Barbara Mason (born August 9, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Barbara Mason (born August 9, 1947, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American soul[1] singer with several R&B and pop hits in the 1960s and 1970s, best known for her self-written 1965 hit song "Yes, I'm Ready".

Mason initially focused on songwriting when she entered the music industry in her teens. As a performer, though, she had a major hit single with her third release in 1965, "Yes, I'm Ready" (#5 pop, #2 R&B). She had modest success throughout the rest of the decade on the small Arctic label, run by her manager, top Philadelphia disc-jockey, Jimmy Bishop. She reached the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 again in 1965 with "Sad, Sad Girl", and "Oh How It Hurts" in 1967. A two-year stay with National General Records, run by a film production company, produced one album and four singles which failed to find success.[citation needed]

In the 1970s, Mason signed to Buddah Records and toughened her persona, singing about sexual love and infidelity with an uncommon frankness at the time in songs like "Bed and Board", "From His Woman to You", and "Shackin' Up" and would interrupt her singing to deliver straight-talking 'raps' about romance. She also continued to write some of her new material. Curtis Mayfield produced her on a cover version of Mayfield's own "Give Me Your Love", which restored her to the pop Top 40 and R&B Top Ten in 1973; "From His Woman to You" (the response to Shirley Brown's single "Woman to Woman") and "Shackin' Up", produced by former Stax producer Don Davis in Detroit were also solid soul sellers in the mid-1970s.

Mason also sang vocals on the tracks "Sheba Baby," "I'm In Love With You," "A Good Man Is Gone," and "She Did It" on the soundtrack for the 1975 Pam Grier film, Sheba, Baby.[2]

After leaving Buddah Records in 1975 after two top ten R&B hits, she only dented the charts periodically on small labels. They included "I Am Your Woman, She Is Your Wife", which was produced in 1978 by Weldon McDougal who had produced her first major success, "Yes I'm Ready", and later in 1984, "Another Man" on West End Records.

Mason started to concentrate on running her own publishing company in the late 1980s, but continues to perform occasionally. She released a new CD, Feeling Blue, in September 2007. Mason was still performing to sold-out audiences in 2016. Her most recent show was at the Terrance Theater in Long Beach, California. Mason was inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame on March 1, 2016.

Me And Mr. Jones
Barbara Mason Lyrics

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Me and Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on
We both know that it's wrong
But it's much too strong to let it go now

We meet every day at the same cafe
Six-thirty, I know she'll be there
Holding hands, making all kinds of plans
While the jukebox plays our favorite song

Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones
We got a thing going on
We both know that it's wrong
But it's much too strong to let it go now

We gotta be extra careful
That we don't build our hopes too high
'Cause she's got her own obligations, and so do I
Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones

Well, it's time for us to be leaving
And it hurts so much, it hurts so much inside
And now she'll go her way, I'll go mine
But tomorrow we'll meet at the same place, the same time
Me and Mrs., Mrs., Mrs. Jones
(Same place)
We both know that it's wrong
(Same time)
Everyday at the same place
(Same place)
We got a thing going on, you know it's wrong
(Same time)
But it's much too wrong

(Same place)
Me and Mrs. Jones

Overall Meaning

The song "Me and Mr. Jones" by Barbara Mason is about a forbidden love affair between two people, Mrs. Jones and the singer. The song talks about the strength of their bond despite being aware of the societal judgment they would face. The chorus repeats the line, "We both know that it's wrong, but it's much too strong to let it go now" which shows that the characters are aware of the stakes of their affections yet can't help their feelings. The lyrics offer a sense of urgency as the time they spend together is limited, but the passion and love shared between the two characters are genuine.

The song's opening lines "Me and Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on" describe the intimacy and secrecy of their relationship, and the subsequent verses illustrate scenes of the couple meeting every day at the same cafe, holding hands, and making plans for their future together. The lyrics reveal the complexities of their partnership as they try to navigate their hidden love affair while also trying to manage their individual responsibilities. The anticipation and longing between the two characters is palpable in the lyrics as they plan to meet again the next day.

Line by Line Meaning

Me and Mrs. Jones, we got a thing going on
Mrs. Jones and I are involved in an affair

We both know that it's wrong
We both recognize that this kind of relationship violates moral standards

But it's much too strong to let it go now
We can't stop ourselves from continuing our relationship, despite our knowledge of its immorality

We meet every day at the same cafe
We have an arrangement to meet at a specific café every day

Six-thirty, I know she'll be there
I know the exact time she will arrive, at 6.30 pm

Holding hands, making all kinds of plans
We engage in intimate behavior and discuss future plans together.

While the jukebox plays our favorite song
We share moments of pleasure and happiness facilitated by music.

We gotta be extra careful
We have to be cautious and avoid getting caught

That we don't build our hopes too high
We should have modest expectations and not anticipate more than the relationship's limits allow.

'Cause she's got her own obligations, and so do I
We both have pre-existing commitments to other people that we need to respect.

Well, it's time for us to be leaving
It's time for us to separate and leave the café.

And it hurts so much, it hurts so much inside
We feel intense emotional pain at the thought of parting ways.

And now she'll go her way, I'll go mine
We'll go our separate ways, back to our respective daily lives.

But tomorrow we'll meet at the same place, the same time
We plan to continue meeting discretely and tryst at the same café at the same time every day.

We both know that it's wrong
We are aware that our relationship is wrong, illicit, and against morals.

Everyday at the same place
We meet with each other without fail at the same café.

We got a thing going on, you know it's wrong
We have a romantic and sexual relationship despite its immorality.

But it's much too wrong
Our feelings for each other are too strong, and we can't resist continuing our affair.

Me and Mrs. Jones
An unmistakable reference to Mrs. Jones and me, as a reflection of the singer's implicit social status inferiority to Mrs. Jones

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARY GRANT GILBERT, KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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