Erma's best known record is the original version of Piece of My Heart. The song was covered in different arrangements by Janis Joplin, Faith Hill, Beverley Knight, and Dusty Springfield, and used as the basis of a song by Shaggy.
She was born in Shelby, Mississippi, but moved several times during her childhood before settling in Detroit, Michigan. Her mother Barbara, who was a gospel singer, left the family when Erma, her two sisters, and her brother were young children.
Though her sister Aretha went on to great fame, Carolyn, like Erma, was a struggling musician. Their brother, Cecil, became a minister like their father and managed Aretha's career for a while.
Her career was hampered by misfortune and by contracts with recording companies who could not find appropriate material for her. In the 1970s she left the music business, apart from engagements with her sister Aretha. She died in 2002 at the age of 64 after a long battle with throat cancer. In addition to Aretha, she was survived by her daughter Sabrina.
Piece of My Heart
Erma Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like you were the only man, yeah
Didn't I give you everything that a woman possibly can?
But with all the love I give ya
It's never enough
But I'm gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough
So come on, come on, come on, come on
Break it!
Break another little bit of my heart now, honey
Have a!
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
You know you got it if it makes you feel good
You're out on the street (looking good)
And you know deep down in your heart that it ain't right
And ah, you never, never hear me when I cry at night
And oh oh I, I tell myself that I can't stand the pain
But when you hold me in your arms, I say it again
So come on, come on, come on, come on
And take it!
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!
Hey, break it!
Break another little bit of my heart now, baby
You can have a!
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
You know you got it if it makes you feel good
Hey, hey
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!
Oh, break it!
Break another little bit of my heart now, honey
Hey, have a!
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
Come on, take it!
The lyrics to Erma Franklin's "Piece of My Heart" express the pain of a woman who has given everything she possibly can to a man, but still feels unappreciated and unheard. She asks the man, "Didn't I make you feel like you were the only man?" and insists that she has given him everything a woman possibly can. Despite this, he never hears her when she cries at night and she realizes that he is not treating her well. However, she still loves him and cannot help but come back to him. The chorus repeats the phrase "Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!" as if she is offering him everything she has left, even though he has already taken so much. Through this song, Erma Franklin showcases the strength and resilience of women even when they are hurt by love.
Line by Line Meaning
Didn't I make you feel
I always tried to make you feel special
Like you were the only man, yeah
I treated you like you were my only, my one true love
Didn't I give you everything that a woman possibly can?
I gave you all the love and care that I could muster
But with all the love I give ya
Despite how much love I gave you
It's never enough
It's not sufficient for you
But I'm gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough
I resolve to demonstrate my strength and resilience
So come on, come on, come on, come on
Do it, do it, do it, do it now
Take another little piece of my heart now, baby!
Take another bit of my emotions and affection
Break it!
Smash it into pieces
Break another little bit of my heart now, honey
Cause more emotional distress for me
Have a!
Take, here
Have another little piece of my heart now, baby
Take more of my emotions, if it makes you happy
You know you got it if it makes you feel good
If it makes you happy, you can have all of it
You're out on the street (looking good)
You're outside, looking handsome
And you know deep down in your heart that it ain't right
Inside, you know this behavior isn't acceptable
And ah, you never, never hear me when I cry at night
You don't listen to my cries at night
And oh oh I, I tell myself that I can't stand the pain
I convince myself that I can't endure the pain
But when you hold me in your arms, I say it again
But when you hug me, I forget everything and say it again
Hey, break it!
Hey, break my heart again
Hey, have a!
Hey, take some more of my love
Come on, take it!
Go ahead, take it all
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bert Berns, Jerry Ragavoy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@milesandcoffee
Who's here in 2021? You have great musical taste!
@luvhart
👍🏻😉
@mirandinha6117
thx
@giulianabonifati7837
Me, thank you ...
@Tpviper
What a voice ladies and gentlemen.
@mary-rosemcdaniel4241
I love this song
@beefcakeforever
Rest in peace, Erma and Aretha Franklin, greatest female soul singers of all time!
@rocknrollgirl39
9 times out of 10, the original tune is truly the best version. Erma nailed it - - I feel it to my soul!!!!
@texasguy11363
Erma was the original. Janis released it later.
@maggienorris7833
@@texasguy11363 And also did a good job, in her histrionic way.