The Ike and Tina Turner Revue was one of the highest energy ensembles on th… Read Full Bio ↴The Ike and Tina Turner Revue was one of the highest energy ensembles on the soul circuit in the late ‘60s and early ‘70s.

Their first hit, “A Fool in Love,” was recorded in 1961 when another singer failed to show up for a session. After several early ‘60s hit R&B singles, including “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine” in 1961, they became major stars in England.

A 1971 cover version of John Fogerty’s “Proud Mary” reached No. 4 on the pop chart. Ike and Tina divorced in 1976.

TIMELINE

November 5, 1931: Ike Turner was born.

November 26, 1939: Tina Turner was born.

March 1, 1951: Sam Phillips records “Rocket 88” with singer Jackie Brenston and Ike Turner’s band. for Chess records. This recording is widely considered the first rock and roll record.

October 17, 1960: Ike and Tina Turner hit #27 on pop and #3 on R&B with the Sue records single “A Fool In Love”.

September 18, 1961: Ike and Tina Turner #14 on pop and #2 on R&B “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine”.

1961: Ike and Tina Turner hit #4 on the R&B chart and #38 (1/27/62) on the pop chart with “Poor Fool”.

July 2, 1962: After getting hurt during a jump, Jimi Hendrix gets an honorable discharge from the Army. Over the next three years, he will play numerous gigs and studio sessions with such R&B stars as Little Richard, the Isley Brothers, Ike and Tina Turner and Sam Cooke.

March 27, 1971: Ike & Tina Turner hit #4 with “Proud Mary.”

November 17, 1973: Ike & Tina Turner hit #22 with “Nutbush City Limits”.

(2) As husband and wife, Ike & Tina Turner headed up one of the most potent live acts on the R&B circuit during the '60s and early '70s. Guitarist and bandleader Ike kept his ensemble tight and well-drilled while throwing in his own distinctively twangy plucking; lead vocalist Tina was a ferocious whirlwind of power and energy, a raw sexual dynamo who was impossible to contain when she hit the stage, leading some critics to call her the first female singer to embody the true spirit of rock & roll. In their prime, the Ike & Tina Turner Revue specialized in a hard-driving, funked-up hybrid of soul and rock that, in its best moments, rose to a visceral frenzy that few R&B acts of any era could hope to match. Effusively praised by white rock luminaries like the Rolling Stones and Janis Joplin, Tina was unquestionably the star of the show, with a hugely powerful, raspy voice that ranks among the all-time soul greats. For all their concert presence, the Turners sometimes had problems translating their strong points to record; they cut singles for an endless succession of large and small independent labels throughout their career, and suffered from a shortage of the strong original material that artists with more stable homes (Motown, Atlantic, Stax, etc.) often enjoyed. The couple's well-documented marital difficulties (a mild way of describing Ike's violent, drug-fueled cruelty) eventually dissolved their partnership in the mid-'70s. Tina, of course, went on to become an icon and a symbol of survival after the resurgence of her solo career in the '80s, but it was the years she spent with Ike that made the purely musical part of her legend.

Izear Luster "Ike" Turner, Jr. was born in Clarksdale, MS, in 1931; initially a pianist, he formed his first band in high school and put together the Kings of Rhythm in the late '40s. In 1951, that group cut the pivotal "Rocket 88," a tune often pinpointed as the first ever rock & roll record; however, since sax player Jackie Brenston took the vocal, the song was credited to Brenston & His Delta Cats rather than Turner & the Kings of Rhythm. Not long after, Turner switched from piano to guitar, and he and his band became a prolific session outfit in Memphis, backing various Sun artists and bluesmen during the early '50s. Turner moved the Kings of Rhythm to East St. Louis in the mid-'50s, where they became kingpins of the local R&B circuit. In 1956, he met a teenage, gospel-trained singer from Nutbush, TN, named Anna Mae Bullock, and promised her a chance to sing with his band. That chance kept failing to materialize, until one night Bullock simply grabbed the microphone and started belting. Impressed, Turner made her a part of his revue, changing her name to Tina. After Tina became pregnant by the band's saxophonist, Raymond Hill, she moved into Turner's house, an arrangement that led to their own relationship; the two were married in 1958 and soon had a child of their own.

