Prez, who had wrecked his body with alcohol, was in such ill health he couldn't stand for the duration of the six-minute song. Holiday launched into the song and each sax man took a turn. Gerry Mulligan was first and played a solo in double-time. Webster was next, blowing a beautiful, breathy chorus. And then it was time for Prez. When it was Young's turn he wearily stood up, and locked eyes with Holiday as she sang a song with lines like "Love is like a faucet / It turns off and on". As Lady Day sang, Prez hit every note exactly in time with her and they took off like two eagles riding an air current as they rose higher and higher, way out of that studio and those television sets, circling around each other, Prez blowing the notes that sustained her as if he was the body to her soul, and then they came together in mid-air, as mating eagles will, and plummeted hundreds of feet earthward together, before breaking off and flying their separate ways. People in the control booth had tears in their eyes. It was the swan song of a bittersweet affection. After the show, the two had some brief backstage conversation and then they bid goodbye. They each had less than two years to live. Prez would die alone in a New York hotel, his body finally calling it quits. Not long after that, Holiday would be arrested on her deathbed for heroin possession.
When A Woman Loves A Man
Billie Holiday & Lester Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just another man
Doing what he can
But what does she care
When a woman loves a man
She'll just string along
All through thick and thin
It's always that way
When a woman loves a man
She'll be the first one
To praise him
When he's goin' strong
The last one to blame him
When everything's wrong
It's such a one sided game
That they play
But women are funny that way
Tell her she's a fool
She'll say, yes, I know
But I love him so
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
Tell I her she's a fool
She'll say, yes, I know
But I love him so
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
The lyrics of Billie Holiday's song "When a Woman Loves a Man" explores the universal theme of love and devotion in a relationship. The song depicts a woman's unconditional love towards a man regardless of his flaws and imperfections. The opening lines "Maybe he's not much, Just another man, Doing what he can" suggest that the man in question may not be exceptional or extraordinary, but the woman doesn't need him to be, as she loves him just as he is.
The following lines "But what does she care, When a woman loves a man" signify that when a woman is in love, she overlooks his shortcomings and imperfections because her love is genuine and pure. The next part of the song "She'll just string along, All through thick and thin Till his ship comes in, It's always that way When a woman loves a man" portrays the woman's loyalty and dedication towards her beloved. She remains with him through thick and thin and waits patiently for his success.
The chorus of the song declares the woman's unwavering support for her man. The lines "She'll be the first one, To praise him When he's goin' strong The last one to blame him When everything's wrong" highlights how a woman's devotion to her man is not based on his achievements alone but on his character and worth as an individual. The conclusion of the song "When a woman loves a man" again emphasizes the woman's unconditional love, which is not based on logic, reason or societal norms, but is simply an expression of her deepest emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe he's not much
Perhaps he's not exceptional
Just another man
Just a regular guy
Doing what he can
Trying his best
But what does she care
She doesn't mind
When a woman loves a man
Because she loves him
She'll just string along
She'll stand by him
All through thick and thin
Through good times and bad
Till his ship comes in
Until he's successful
It's always that way
That's how it is
When a woman loves a man
Because she loves him
She'll be the first one
She'll be the one
To praise him
To compliment and celebrate him
When he's goin' strong
All the times he's succeeding
The last one to blame him
He never gets blamed when things go wrong
When everything's wrong
When things don't go well
It's such a one sided game
It's an unbalanced relationship
That they play
The dynamic they have
But women are funny that way
But that's just how women are
Tell her she's a fool
Insult her intelligence
She'll say, yes, I know
She's aware
But I love him so
But she loves him deeply
And that's how it goes
That's just how the relationship is
When a woman loves a man
Because she loves him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MILT COLEMAN, RALPH RAINGER, BILLY ROSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Fecit
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