Reid was born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. She sang in church and in high school in Georgia, and moved to New York City in 1947 after her mother died. Toward the end of 1947, she tied out for an amateur contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and won the competition for five straight weeks. Soon after she was offered a slot as the featured vocalist with Dick Vance at the Savoy Ballroom, which she held from 1948-1950.
In 1961-62, Reid sang with Count Basie's orchestra, and recorded for Verve Records. She later performed in a Broadway production of the musical The Wiz. Additionally, she sang with Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Aretha Franklin, and B.B King. Reid receded from fame in the 1970s and 1980s, but launched a comeback near the end of that decade. She appeared at the Savannah Jazz Festival in 1991, 1994, and 1996, and continued releasing albums on Savant Records in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 2002, British DJ duo Beginerz sampled Reid's vocals to make the club hit "Reckless Girl."
Son Of A Preacher Man
Irene Reid Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
she held it all way up inside
she held her breath and turned her face all red
that's how they found her in her bed all dead and this is what I said
She's a mixed up son of a bitch yeah yeah
She's a mixed up son of a bitch yeah yeah
air ball punch line delivered with a twist and
she's a mixed up son of a bitch
like a bird on fire she flew into a rage
her eyes are permanently crossed
once you won her you could swear she made you feel like you already lost
because,
She's a mixed up son of a bitch yeah yeah
She's a mixed up son of a bitch yeah yeah
air ball punch line delivered with a twist and
she's a mixed up son of a bitch
go now go!
desperate living so divine
a sugar cube empire could be all mine
she's stuck in gear its justt too bad its reverse
you say i've seen bad well i've seen worse
see the tv glowing life is walkin by
hear the music flowin life is walking by
see the lovin tree growin life is walking by
an empty boat startsrowing thats when you're knowin
life is walking you by
life is walking you by
i could never tell you thruth about her cause shes so mixed up
i could never tell you thruth about her cause shes so mixed up
i could never tell you thruth about her cause shes so mixed up
She's a mixed up son of a bitch
she's a mixed up son of a bitch
The lyrics to Irene Reid's "Son of a Preacher Man" tell the story of a tumultuous relationship between two people. The singer describes their partner as being "mixed up" and difficult to understand. The lines "You'd think she took me for a ride / she held it all way up inside" suggest that the partner is not communicating their feelings and emotions effectively. This lack of communication ultimately leads to tragedy, as the partner is found dead in bed. The line "She's a mixed up son of a bitch" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the partner's complexity and confusion.
Overall, the song is a commentary on the difficulties of relationships and the importance of effective communication. The partner's inability to express themselves leads to their own demise, and the singer is left unable to fully understand or explain their partner's behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
You'd think she took me for a ride
I thought she was trying to deceive me
she held it all way up inside
She kept her true emotions hidden
she held her breath and turned her face all red
She was embarrassed and uncomfortable
that's how they found her in her bed all dead and this is what I said
She died because she couldn't express her feelings
She's a mixed up son of a bitch yeah yeah
She is a confused and complicated person
air ball punch line delivered with a twist and
A joke that falls flat
you'd think she had me in a cage
I felt trapped and controlled by her
like a bird on fire she flew into a rage
She became furious in an explosive way
her eyes are permanently crossed
She is always confused and disoriented
once you won her you could swear she made you feel like you already lost
Being with her felt like a losing proposition
go now go!
Get away from her!
desperate living so divine
Living in a chaotic and unpredictable way
a sugar cube empire could be all mine
The potential for great rewards
she's stuck in gear its justt too bad its reverse
She's moving backwards and not progressing
you say i've seen bad well i've seen worse
I've experienced worse situations
see the tv glowing life is walkin by
Life is passing by quickly
hear the music flowin life is walking by
Life is constantly in motion and changing
see the lovin tree growin life is walking by
Time is constantly moving forward, even in moments of love and beauty
an empty boat startsrowing thats when you're knowin
It's time to take action when you feel empty and directionless
life is walking you by
Life is happening all around us, even when we don't notice
i could never tell you thruth about her cause shes so mixed up
She is too complicated to understand
She's a mixed up son of a bitch
She is a complex and difficult person
Contributed by Benjamin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keondre Green
repent and turn to God