The chorus is the section to beat, in all of its heartfelt glory:

“Why do you come here

When you know I’ve got troubles enough?

Why do you call me

When you know I can’t answer the phone

Make me like when I don’t want to

And make someone else some kind of an unknowin’ fool

You make me stay when I should not

Are you so strong or is all the weakness in me?” 

All told, “The Weakness In Me” is a stellar ‘80s pop/rock ballad.  It didn’t chart in the U.S. (only one Joan Armatrading song did, “Drop The Pilot”), but if you have never partaken of its sheer musical excellence, you are missing out.

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Joan Armatrading » Walk Under Ladders » UMG Recordings, Inc. » 1981

Joan Armatrading, The Weakness In Me: Throwback Vibez No. 6 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson, schubinger from Pixabay]

 

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