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 Women 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, Porgy and Bess, from the opera "Porgy and Bess" by George Gershwin. The lyrics describe the commitment and love between the two characters. Porgy professes his love for Bess, declaring that she is his woman now and he wants to see her happy and carefree. He promises to be with her through all the changing seasons of life. Bess reciprocates his love, saying that she is now his woman and will never leave him as long as they are having fun together. She tells him that she is carefree and happy with him, and they are now one. The song ends with them reaffirming their love and commitment to each other.
The song was written in 1935 and first performed by Todd Duncan (Porgy) and Anne Brown (Bess) in the premiere production of "Porgy and Bess" at the Alvin Theatre in New York City in 1935. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, and Billie Holiday.
Line by Line Meaning
Bess, you is my woman now
Porgy is declaring his love and commitment to Bess
You is, you is
Porgy reiterates his assertion that Bess belongs to him
And you must laugh and sing and dance
Porgy wants Bess to be happy and enjoy life with him
For two instead of one
Porgy envisions a future where they are together and share everything
Want no wrinkle on yo' brow
Porgy doesn't want Bess to worry or be upset anymore
Nohow
Absolutely not
Because the sorrow of the past is all done, done
Porgy believes their troubles are behind them and the future looks bright
Oh, Bess, my Bess
Porgy affectionately addresses Bess
Porgy, I's yo' woman now
Bess accepts Porgy's love and declares herself committed to him
I is, I is
Bess emphatically agrees to be Porgy's woman
And I ain't never goin' nowhere 'less you shares the fun
Bess wants to be with Porgy and share in all the joys of life together
There's no wrinkle on my brow
Bess is happy and carefree with Porgy
But I ain't goin', you hear me sayin'
Bess is committed to staying with Porgy
If you ain't goin' with you, I'm stayin'
Bess won't leave Porgy's side for anything
I's yours forever
Bess pledges her loyalty and love to Porgy for all time
Bess, you got yo' man
Porgy declares Bess as his own
Ths life is jes' begun
Porgy is excited for the future with Bess
Bess, we two is one
Porgy and Bess are a unit, inseparable and in love
Now and forever
Porgy envisions a future with Bess as his partner for life
Oh, Bess, don't mind those women
Porgy wants Bess to ignore any outside influence and focus on their love
You got yo' Porgy
Porgy is confident that Bess is his and his alone
I knows you means it
Porgy believes in Bess's commitment to him
I seen it in yo' eyes, Bess
Porgy is assured of Bess's love and commitment through her actions and expressions
We'll go swingin'
Porgy envisions a future together filled with joy and music
Through the years a-singin'
Porgy and Bess will face the future together surrounded by love and music
Oh, my Porgy, my man, Porgy
Bess addresses Porgy with love and affection
My Bess, my Bess
Porgy affectionately addresses Bess
From this minute I'm tellin' you
Bess is making a firm commitment to Porgy
I keep this vow: Porgy, I's yo' woman now
Bess repeats her declaration of love and loyalty to Porgy
Oh, my Bessie, we's happy now; We is one now
Porgy and Bess are united in love and happiness, and nothing can come between them
Lyrics Β© 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 ππππ―π―π―π―
@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 mΓΊsica no pasa el tiempo. !Vaya par de monstruos!
@oscarlfem
UNA JOYA MUSICAL ,PARA DISFRUTAR ..-.-.-.-.-.-
@navarrocelina1
Master piece!