In late 1959, Turner's band entered the studio to cut a song called "A Fool in Love" for the Sue Records label. The scheduled male vocalist failed to show up for the session, and Tina was pressed into service. Released in 1960, "A Fool in Love" shot to the number two spot on the R&B charts, also making the pop Top 30. Tina was now clearly the focal point of the act, which Turner rechristened the Ike & Tina Turner Revue; with a large, horn-filled ensemble and a group of leggy backup singers dubbed the Ikettes (who complemented Tina's short-skirted, uninhibited gyrating), the Revue eventually developed a reputation for putting on one of the most exciting live shows in R&B. The R&B-chart hits came fast and furious during the early '60s: 1961's "I Idolize You" (number five) and "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" (number two), 1962's "Poor Fool" (number four) and "Tra La La La La" (number nine). It was an impressive run, but the well went dry over the next several years; Ike supplied much of the band's original material, and although he was responsible for many of the early successes, he simply wasn't a world-class songwriter who could deliver hit-caliber tunes with regularity. Much of the Revue's repertoire consisted of bluesy, chitlin circuit R&B that wasn't exceptionally memorable. Ike & Tina branched out from Sue Records and spent the next few years issuing records on additional labels, including Kent, Modern, and Loma. While they had some undeniable high points and several chart entries, none reached the level of their initial run of Top Ten hits.

In 1966, the Turners worked with legendary producer Phil Spector, who was seeking a way to restore his artistic and commercial standing at the forefront of pop music in the wake of advances by the Beach Boys and Beatles. The powerful instrument that was Tina's voice appealed to Spector's sense of grandeur, and he conceived of a massive-scale production framing that voice that would rank as his greatest masterpiece. Ike already had a reputation for demanding control, and Spector struck his deal accordingly: although the records would be fully credited to Ike & Tina Turner, Ike would not be allowed to enter the studio or alter the finished recordings (in effect, Spector was paying him not to meddle). The centerpiece of Spector's collaboration with Tina was "River Deep - Mountain High," a monumental pop symphony that cost over $22,000 to produce (in 1966, this was a whopping sum for an album, let alone a single). The single represented Spector's so-called Wall of Sound style at its most gloriously excessive, and Tina's was one of the few voices in popular music strong enough to cut through the monolithic orchestral backing. With the high cost and his own slipping stature, Spector was betting the farm on "River Deep - Mountain High," and although it rocketed into the British Top Five and made Tina a star in the U.K., it flopped in America, where its mixture of black and white musical aesthetics was still slightly ahead of its time. A crushed Spector retreated from the music business not long after, and his Philles label yanked the accompanying album of the same name from American release (Spector wound up producing only five of the 12 cuts). Although some critics dismiss "River Deep - Mountain High" as overproduced bombast, many still consider it one of rock's greatest singles; George Harrison famously described it as "a perfect record from start to finish."

After the Spector deal fell through, Ike & Tina returned to their somewhat mercenary recording habits, cutting songs for Modern and Innis, then moving to Minit and Blue Thumb in 1969. That year, they went on the road as the opening act for the Rolling Stones, and Ike slightly retooled the Revue's sound to appeal to white rock audiences in addition to their core black following. In 1970, they signed with Liberty/United Artists and recorded Come Together, which incorporated contemporary rock & roll covers into their repertoire; versions of the Beatles' title track and Sly & the Family Stone's "I Want to Take You Higher" made the R&B Top 30. Released later that year, Workin' Together became the most popular album of their career, making the Top 25 on the strength of a storming reinterpretation of CCR's "Proud Mary." Featuring a notorious spoken intro by Tina, the "nice...and rough" version of "Proud Mary" gave Ike & Tina their first Top Five hit on the pop charts, and returned them to the same heights on the R&B side as well; it also won them a Grammy. The covers gimmick couldn't last forever, though, and their formula soon grew predictable; their last major success was 1973's "Nutbush City Limits," a semi-autobiographical song written by Tina that made the R&B Top 20 and just missed that placing on the pop side. By that point, Tina had grown increasingly uninterested in the duo's well-established act, and was tiring of the largely unchallenging material she continued to perform.

