Releasing her first single in 1959, she struggled to launch her career from segregated New Orleans as a teenage waitress with 4 children in the early 60's. Now, finally undergoing a late career renaissance on the Rounder label, much of her most enduring work was produced in the early 1960's by Allen Toussaint for Minit Records, and she also recorded for other labels including Imperial, Chess, and Atlantic, eventually retiring for a period before reviving her career in earnest in the late 1980's.
Thomas is perhaps best known outside of New Orleans for her recording of "Time Is On My Side," which predated the hit version by the Rolling Stones. Otis Redding's hit "Pain In My Heart" was built on an earlier song, "Ruler of My Heart," recorded by Thomas.
Thomas is still active as a performer, appearing annually at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and various tour dates in the US and Europe. She has reigned as Queen of the Krewe du Vieux for the 1998 New Orleans Mardi Gras season and often headlined at her own club, the Lion's Den, which is now out of business due to the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Irma Thomas has participated in numerous post-Katrina charity projects including The New Orleans Social Club, and won numerous awards including the Offbeat Magazine Award, Mojo Magazine's Legends award, Big Easy Award, a Family Services Award and many more. In 2009, Scott Billington compiled a Rounder records retrospective "Irma Thomas: A 50th Anniversary Celebration of The Soul Queen of New Orleans: " .
Don't Mess With My Man
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But please don't mess with my man
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
Now, when I was with my
But when I'm with my man he
Treats me like a queen
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
Now the money my husband
Made was for red beans and rice
My man gives me steaks
Now ain't that nice?
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
The money my husband made
Was for red beans and rice
But my man keeps me in steaks
Now ain't that nice?
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
Yes
He's mine
Don't mess with him
Leave him alone
In the song Don't Mess With My Man, Irma Thomas speaks about a complicated relationship between a woman, her husband, and her man. The lyrics describe how the woman is willing to give up her husband but does not want anyone to get in the way of her current relationship. The lyrics suggest that the woman was in a bad marriage with a man who mistreated her, but she found someone new who treats her well. She warns other women not to interfere with what she now has. The line "You can have my husband, but please don't mess with my man" shows that the woman is ready to give up her ex-husband, but her new man is off-limits.
The lyrics of this song depict a woman who is in control of her love life and knows what she wants. She wants a man who will treat her with respect, and she won't settle for less. The song is a call to women for self-confidence, self-reliance, and self-respect. It speaks to the idea that women do not need a man in their lives to be happy and successful. The woman in the song is confident in herself and knows the value that she brings to a relationship. She is fiercely protective of what she has built with her new man and will not let anyone take that away from her.
Line by Line Meaning
You can have my husband
I am not possessive of my husband and he is free to leave if he wants.
But please don't mess with my man
However, my current partner is important to me and I do not want other women interfering in our relationship by flirting or trying to sway him.
I'm telling all you women
I am addressing specifically women, because they are responsible for their own actions and can make the conscious decision not to pursue my partner.
I want you all to understand
I hope that through this song, I can make it clear how much my man means to me and how important it is to respect our relationship.
Now, when I was with my Husband he was really mean
In the past, my husband was not very kind to me and I did not feel valued in the relationship.
But when I'm with my man he Treats me like a queen
Now that I am with my current partner, I feel cherished and respected in our relationship.
The money my husband made Was for red beans and rice
My ex-husband did not provide for me financially and we only had the basics to get by.
My man gives me steaks Now ain't that nice?
On the other hand, my current partner generously provides for me and spoils me with things I never had before.
Yes He's mine
I am proud to call my current partner mine and am not afraid to show my affection towards him publicly.
Don't mess with him Leave him alone
I am warning other women again to stay away from my partner and respect our relationship.
Writer(s): LABOISTRE
Contributed by Isabelle D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@paulaeduarda3364
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
Now, when I was with my
Husband he was really mean
But when I'm with my man he
Treats me like a queen
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
Now the money my husband
Made was for red beans and rice
My man gives me steaks
Now ain't that nice?
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
The money my husband made
Was for red beans and rice
But my man keeps me in steaks
Now ain't that nice?
You can have my husband
But please don't mess with my man
I'm telling all you women
I want you all to understand
Yes
He's mine
Don't mess with him
@lynnmatherne
Love this lady!!
@joelakewood1852
THX so much 🌹 ❤️ 🍀
@kevinhalliwell3598
1st heard this at work cool tune
@marioriospinot
Nice.
@Celestialtarotreadings
Oooo la la!
@princesspumpkin4296
đź‘€ I love this song, it's like woman escape from awful marriage and met Mr.Right.
@rubendariocaceres9939
joya!!!!temazoooo!!!
@shellyywallace5296
I’m telling all you womennnnn
@devon9682
Stevie Ray Vaughan brought me here... accolades on his discography
@marcoenot6677
he did with me as well Lol