Songwriter David Lee spotted Ann in 1971, although not a well known artist, Ann recorded a series of great soul records for the legendary Nashville soul DJ and label-owner John R (John Richbourg).
Her best known songs, "You've Been Gone Too Long" and "You're Losing Me", were, and still are, great favourites on the Northern Soul scene.
I'm His Wife
Ann Sexton Lyrics
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And every time there′s a certain kind of woman
Who's always going around trying to steal other women′s husbands
And sure enough there is one in this town
Who thinks she's got my man
Well listen girls
This is from the real side
And you think you beatin' my time
The other six nights he′s with me
And we get along just fine
So before you take him for granted
Let′s get one thing straight
I'm his one and only wife
And you′re just a one night date
He works hard each and every day
Brings his paycheck home on time
He may give you some spending change, but most of it is mine
So girl, can't you see you′re wrong
I know you'll understand
You′re gambling on loving a married man
While holding a losing hand
So leave that married man alone
Oh girl
Go on and find one of your own, that's what you wanna do now
You think that he's yours, yes you do
By the pleasure that you′re seeking
But I′ve got papers on him
Girl I'm gonna keep him
We got our home, our driver′s car
And we're happy can′t you tell?
All you're looking forward to is one night in some motel
I know when he takes you out, you′re as happy as can be
But he hurries to get it over with
And rushes back home to me! (Cautiously!)
I'm his wife and girl you're just a friend
I′m his wife, you get off and get on and you a backstreet friend
I′m his wife and girl you just can't win
I′m his wife and a loser in the end, yeah yeah
I'm his wife and girl you′re just a friend
I'm his wife and a loser in the end
The lyrics of "I'm His Wife You're Just A Friend" by Ann Sexton are a bold assertion of a woman's control over her husband against the advances of another woman. The song speaks to the frustration felt by wives when their husbands are pursued by other women. The singer warns the other woman that she may see the man once a week, but the rest of the time, he is with his wife. The singer is essentially telling the other woman that there is no hope for her to win the man's heart because he is already taken. The singer warns the woman that she is gambling on loving a married man and is holding a losing hand.
The song also portrays the wife as having the upper hand in the relationship, as she knows what her husband likes and how to keep him happy. She also implies that she holds the financial purse strings since the husband brings his paycheck home on time, and most of the money is hers. This portrayal of the wife as a strong, independent woman may have been empowering for women in the 1970s when the song was released, a time when women were fighting for equal rights.
Line by Line Meaning
You know
The singer is addressing someone who may be aware of the situation she's about to describe.
And every time there's a certain kind of woman / Who's always going around trying to steal other women's husbands
There are women who actively pursue other women's husbands.
And sure enough there is one in this town / Who thinks she's got my man
There is a woman in the singer's town who believes she is in a relationship with the singer's husband.
Well listen girls / This is from the real side
The artist is about to give a realistic perspective on the situation.
He sees you one night a week / And you think you beatin' my time
The artist's husband spends one night a week with the other woman, but she believes she is winning because she thinks he is spending more time with her than with his wife.
The other six nights he's with me / And we get along just fine
The singer's husband spends the majority of his time with his wife and their relationship is strong.
So before you take him for granted / Let's get one thing straight
The singer is warning the other woman to not take her husband for granted.
I'm his one and only wife / And you're just a one night date
The artist is the only legal spouse of the man, whereas the other woman is just a casual fling.
He works hard each and every day / Brings his paycheck home on time / He may give you some spending change, but most of it is mine
The artist's husband is the primary breadwinner and the other woman may receive some gifts or money, but the majority of his earnings go to his wife.
So girl, can't you see you're wrong / I know you'll understand / You're gambling on loving a married man / While holding a losing hand
The artist is trying to make the other woman realize that she is in a position of disadvantage by being with a married man and that she is unlikely to win.
So leave that married man alone / Oh girl / Go on and find one of your own, that's what you wanna do now
The singer is advising the other woman to end the relationship with the married man and find someone who is available.
You think that he's yours, yes you do / By the pleasure that you're seeking / But I've got papers on him / Girl I'm gonna keep him
The other woman may feel like the artist's husband belongs to her because of the pleasure she receives from him, but legally he belongs to his wife and she intends to keep him.
We got our home, our driver's car / And we're happy can't you tell? / All you're looking forward to is one night in some motel
The singer and her husband have a stable life together, whereas the other woman is only interested in a brief encounter in a motel room.
I know when he takes you out, you're as happy as can be / But he hurries to get it over with / And rushes back home to me! (Cautiously!)
The other woman may think that her affair with the singer's husband is special, but in reality he is just rushing to finish it so he can return home to his wife.
I'm his wife and girl you're just a friend / I'm his wife, you get off and get on and you a backstreet friend / I'm his wife and girl you just can't win / I'm his wife and a loser in the end, yeah yeah / I'm his wife and girl you're just a friend / I'm his wife and a loser in the end
The singer reiterates that she is the only wife of the man and the other woman is just a friend with benefits. She also warns that no one can win in this situation, and that ultimately she will be the winner and the other woman will lose.
Writer(s): C. Curry, W. Doggett
Contributed by Logan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.