Although known primarily as a singer, May also plays the bodhrán, guitar and tambourine. Described as "a unique vocal talent," May is known for her musical style of rockabilly revival and has also been compared to female jazz musicians such as Billie Holiday.
Born in Dublin, the youngest of five children, she fell in love with rockabilly at the age of nine, though was also exposed to a range of musical styles, from Irish traditional music to Elvis Presley. She now specialises in rockabilly, singing her own material and covers. Her debut album with Blue Harlem was No Turning Back, which was followed by Swing Street, and Talk to Me. Her first solo release was Love Tattoo.
May has shared the stage with Alison Moyet, Dionne Warwick, Bryan Ferry, Anastasia, The Supremes, Sister Sledge, Scissor Sisters, Matt Bianco, Elvis Costello, Jools Holland, Elton John, and Jeff Beck.
Feel Me
Imelda May Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know what to do with myself
If anything is ? pity isn't my thing
But I really could do with some help
Pull it together
Hold your head up high
Get on with life as you do
When I'm cut up inside
Hurtin' and cryin' over you, oh
Feel me, feel me
Feel what I'm feeling inside
See me, see me
See all this hurt in my eyes
You've hurt me like never before
Dragged my heart from heaven to the floor
No matter what you do from now
Won't be the same anymore, no
Feel me, feel me
Feel what I'm feeling inside
See me, see me
See all this hurt in my eyes, oh
Baby your sorry, I'm sorry too
Believe it when I'm talking to you
That I'm so sad that you couldn't turn to me
Instead of finding somebody new
I'm no angel, that I never claim
But I thought I was nobody's fool
But I'm still yours babe and your still mine
I don't know how it works now, do you?
Feel me, feel me
Feel what I'm feeling inside
See me, see me
See all this hurt in my eyes
You've hurt me like never before
Dragged my heart from heaven to the floor
No matter what you do from now
Won't be the same anymore
No, no, no, no-no-no-oh-oh,
No, no, no-oh-oh-oh
No, no, no-no-no-oh-oh
No, no
"Feel Me" by Imelda May is a song about heartbreak and the pain that comes with it. The lyrics are addressed to a former lover, as May expresses her confusion over their breakup and her sadness over their love being lost. She asks if she can talk to them, admitting that she doesn't know what to do with herself because of the pain they've caused her. May further shows her strength and vulnerability by acknowledging that pity is not her thing, but she really could use some help. She tries to pull herself together and get on with life, but it's hard when she's cut up inside and still hurting and crying over the loss.
May's repeated plea to "feel me, feel me" and "see me, see me" is a cry for recognition - she wants her former lover to understand the pain she's going through and to acknowledge the hurt in her eyes. The chorus is a powerful declaration that no matter what her ex-lover does from now on, it won't be the same anymore - their love is forever altered by the hurt that they've caused her. She admits that she's no angel and never claimed to be, but she thought she wasn't anyone's fool either. She's still his, and he's still hers, but she doesn't know how it works now.
Overall, "Feel Me" is a heart-wrenching song about the pain of heartbreak and the struggle to move on. May's emotion-filled vocals and relatable lyrics make this song a standout on her album "11 Past the Hour."
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby can I talk to you
The singer is asking for permission to speak to her partner.
I don't know what to do with myself
The singer is unsure of her actions because of emotional distress.
If anything is ? pity isn't my thing
The singer doesn't want the sympathy of others.
But I really could do with some help
The singer is asking for support to cope with her pain.
Pull it together
The singer is trying to regain control of her emotions.
Hold your head up high
The singer is trying to maintain her strength.
Get on with life as you do
The singer is attempting to move on from the hurt.
But that doesn't happen
The singer is unable to move on because of her feelings.
When I'm cut up inside
The singer is emotionally wounded.
Hurtin' and cryin' over you, oh
The singer is expressing her pain over the relationship.
Feel me, feel me
The singer wants her partner to understand her emotions.
Feel what I'm feeling inside
The singer wants her partner to empathize with her pain.
See me, see me
The singer wants her partner to acknowledge her hurt.
See all this hurt in my eyes
The singer's pain is reflected in her eyes.
You've hurt me like never before
The singer is expressing that the pain is overwhelming.
Dragged my heart from heaven to the floor
The singer's heart was lifted up and then broken down by the partner's actions.
No matter what you do from now
The singer has lost trust in the relationship.
Won't be the same anymore, no
The singer's relationship has been permanently damaged.
Baby your sorry, I'm sorry too
Both the singer and partner have regret for the events that hurt their relationship.
Believe it when I'm talking to you
The singer wants her partner to trust her words.
That I'm so sad that you couldn't turn to me
The singer is hurt because the partner did not talk to her about their problems.
Instead of finding somebody new
The partner was unfaithful instead of consulting the singer.
I'm no angel, that I never claim
The singer acknowledges that she is not perfect.
But I thought I was nobody's fool
The singer believed she was smart enough to avoid being hurt.
But I'm still yours babe and your still mine
Despite the hurt, the singer still feels a connection with the partner.
I don't know how it works now, do you?
The singer is questioning how their relationship will continue after the hurt.
No, no, no, no-no-no-oh-oh,
The singer repeats these words as an expression of her pain.
No, no, no-oh-oh-oh
The singer is still denying the possibility of a positive outcome for the relationship.
No, no, no-no-no-oh-oh
The repeated denial shows that the singer is still hurting and does not see a way out.
No, no
The singer is firm in her position that the relationship has been damaged beyond repair.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: IMELDA MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind