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: " .
Dr. Feelgood
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Always sittin' around me and my man
I don't want nobody
Always sittin' right there lookin' at me and that man
Be it my mother, my brother or my sister
Would you believe, I'll get up, put on some clothes
Go out and help you find somebody for dissolving that pain
Yes I will
Now I don't mind company
Because company's alright with me
Every once in a while - yes it is-a
I tell you I don't mind company
Because company's alright with me
Every once in a while - yeah
But oh, when me and that man get to lovin'
I tell you girls
I dig you but I just don't have time
To sit and chit and sit and chit-chat and smile
Don't send me no doctor
Fillin' me up with all of those pills
I got me a man named Doctor Feelgood
And oh, yeah, that man takes me off all o' my pains and my ills
His name is Doctor Feelgood in the mornin'
And taking care of business is really this man's gain
And after one visit to Doctor Feelgood
You'll understand why Feelgood is his name
Oh, yeah, oh good God of mine
And the man sure makes me feel real - good
In this song “Dr. Feelgood” by Irma Thomas, the singer expresses her desires and wants in a relationship with her man. She wants no interference from family or friends in their relationship. Even if her parents or siblings come to visit, she is willing to leave the house and assist them in finding someone outside the house to keep them company. She doesn't mind company coming over every once in a while; however, she doesn't like people sitting around and continuously interrupting her and her man's time together. She believes that "her man’s business is her business", and she is happy whenever her man gives her his time.
In the second stanza, she makes it clear that she wants no medication from the doctor as she has a "doctor feel-good" who takes care of all her aches and pains effectively. She describes Doctor Feelgood as a fantastic man who understands his role in keeping her happy and taking care of her problems. After one visit, to Doctor Feelgood in the morning, according to the singer, you will know why he is called Feelgood.
The song describes the need for physical and emotional intimacy while highlighting the significance of a "Doctor Feelgood" figure in a relationship. The lyrics show a strong and confident woman who knows her needs and desires and is not afraid to express them.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want nobody
Always sittin' around me and my man
I don't want anyone always sitting around staring at me and my man.
Be it my mother, my brother or my sister
Would you believe, I'll get up, put on some clothes
Go out and help you find somebody for dissolving that pain
Yes I will
I don't want my mother, brother, or sister watching me and my man. I would rather get up and help you find a partner to relieve your pain.
Now I don't mind company
Because company's alright with me
Every once in a while - yes it is-a
I tell you I don't mind company
Because company's alright with me
Every once in a while - yeah
I don't mind having company every once in a while.
But oh, when me and that man get to lovin'
I tell you girls
I dig you but I just don't have time
To sit and chit and sit and chit-chat and smile
When I'm with my man, I don't have time for small talk and chatting with my friends. I'm focused on enjoying the time with him.
Don't send me no doctor
Fillin' me up with all of those pills
I got me a man named Doctor Feelgood
And oh, yeah, that man takes me off all o' my pains and my ills
His name is Doctor Feelgood in the mornin'
And taking care of business is really this man's gain
And after one visit to Doctor Feelgood
You'll understand why Feelgood is his name
Oh, yeah, oh good God of mine
And the man sure makes me feel real - good
I don't want a doctor giving me pills; I have a man named Doctor Feelgood who takes away all my pain and illness. He's good at his job, and one visit with him will show you why his name is Feelgood. He makes me feel amazing.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TED WHITE, ARETHA FRANKLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesse Mueller
on These Honey Dos
Irma Thomas - These Honey Dos lyrics
V1/
Honey, do you see
While you're sittin' there
Two good legs, two good arms
Your butt stuck in that chair
It's get me this, reach me that
Fry the bacon, feed the cat
You're still in that chair, that's where yer at
C1/
I tried to satisfy
All your wishes and your wants
Soon these Honey Dos
Gonna turn into Don'ts
So honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?
V2/
Honey, when I'm away
You always got to know
Who I see, what I do
And everywhere I go
And it's, while yer out, here's the list
Drop off that, pick up this
Yer still in that chair, that's where you is
C2/
Please don't make me try
To get away from you
I'm right here for ya, baby
But ya gotta give me somethin' too
Honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?
B/
I'd do most everything
That I ever could do
All the love I got
I only give ta you
Honey, if you knew
A lover from a crutch
You'd know that everything yer doin'
Don't amount ta much
V1/
Honey, do you see
While you're sitting there
With two good legs, and two good arms
And your butt still stuck in that chair
It's get me this, reach me that
Fry the bacon, feed the cat
You're still in that chair, just gettin' fat
C1/
Tried to satisfy
All your wishes and your wants
Soon these Honey Dos
Are gonna turn into Don'ts
So honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?
{Honey you'd better choose
Do you want me, or these Honey Dos?} ( 2x )
Spoken:
Honey do this, honey do that
Reach for this, reach for that
Now where is please?
Where is thank you?
Yer making a very large assumption
And you know what they say about the word assumption
Now you know you king of this castle
(As long as I'm in it)
But you gotta put a little please in there sometimes
And every now 'n' then think of some Honey Don'ts to say
Y'know? You got me
I wouldn't stay here, if I didn't love ya
But every now and then, put in some please and thank yous
Do ya Honey Do?
Turn 'em into Honey Don'ts
Moses Davis
on Hurt's All Gone
my goodness ump I cant get enough