Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971) was a trumpet player, singer, and bandleader, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists in the history of jazz.
Bess You Is My Woman Now
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You is, you is
And you must laugh and sing and dance
For two instead of one
Want no wrinkle on yo' brow
Nohow
Because the sorrow of the past is all done, done
Oh, Bess, my Bess
Porgy, I's yo' woman now
I is, I is
And I ain't never goin' nowhere 'less you shares the fun
There's no wrinkle on my brow
Nohow
But I ain't goin', you hear me sayin'
If you ain't goin' with you, I'm stayin'
Porgy, I's yo' woman now
I's yours forever
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Bess, you got yo' man
Bess, you is my woman now and forever
Ths life is jes' begun
Bess, we two is one
Now and forever
Oh, Bess, don't mind those women
You got yo' Porgy
I knows you means it
I seen it in yo' eyes, Bess
We'll go swingin'
Through the years a-singin'
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Oh, my Porgy, my man, Porgy
My Bess, my Bess
From this minute I'm tellin' you
I keep this vow: Porgy, I's yo' woman now
From this minute I'm tellin' you, I keep this vow
Oh, my Bessie, we's happy now; We is one now
The song "Bess You Is My Woman Now" is a duet between two characters from George Gershwin's opera, "Porgy and Bess". The lyrics convey a message of love and commitment between the two characters, Bess and Porgy. Porgy declares his love for Bess, telling her that she is his woman, and that they will be happy together. Bess reciprocates the emotion, promising to stay with Porgy and be his companion throughout all seasons. The lyrics emphasize the importance of being together, and how love can help overcome past sorrows.
The song, which is sung in the style of a jazz ballad, has a beautiful melody that matches the lyrics' sentiment. The music conveys the emotional depth of the love the two characters share. The song's use of repetition reinforces the emotional message being conveyed in the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Bess, you is my woman now
Porgy declares that Bess is his woman now
You is, you is
Porgy emphasizes that Bess is truly his woman
And you must laugh and sing and dance
Porgy wants Bess to enjoy life with him and be happy
For two instead of one
Porgy wants them to enjoy life together as a couple
Want no wrinkle on yo' brow Nohow
Porgy does not want Bess to worry or have any troubles
Because the sorrow of the past is all done, done
Porgy assures Bess that they can forget about their past troubles and only focus on the present
Oh, Bess, my Bess
Porgy affectionately addresses Bess
Porgy, I's yo' woman now
Bess responds by declaring that Porgy is her man
I is, I is
Bess emphasizes that she is committed to Porgy
And I ain't never goin' nowhere 'less you shares the fun
Bess promises to stay with Porgy as long as they can have fun together
There's no wrinkle on my brow Nohow
Bess is happy and does not have any worries
But I ain't goin', you hear me sayin'
Bess reiterates that she will not leave Porgy
If you ain't goin' with you, I'm stayin'
Bess only wants to stay with Porgy and go wherever he goes
I's yours forever
Bess tells Porgy that she is his forever
Mornin' time and evenin' time and Summer time and winter time
Bess is committed to Porgy in all seasons and times of day
Bess, you got yo' man
Porgy acknowledges that Bess is his woman
This life is jes' begun
Porgy looks forward to a new life together with Bess
Bess, we two is one
Porgy and Bess are united as one
Oh, Bess, don't mind those women
Porgy tells Bess to ignore other women and focus on their relationship
You got yo' Porgy I knows you means it I seen it in yo' eyes, Bess
Porgy is confident that Bess is committed to him by the way she looks at him
We'll go swingin' Through the years a-singin'
Porgy and Bess will enjoy life together, singing and dancing through the years
Oh, my Porgy, my man, Porgy My Bess, my Bess
Porgy and Bess express their love for each other
From this minute I'm tellin' you I keep this vow: Porgy, I's yo' woman now
Bess reiterates her commitment to Porgy
Oh, my Bessie, we's happy now; We is one now
Porgy and Bess are now a happy couple united as one
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dorothy Heyward, Du Bose Heyward, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stormwatcher1299
Lyrics if anyone wants them:
Bess, you is my woman now
You is, you is
And you must laugh and sing and dance
For two instead of one
Want no wrinkle on yo' brow
Nohow
Because the sorrow of the past is all done, done
Oh, Bess, my Bess
Porgy, I's yo' woman now
I is, I is
And I ain't never goin' nowhere 'less you shares the fun
There's no wrinkle on my brow
Nohow
But I ain't goin', you hear me sayin'
If you ain't goin' with you, I'm stayin'
Porgy, I's yo' woman now
I's yours forever
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Bess, you got yo' man
Bess, you is my woman now and forever
This life is jes' begun
Bess, we two is one
Now and forever
Oh, Bess, don't mind those women
You got yo' Porgy
I knows you means it
I seen it in yo' eyes, Bess
We'll go swingin'
Through the years a-singin'
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Mornin' time and evenin' time and
Summer time and winter time
Oh, my Porgy, my man, Porgy
My Bess, my Bess
From this minute I'm tellin' you
I keep this vow: Porgy, I's yo' woman now
From this minute I'm tellin' you, I keep this vow
Oh, my Bessie, we's happy now; We is one now
@michaele.berumen9979
This work of genius by two of the greatest jazz artists composed by one of the greatest jazz composers never gets old.
@sarahgreen8988
Hard to do a song like this justice, but they manage it. Beautiful, tender, and convincing.Never been a huge Armstrong fan, but he is perfect here.
@arlenehutchinson9259
Thank you for uploading this absolute gem of an album 💖💖💖💯💯💯💯
@beautifullymature3548
LOVE....Have it on LOOP so that I can hear and enjoy this amazing masterpiece in heavy rotation...
@maurowasser6721
A MAIOR CANTORA DE TODOS OS TEMPOS !!!!!!!!
@anaegq2
TB acho...
@cmoran9103
"morning time and evening time, winter time and summer time" is such a simple and beautiful way to say you'll love someone forever. And then at the end of the opera she can't even keep the vow. It gets me every time
@altamiradog
Para la buena música no pasa el tiempo. !Vaya par de monstruos!
@oscarlfem
UNA JOYA MUSICAL ,PARA DISFRUTAR ..-.-.-.-.-.-
@navarrocelina1
Master piece!