Unfortunately, the music itself wasn't the only factor in Ike & Tina's downturn. As a bandleader, Ike had long been a disciplinarian, but during the '60s he developed severe addictions to alcohol and, especially, cocaine. Wanting to maintain control over the star of his show at any cost, Turner kept his wife in line through an increasingly violent pattern of emotional and physical abuse; often drug-related, his flights of rage could result in severe beatings or burns that pushed Tina to attempt suicide in 1968, according to her autobiography. She continued to endure Ike's dominance through the early '70s, and her performances were clearly weary by the end; finally, she walked out on her husband and generally declined to pursue claims for financial compensation from their work together. Their divorce became official in 1976. After a long period of struggle, Tina re-emerged triumphantly in the '80s as a superstar solo act; Ike, meanwhile, ran his own recording studio for a time, but his drug problems worsened, resulting in several arrests. Sadly, and perhaps fittingly, he was serving prison time when he and his former wife were jointly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991, and was unable to attend the ceremony. ~ Steve Huey, Rovi

Good Hearted Woman
Ike & Tina Turner Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A long time forgotten
Dreams that just fell by the way.
The good life he promised,
It ain't what she's living today.
She's never complaining
Of the bad times and the bad things he's done.
Lord, she just talks about the good times they've had
And the good times to come.

She's a good-hearted woman
In love with a good-timing man.
She loves him in spite of his ways
That she don't understand.
Through teardrops and laughter
They'll pass through this world hand in hand
A good-timing woman
In love with a good-hearted man.
He likes the bright lights and night life
And good-timing friends.
When the party's all over
She'll welcome him back home again.
Kinky!
Lord knows she don't understand him
She does the best that she can,
This good-hearted woman
Loving a good-timing man.
Kinky, aw!
She's a good-hearted woman
In love with a good-timing man,
She loves me in spite of my wicked ways
She don't understand.
Through teardrops and laughter
We'll pass through this world hand in hand,
A good-timing woman
In love with a good-hearted man.
She's a good-timing woman
In love with a good-hearted man.
She loves me in spite of my donald duck ways
She don't understand.
(one more time!)
Through teardrops and laughter
We'll pass through this world hand in hand
Kinky!
A good-timing woman
In love with a good-hearted man.
Ah-ooh!
A good-timing woman
In love with a good-hearted man.

Ah-ooh!
One, two, three

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ike & Tina Turner's "Good Hearted Woman" tell the story of a woman who is in love with a man who may not always live up to her expectations and who leads a wild and carefree lifestyle. The woman in the song has seemingly sacrificed her own desires and dreams for the love she has for her partner, who is described as a "good-timing man" who enjoys the party scene and nightlife. Despite the challenges and disappointments she faces in their relationship, she remains loyal and committed to him.

The woman's devotion to her partner is evident in her ability to see past his flaws and focus on the positive aspects of their relationship. She speaks fondly of the good times they have shared and remains optimistic about the future together, even in the face of difficulties. This showcases her resilience and unwavering love for him, despite not fully understanding or condoning his behavior.

The dynamic between the couple is portrayed as one of contrast and conflict, with the man leading a fast-paced and somewhat reckless lifestyle while the woman remains steadfast and loving towards him. She may not fully comprehend his actions or choices, but she continues to stand by him and support him through the highs and lows they experience together. Their relationship is depicted as a rollercoaster of emotions, with moments of tears and laughter symbolizing the ups and downs they encounter.

