Early in her career, Kight was dubbed “The Georgia Songbird”, and today she is considered one of the few true blues vocalists. With her rich voice, and a mastery of the guitar that has her holding her own next to any other player, Kight mesmerizes audiences of all ages, both as a solo and with her band. And Taylor Guitars proudly provides her with the tools of her trade.
In the last year, Kight has worked two shows with B.B. King, produced an album for an Americana artist, and was involved in international fundraising in Japan and Mexico.
Kight has appeared on NPR’s “A Prairie Home Companion”, and one song from her segment was re-broadcast on the Listener’s Choice Program. LIP SERVICE, Kight’s latest release, landed in the #1 spot at radio. Kight was nominated for two 2012 Blues Blast awards, and has had six Blues Music Awards nominations, twice for Song of the Year. Her songs have landed on two of Koko Taylor’s Grammy nominated albums, and on two blues compilations that maintained Billboard chart positions for over a year. Other artists who have recorded her songs include the legendary Dorothy Moore, Bob Margolin and the late Ann Rabson, and Shakura S’Aida.
Kight’s songwriting savvy has led her to teach songwriting workshops in Italy and Germany. And she has been tapped to write for and produce more albums for other artists.
When a Man Loves a Woman
E.G. Kight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
He'll trade the world
For the good thing he's found
If she's bad he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comfort
Sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves a woman
I gave you everything I had
Trying to hold on to your precious love
Baby, please don't treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Loving eyes can't ever see
When a man loves a woman
He can do no wrong
He can never own some other girl
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world
When a man loves a woman
E.G. Kight's "When A Man Loves A Woman" is a song that encapsulates the intensity and all-consuming nature of love. The opening lines, "When a man loves a woman, can't keep his mind on nothing else," portray the single-mindedness and focus that love can bring. The lyrics go on to describe a man who is willing to trade anything for the person he loves, even if she is flawed or mistreats him. The last verse shifts to the perspective of the singer, who is in love with someone who may not reciprocate those feelings fully. The lines "Trying to hold onto your precious love, baby, please don't treat me bad" emphasize the vulnerability and desperation that can come with love.
The song is a classic example of soul music from the 1960s, and it was famously recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966. However, E.G. Kight's version provides a unique twist with the perspective shift in the final verse. The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Michael Bolton, Bette Midler, and Otis Redding.
Line by Line Meaning
When a man loves a woman
The following lyrics describe how a man acts when he truly loves a woman.
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
When a man is in love, he is unable to focus on anything else.
He'll trade the world
For the good thing he's found
A man will give up anything for the woman he loves—the rest of the world is not as important.
If she's bad he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman, he is blindly devoted and will not acknowledge any faults she may have, even if it means abandoning his own best friends.
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comfort
Sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
A man in love will do whatever it takes to keep his beloved happy, even if it means sacrificing his own well-being and material possessions.
Well, this man loves a woman
I gave you everything I had
Trying to hold on to your precious love
Baby, please don't treat me bad
The singer is confessing his love for a woman and pleading with her not to mistreat him because he is completely devoted to her.
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Loving eyes can't ever see
When a man is in love, he may be vulnerable to the woman's actions and potentially hurt, but because of his blinded devotion, he may not even realize it.
He can never own some other girl
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world
A man in love with a woman cannot be interested in other women; the artist is telling his beloved that he knows exactly how this feels and that she is the most important person in his life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW JAMES WRIGHT, CALVIN HOUSTON LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind