With one of her first singles turning into a national hit, 1962's "Let Me Down Easy", Detroit-raised LaVette would seem a natural soul star, but she was never able to cut an album deal. In 1972 her album A Child of the Seventies was shelved by Atlantic Records, then thought lost forever in a fire. She eked out a living on the European festival circuit, occasionally surfacing such as with the disco single "Doin' the Best that I Can", but remained obscure until French soul collector Gilles Petard tracked down the lost masters and persuaded Atlantic to let him release them on his vanity label as Souvenirs. A live album and 2005's cover album I've Got My Own Hell to Raise followed.
With the release of The Scene of the Crime, Bettye Lavette inches closer to the mainstream, or at least a much bigger cult following. Backed by The Drive-by Truckers and released on -Anti, The Scene of the Crime is recorded at the legendary FAME studios in Muscles Shoals, Alabama. The same place as her lost album. The connection doesn't end there - Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers is the son of David Hood, who played on the 1972 album.
In 2009, she appeared at President Barack Obama's Inaugural Celebration, singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" with Jon Bon Jovi. It was televised globally.
He Made a Woman Out of Me
Bettye Lavette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A little bit south of Montgomery
Mama worked at the big house
And daddy he worked for the County
I never had no learnin'
Until I turned 16
When Joe Henry come up the river, y'all
Law, made a woman out of me
I used to tease Joe Henry
I guess I teased to hard
And one day it all happened
Right in my own backyard
Joe Henry had his way
He wouldn't set me free
I'm hear to tell everybody
That the man made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
When I think back to that day
So long ago
I get a little feelin' on my mind
Even though it hurt me
There's one thing I know
When he left, he left him a woman behind
When I meet another young man
Wantin' to love and run
My mind goes back to Joe Henry James
And a heck of a job he done
Ain't no other man let me down
You see I been set free
Ever since way back yonder
When Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
The lyrics to Bettye Lavette's song "He Made a Woman Out of Me" depict the transformation of the singer from a young, naive girl to a mature and confident woman through a romantic relationship with a man named Joe Henry. The singer was born into poverty and lacked education until meeting Joe Henry at the age of 16. Joe Henry is portrayed as a powerful and dominant figure, who "had his way" with the singer and made her into a woman. Despite the pain caused by the relationship, the singer acknowledges that she has been "set free" and has become a stronger person as a result.
The song can be seen as a commentary on gender and power dynamics in romantic relationships, particularly in a historical context where women often had fewer opportunities and less agency. The singer's lack of education and upbringing in poverty leave her vulnerable to Joe Henry's advances, and her transformation can be interpreted as a seizing of agency and empowerment in the face of difficult circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born on a levy
I was born near the riverbank.
A little bit south of Montgomery
It was located just south of Montgomery.
Mama worked at the big house
My mother worked at the big, affluent home nearby.
And daddy he worked for the County
My father worked for the County.
I never had no learnin'
I didn't have an education.
Until I turned 16
I didn't receive an education until I turned 16.
When Joe Henry come up the river, y'all
When Joe Henry came up the river, all of this changed.
Law, made a woman out of me
Joe Henry made me a woman.
Lord, he made a woman outta me
This is a repeated expression of appreciation of Joe Henry, and emphasizes how profound the transformation was.
I used to tease Joe Henry
I used to flirt with Joe Henry.
I guess I teased too hard
I took my teasing too far, and things escalated.
And one day it all happened
One day, things got out of hand.
Right in my own backyard
It happened on my own property.
Joe Henry had his way
Joe Henry forced himself onto me.
He wouldn't set me free
Joe Henry refused to let me go, making me feel trapped.
I'm here to tell everybody
I want to share my story and let others know about what happened to me.
That the man made a woman outta me
Joe Henry made me grow up and become a woman through his actions.
When I think back to that day
When I recall the experience with Joe Henry.
So long ago
Even though it happened a while ago now.
I get a little feelin' on my mind
The experience still haunts me sometimes.
Even though it hurt me
Although the experience hurt me, my transformation into a more mature woman could not be undone.
There's one thing I know
The one thing I can be certain of is that I became a woman that day.
When he left, he left him a woman behind
Joe Henry left me behind as a woman.
When I meet another young man
When I encounter another young man interested in me.
Wantin' to love and run
Wanting to love, but not be committed.
My mind goes back to Joe Henry James
I can't help but think of Joe Henry and my transformation.
And a heck of a job he done
Joe Henry did a remarkable job in transforming me into a woman.
Ain't no other man let me down
No other man has let me down like Joe Henry did.
You see I been set free
Despite everything, I am now free and have moved on from Joe Henry.
Ever since way back yonder
Since the transformation by Joe Henry.
When Joe made a woman outta me
Joe Henry had a lasting impact on my life and made me grow up and mature.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DON HILL, FRED B BURCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
shyman99
The strength of material from the late 60's and early 70s is on display here. We could musically feed ourselves from just this era and be satisfied for the rest of our lives.
ThorSmith
Wow! With a LIVE vocal just as good as her record! I can't thank you enough for uploading this! ❤❤❤
imnokid
Thank you so much for posting. Bettye does not remember doing this show. What was the name of the show? Any other of her performances in the pipeline?
Paul in Long Beach
Holy Cow. What a gem.
Thanks a lot.
Breezy Akanan
Wow! I thought that I had heard every song hit song and every popular recording artist of the 70’s I practically lived in record stores in Chicago and Gary. I collected all genres of music.
John Spurn
This is just as good as ry cooders smokin' version on the crossroads soundtrack 👌
CoCo B
This is even better! Check out Bobbie Gentry's version. Great one, too.
Yor Maaar .Daniele
FANTASTIC
DCRAEXON
The audience seems shocked, Is this a therapy session?
muata chikwendu
Awesome I still DJ this one I am 67