Overall, the lyrics of "Good Hearted Woman" paint a picture of a complex and enduring love between two individuals with different personalities and priorities. The woman's unconditional love and the man's charm and charisma create a compelling and bittersweet narrative of a partnership that navigates through life's challenges hand in hand. The song captures the essence of loyalty, forgiveness, and the enduring power of love, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.

Line by Line Meaning

A long time forgotten
Memories of the past that have faded from recollection.

Dreams that just fell by the way.
Aspirations that have been abandoned and neglected along life's journey.

The good life he promised,
The ideal existence he assured her of.

It ain't what she's living today.
The reality of her current situation sharply contrasts with those promises.

She's never complaining
She refrains from voicing any grievances.

Of the bad times and the bad things he's done.
She overlooks the difficult moments and his past misdeeds.

Lord, she just talks about the good times they've had
Instead, she focuses on the joyful memories they've shared.

And the good times to come.
She remains optimistic about the happiness that lies ahead.

She's a good-hearted woman
Her character is defined by kindness and compassion.

In love with a good-timing man.
She is romantically involved with a man who enjoys living life to the fullest.

She loves him in spite of his ways
Her affection for him persists, even though she may not agree with his lifestyle.

That she don't understand.
His behaviors and choices are often bewildering to her.

Through teardrops and laughter
Together they experience both sorrow and joy.

They'll pass through this world hand in hand
They will navigate life's journey together, supporting each other.

A good-timing woman
She embodies a spirit of joy and spontaneity.

In love with a good-hearted man.
Her heart is intertwined with a man of genuine virtue.

He likes the bright lights and night life
He is attracted to the excitement and glamour of nightlife.

And good-timing friends.
He surrounds himself with companions who share his zest for fun.

When the party's all over
After the festivities have concluded.

She'll welcome him back home again.
She is always ready to embrace him upon his return.

Kinky!
An expression of intrigue or amusement in their relationship.

Lord knows she don't understand him
She is well aware that his actions often elude her comprehension.

She does the best that she can,
Despite her struggles to grasp his nature, she strives to support him.

This good-hearted woman
Her essence is defined by her benevolent spirit.

Loving a good-timing man.
Her affection is directed towards a man who revels in life's pleasures.

Kinky, aw!
A playful acknowledgment of their unique relationship.

She's a good-hearted woman
Once again, emphasizing her compassionate nature.

In love with a good-timing man,
Her love is a continuous thread in their shared narrative.

She loves me in spite of my wicked ways
Her love remains steadfast, even through my flaws.

She don't understand.
Her incomprehension of my actions does not diminish her care.

Through teardrops and laughter
Their relationship is marked by a blend of joy and sorrow.

We'll pass through this world hand in hand,
Their bond will guide them as they navigate life's challenges together.

A good-timing woman
Her character continues to shine through her joyful spirit.

In love with a good-hearted man.
Affection between them perseveres, grounded in goodness.

She's a good-timing woman
Her joyful disposition remains a cornerstone of their relationship.

In love with a good-hearted man.
The foundation of their love is mutual respect and warmth.

She loves me in spite of my donald duck ways
Despite my quirky or foolish demeanor, her love endures.

She don't understand.
Her lack of understanding of my oddities doesn’t lessen her affection.

(one more time!)
A playful invitation to repeat the joyous sentiments expressed before.

Through teardrops and laughter
Their journey encompasses a spectrum of emotions.

We'll pass through this world hand in hand
Their partnership is one of mutual support and companionship.

Kinky!
A reminder of the playful and unconventional aspects of their love.

A good-timing woman
Her vibrant personality brings sparkle to their lives.

In love with a good-hearted man.
Their connection is rooted in a profound sense of love and understanding.

Ah-ooh!
An expression of joy that reflects the excitement between them.

A good-timing woman
Her joyous spirit embodies the essence of their adventures.

In love with a good-hearted man.
Their relationship flourishes through kindness and shared experiences.

Ah-ooh!
A celebratory moment acknowledging their unique bond.

One, two, three
A rhythmic countdown that signifies unity and readiness.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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