Son Of A Preacher Man
Ike & Tina Turner Lyrics


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Billy Ray was a preacher′s son
And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
When they gathered around and started talkin′
That's when Billy would take me walkin'
Out through the back yard we′d go walkin′
Then he'd look into my eyes
Lord knows, to my surprise
The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes, he was, he was, ooh, yes, he was
Bein′ good isn't always easy
No matter how hard I try
When he started sweet talkin′ to me
He'd come′n tell me, "Everything is all right"
He'd kiss and tell me, "Everything is all right"
Can I get away again tonight?
The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes, he was, he was, ooh, yes, he was
(Yes, he was)
How well I remember
The look that was in his eyes
Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
Takin′ time to make time
Tellin′ me that he's all mine
Learnin′ from each other's knowin′
Lookin' to see how much we′ve grown and
The only one who could ever reach me
Was the son of a preacher man
The only boy who could ever teach me
Was the son of a preacher man
Yes, he was, he was, oh yes, he was
(The only one who could ever reach me)
He was the sweet talkin' son of a preacher man
(The only boy who could ever teach me)
Was the son of a preacher man




(The only one who could ever reach me)
Was the sweet talkin' son of a preacher man

Overall Meaning

In the first verse of "Son of a Preacher Man," the singer, a female, talks about her relationship with a man named Billy Ray who was the son of a preacher. She talks about how Billy Ray would take her for a walk whenever his father would visit and they would go out to the backyard. The singer is surprised that Billy Ray is the only person to have ever been able to reach her, and the only boy who could ever teach her anything. This suggests that the two had a strong connection and that Billy Ray had a big influence on her life.


In the second verse, the singer talks about how difficult it is to be good all the time, no matter how hard she tries. When Billy Ray sweet talks her, he says everything is all right, and she can get away with him again tonight. This is where their relationship is revealed to be more than just a simple friendship. The singer then talks about how she remembers the look in his eyes when they would steal kisses on the sly. They would take time to make time and learn from each other. The singer again emphasizes that Billy Ray was the only person who could ever reach her and teach her anything.


Overall, the song is about a deep connection between two people from different backgrounds. The singer is drawn to Billy Ray because of who he is and the influence he has had on her life. The song suggests that even though they come from different worlds, their love for each other is strong and they learn from each other.


Line by Line Meaning

Billy Ray was a preacher's son
The singer, Billy Ray, was raised by a preacher.


And when his daddy would visit he'd come along
Billy Ray would accompany his father when he visited people.


When they gathered around and started talkin'
When the group would sit down and chat.


That's when Billy would take me walkin'
That's when Billy would take the artist for a walk outside.


Out through the back yard we'd go walkin'
They walked through the backyard together.


Then he'd look into my eyes
Then Billy would stare into the singer's eyes.


Lord knows, to my surprise
The singer was surprised by the fact that this was happening.


The only one who could ever reach me
Billy was the only person who could connect with the artist on a deep level.


Was the son of a preacher man
Billy was the child of a religious leader.


The only boy who could ever teach me
Billy was the only guy who could teach the artist anything.


Bein' good isn't always easy
It's not always easy to act morally.


No matter how hard I try
Despite trying one's hardest.


When he started sweet talkin' to me
When Billy began to flirt with the singer.


He'd come 'n tell me, 'Everything is all right'
He would say things to comfort her.


He'd kiss and tell me, 'Everything is all right'
He would demonstrate his affection for her.


Can I get away again tonight?
The artist wants to spend time with Billy again.


How well I remember
The artist has fond memories of the relationship.


The look that was in his eyes
The way Billy looked at her.


Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
Kissing each other secretly.


Takin' time to make time
Taking things slowly.


Tellin' me that he's all mine
Billy declared his exclusivity to the artist.


Learnin' from each other's knowin'
Growing and learning from one another.


Lookin' to see how much we've grown and
Reflecting on the progress they've made.


He was the sweet talkin' son of a preacher man
Billy was a smooth-talking, religious man.




Writer(s): Wayne Wilkins, Andy Hurley

Contributed by Audrey W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

FanOfJanis

This old-timer has heard them all, folks.  Been following music closely since the later-1950s. 

The Dusty Springfield version is sexy-sweet and, oh, so good!  Dusty was actually my first-ever girl crush.  Seem to remember doing it live on TV around 1968 or so.  So good!

Aretha Franklin's version?  Respect!  Great job!

Tina's version right here?  Among the very best!  Tina Turner, to me, was The Hostess with the Mostest (as they say) and showed the ladies that came along later exactly how it was done with any song she did!  To my personal taste, only one female singer is in Tina's league for pure, raw, amazing emotion and power doing a song:  Janis Joplin.  Notice my avatar.  Yep, it's Janis in 1968 ... enough said!

However!

There is one version that is wham-bam, AMAZING!   Who I call The Soul of England, Ms. Joss Stone, doing her live version at only age 19 takes us ALL to school and nails what, to me, what is arguably the best version of this song I've ever seen anybody do!  Again, just my opinion.

All the versions are really great in their own way.  What an amazing legacy of song, spirituality and joy!

Peace & Joy



All comments from YouTube:

Carrie Stephan

Never heard this version… and I love it!!! Tina is the Queen!!!

A.B.S Productions, LLC

Dusty Springfield and Aretha made this song a huge hit but Tina killed this! And props to Ike for his arrangement to this them horn were on fire!

Dario Western

This is one of the greatest soul songs of all time. Tina has really done it justice here as with other songs she's covered. She's definitely THE BEST! :-)

remco potter

what a beautiful voice

Adam B. Smith

Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner are the only women to sing this and kill it.

Ike really did a great job arranging this. The dynamics with the horn line is awesome!

Miroljub

I've never heard any bad version of this song.

eckankar

I remember seeing Barbara Eden in a skin tight halter top jump suit open her Las Vegas act with this number wiggling through a very suggestive dance. she was amazing.

1 More Replies...

Kasnar Burns

Wow!! I never knew Tina recorded this song. It sounds live. I like all of their versions: Dusty's, Aretha's and now Tina's.

janay xx

And erma Franklin is pretty decent

KojiRecords

Tina is a song stylist; she puts her own stanp on a many song, which gives a nod of soulful respect to the song's originator(s) while putting her own take on it, including "I Wnat To Take You Higher," "Sugar, Sugar," Proud Mary," "Livin' For The City," and many others. If you study Tina's numerous recordings with and without Ike then you will get the picture. Tina never competed with singer/songwriters, only complimented them in her own musical renditions. "Son of A Preacher Man" here an example

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