Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known as Chaka Khan, and… Read Full Bio ↴Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known as Chaka Khan, and frequently referred to as the "Queen of Funk", is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus.

In 1964, at the age of 11, Khan formed her first musical group, the Crystalettes. While still in high school, she joined the Afro-Arts Theater, a group which toured with Motown great Mary Wells; a few years later, she adopted the African name Chaka Khan while working on the Black Panthers' breakfast program. After quitting high school in 1969, Khan joined the group Lyfe, soon exiting to join another dance band, the Babysitters — neither was on the fast track to success, but her fortunes changed when she teamed with ex-American Breed member Kevin Murphy and Andre Fisher to form Rufus.

Debuting in 1973 with a self-titled effort on the ABC label, Rufus was among the preeminent funk groups of the decade. Distinguished by Khan's dynamic vocals, the group earned half a dozen gold or platinum albums.

While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career. Her signature hits, both with Rufus and solo, include "Tell Me Something Good", "Sweet Thing", "Ain't Nobody", "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire".

Ladies
Chaka Khan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can't forget it
Can't forget it
I think I'm fallin' in love
Can't forget it
Can't forget it
I think I'm fallin' in love, yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Can't forget it)
Ooh, I think I'm fallin' in love

Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Ooh, you make me feel like a lady, baby
Ooh, I think I'm fallin' in love
Ooh, you make me feel like a lady, baby
Ooh, I think I'm fallin' in love

Oh, my, what a sweet surprise
I'm so surprised by your heart and mind
And I spy, somethin' in your eyes
That makes me secure about you and I

I have searched so far and wide, can't seem to find
Got so sick and tired of boys wastin' my time
And then you took my hand

Ooh, you make me feel like a lady, baby (Ooh)
Ooh, I think I'm fallin' in love (Oh-oh-oh)
Ooh, you make me feel like a lady, baby (Baby, baby, baby, baby)
Ooh, I think I'm fallin' in love (Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

I can't forget it, can't forget it
Ooh, ayy, ooh, ayy, ooh, so nice
I had to get you, now that I got you
I can't, can't, I can't let you go

Woah, I feel like a lady, baby
Yes, I do
I've been waitin' for a man like you
To love and treat me right, yeah
Now I know what I'm supposed to do
I can't let you go

Oh, lady, yeah
Baby
Like a lady, baby
Baby

Ooh, you make me feel like a lady, baby (Baby, baby, baby, baby)
Ooh, I think I'm fallin' in love (Can't forget it, can't forget it)
Ooh, you make me feel like a lady, baby (Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Ooh, I think I'm fallin' in love (Yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

Can't forget it, can't forget it

Can't forget, I can't forget it
I can't let you go, no, no, no

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Chaka Khan's song, "Ladies", revolve around the singer falling in love and finding a man who makes her feel like a lady. She has been waiting for a man to "love and treat her right," and the man she found does just that. She feels secure about the relationship and cannot forget the feeling of falling in love. She describes it as a sweet surprise, and she sees something in his eyes that makes her feel secure. Before finding this man, she had searched far and wide but found no one who could treat her well.

The song is about self-worth and finding someone who treats you with love and respect. It is about finding happiness and security in a relationship, and knowing when you have found the right person. The lyrics also hint at a sense of independence and strength, with the singer refusing to settle for anything less than the best.

Line by Line Meaning

Can't forget it
The memory of falling in love with you is stuck in my head

I think I'm fallin' in love
I believe I am falling in love with you

Ooh, you make me feel like a lady, baby
You treat me with such respect and admiration that it makes me feel like an empowered woman

Oh, my, what a sweet surprise
I am pleasantly surprised by how kind and thoughtful you are

I'm so surprised by your heart and mind
I did not expect you to be such a kind and genuine person

And I spy, somethin' in your eyes
I can see that there is a special connection between us that is deeper than words

That makes me secure about you and I
It makes me feel confident and secure in our potential relationship

I have searched so far and wide, can't seem to find
I have looked everywhere for a man like you but couldn't seem to find anyone

Got so sick and tired of boys wastin' my time
I am tired of dating men who don't take me seriously and just waste my time

And then you took my hand
You stepped up and showed me that you are different from the other men I've dated

I had to get you, now that I got you
I was determined to win you over and now that I have you, I am afraid of losing you

Woah, I feel like a lady, baby
You make me feel special and respected, like a true lady

Yes, I do
I truly feel like a lady with you

I've been waitin' for a man like you
I have been waiting for someone like you to come into my life

To love and treat me right, yeah
To love and respect me the way I deserve to be loved and respected

Now I know what I'm supposed to do
I now realize that I want to be with you and commit to this relationship

I can't let you go
I can't imagine my life without you now

Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: Yvette Stevens, Sarah Ruba Taylor, David Taylor, Sanford Livingston, Amy Stroup, Troydon Murison, Lincoln Cleary

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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