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.
Love Tattoo
Imelda May Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bottle of rum in his hand thanks to Sailor Jim yeah
Sleeves rolled up and he's wringin' wet
The boy is all man covered in blood and sweat
[Chorus]
An arrow through your heart sayin' "I love you"
A name on your arm sayin' you'll always be true
You got a love tattoo, you got a love tattoo
Well he's mean and rude when he wakes and starts
Yeah one of his moods could just break my heart
But it pounds and it thumps when he grabs me tight
I love my rough lover every inch every night
[Chorus]
This hunk of a boy
Talks soft to me
Behind closed doors he can be so awfully sweet
When he lays by my side
He's my very own real wild child
With his heart of stone sittin' all alone
Between the anchor and the bride
[Chorus]
This hunk of a boy
Talks soft to me
Behind closed doors he can be so awfully sweet
When he lays by my side
He's my very own real wild child
With his heart of stone sittin' all alone
Between the anchor and the bride
[Chorus: x2]
In Imelda May's song "Love Tattoo," the lyrics depict a rough-edged lover who is all man and covered in blood and sweat. The lover boy comes back to his partner with a bottle of rum, and his sleeves rolled up, having been in a rough situation. The chorus emphasizes the permanence of his love for his partner with the use of a love tattoo that declares his love in red, white, and blue. The second verse shows the ruggedness and unpredictability of his behavior with his moods, but the singer still loves him intensely.
The bridge is a beautiful contrast to the roughness of the situation, where the partner talks softly behind closed doors and is her very own wild child. The metaphor of his heart of stone sitting all alone between the anchor and the bride describes the wildness of his personality, but also the solidity of his love. The song creates an intricate portrayal of a passionate, rough-edged love that is beautiful in its chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
When my lover boy comes rollin' in
When my lover boy arrives
Bottle of rum in his hand thanks to Sailor Jim yeah
He brings a bottle of rum, thanks to Sailor Jim
Sleeves rolled up and he's wringin' wet
His sleeves are rolled up and he's sweaty
The boy is all man covered in blood and sweat
He's a tough man, covered in blood and sweat
[Chorus]
Repeat of chorus
An arrow through your heart sayin' "I love you"
A tattoo of an arrow through your heart, expressing love
A name on your arm sayin' you'll always be true
A tattoo on your arm with the name of a loved one and a promise to always be true
Declaration of love in red white and blue
A patriotic tattoo with a declaration of love, in colors of red, white, and blue
You got a love tattoo, you got a love tattoo
You have a tattoo expressing your love
Well he's mean and rude when he wakes and starts
He can be mean and rude when he first wakes up
Yeah one of his moods could just break my heart
His moods can be so intense that they can break her heart
But it pounds and it thumps when he grabs me tight
Despite his flaws, her heart beats fast when he holds her tight
I love my rough lover every inch every night
She loves her tough lover every inch of him, every night
[Chorus]
Repeat of chorus
This hunk of a boy
Her lover is very attractive
Talks soft to me
He speaks gently to her
Behind closed doors he can be so awfully sweet
He can be very sweet when they're alone
When he lays by my side
When he's next to her
He's my very own real wild child
He's her own wild and free-spirited lover
With his heart of stone sittin' all alone
Despite his tough exterior, he's alone with a heart of stone
Between the anchor and the bride
He's torn between his sense of stability and his desire for love and freedom
[Chorus: x2]
Repeat of chorus twice
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: IMELDA MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Willis Lorensen
She is just golden on anything she does.