A member of the National Youth Jazz Orchestra during her youth, Winehouse signed to Simon Fuller's 19 Management in 2002 and soon recorded a number of songs before signing a publishing deal with EMI. She also formed a working relationship with producer Salaam Remi through these record publishers. Winehouse's debut album, Frank, was released in 2003. Many of the album's songs were influenced by jazz and, apart from two covers, were co-written by Winehouse. Frank was a critical success in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize. The song "Stronger Than Me" won her the Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Winehouse released her follow-up album, Back to Black, in 2006, which went on to become an international success and one of the best-selling albums in UK history. At the 2007 Brit Awards it was nominated for British Album of the Year, and she received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song "Rehab" won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys, including three of the General Field "Big Four" Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for "Rehab"), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
Winehouse was plagued by drug and alcohol addiction. She died of alcohol poisoning on 23 July 2011, at the age of 27. After her death, Back to Black temporarily became the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century. VH1 ranked Winehouse 26th on their list of the 100 Greatest Women in Music.
Intro
Amy Winehouse Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You been here 7 years longer than me
Don't you know you supposed to be the man,
Not pal in comparison to who you think I am,
You always wanna talk it through - I don't care!
I always have to comfort you when I'm there
But that's what I need you to do - stroke my hair!
'cause' I've forgotten all of young love's joy,
Feel like a lady, but you my lady boy,
You should be stronger than me,
But instead you're longer than frozen turkey,
Why'd you always put me in control?
All I need is for my man to live up to his role,
Always wanna talk it through- I'm ok,
Always have to comfort you every day,
But that's what I need you to do - are you gay?
I've forgotten all of young love's joy
Feel like a lady, but you my lady boy
He said 'the respect I made you earn -
Thought you had so many lessons to learn'
I said 'You don't know what love is - get a grip!' -
Sounds as if you're reading from some other tired script
I'm not gonna meet your mother anytime
I just wanna rip your body over mine
So tell me why you think that's a crime
I've forgotten all of young love's joy
Feel like a lady, but you my lady boy
In this song, Amy Winehouse sings about the power dynamic in her relationship with her partner. She begins by expressing frustration that, despite being in the relationship for a shorter amount of time, she is the one who is emotionally stronger and more capable of dealing with issues. She challenges her partner to step up and be the man in the relationship, rather than constantly relying on her for emotional support.
However, despite these requests for more support, Amy also reveals that there are times when she relies on her partner to comfort her. She notes that she needs him to stroke her hair, indicating a desire for physical affection and reassurance. She acknowledges that her partner may feel emasculated by her strength and independence, but still expects him to fulfill his traditional gender role in the relationship.
As the song progresses, Amy becomes increasingly frustrated with her partner's behavior. She accuses him of wanting her to earn his respect, and suggests that he doesn't really understand what love is. She also makes a sexual reference, saying that she just wants to "rip [his] body over [hers]." Despite her frustration, however, she still feels vulnerable and feminine in relation to her partner.
Line by Line Meaning
You should be stronger than me
Amy is addressing her partner, saying that he should be more emotionally stable and stronger than her.
You been here 7 years longer than me
Amy comments on the longevity of her partner's experience and how it is surprising that he hasn't learned as much from these years as she has.
Don't you know you supposed to be the man,
Amy questions her partner's masculinity, suggesting that he seems less capable of handling situations than she is.
Not pal in comparison to who you think I am,
Amy is saying that her partner should not be in awe of her, but should respect her as an equal and not as someone he puts on a pedestal.
You always wanna talk it through - I don't care!
Amy is expressing her frustration with her partner's constant need to talk things over and how she sometimes finds it unnecessary.
I always have to comfort you when I'm there
Amy seems to often play the role of comforter and caregiver in the relationship.
But that's what I need you to do - stroke my hair!
Amy is expressing a desire for her partner to be more touchy-feely and provide her with physical comfort.
'cause' I've forgotten all of young love's joy,
Amy is recalling what it was like to experience the excitement and passion of young love.
Feel like a lady, but you my lady boy,
Amy is calling her partner a lady boy, which suggests that he does not live up to her expectations of a manly figure.
But instead you're longer than frozen turkey,
Amy points out how her partner is incapable of satisfying her sexual desires, hence the 'frozen turkey' comparison.
Why'd you always put me in control?
Amy wonders why her partner always expects her to be the one to take control in the relationship.
All I need is for my man to live up to his role,
Amy expresses her need for her partner to live up to the expectations and duties of a man in the relationship.
Always wanna talk it through- I'm ok,
Amy is saying that she's fine and doesn't always need to talk through their issues like her partner wants to.
Always have to comfort you every day,
Amy is once again referencing the caretaker role she often plays in their relationship.
But that's what I need you to do - are you gay?
Amy questions her partner's sexuality mocking him for not being masculine enough.
He said 'the respect I made you earn -
Amy provides a creative component to the dialogue before noting a past conversation. Her partner believes that he made her earn his respect, but she disagrees.
Thought you had so many lessons to learn'
Amy's partner thinks she still has a lot to learn in regards to the respect he feels he gave her. However, Amy does not see the situation this way.
I said 'You don't know what love is - get a grip!' -
Amy retorts by telling her partner that he does not understand love, and that he should come to his senses.
Sounds as if you're reading from some other tired script
Amy accuses her partner of regurgitating lines he has heard before, perhaps from his previous relationship(s).
I'm not gonna meet your mother anytime
Amy makes it clear that she does not want to take their relationship any further than what it is, denying a connection to her partner's family.
I just wanna rip your body over mine
Amy expresses her desire to be physically intimate with her partner.
So tell me why you think that's a crime
Amy is questioning why her partner is opposed to her sexual advances.
I've forgotten all of young love's joy
Amy remembers fondly the innocent love of her youth.
Feel like a lady, but you my lady boy
The song ends on a similar note as to when it first began. Amy links her femininity with her partner's lack of masculinity, a sharp contrast to her previous partners and her own expectations.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Amy Winehouse, Salaam Remi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrJason005
You can tell from the first 20 seconds that she got really strong Jazz inspirations
@prodcdebeatz7205
She is so talented. She was slightly before my time and so growing up I only knew the struggles she faced. Now listening to her, what an artist. The world really lost a great one.
@brandonhealy7158
I’m the same as you. I love Amy’s music :)
@noabatmelech
Best album ever!!!! How I miss her honesty, she was frank from head to toe
@aaronsilver1755
Amy’s live gigs are always better than her albums that’s what I love it shows how good she was without trying
@milagrosgonzalezcerutti6245
Ella tenía una voz tan hermosa, que enamoraba a cualquiera. Hoy por hoy se habla más de su muerte que de su música. Se merecía a alguien que la amara más que Blake. Falleció siendo tan joven...
Pero su voz es lo que quedará en la historia de la música por siempre
@SPASPAWIZ
Amy is a dream and a tragedy. ❤️
@VaughnDoyle
I love the jazzy skatting in the beginning.
@aliasseila2098
I love her and this beat♡
@martingibbons7070
Sad loss to the world. R I P AMY