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: " .
Early In The Morning
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had a little date with my baby last night
[Chorus]
And that was early in the morning, early in the morning
Early in the morning and I ain't got nothin' but the blues
I went to all the places we used to go
[Chorus]
I went to the lions den and he was not about
Went to his mommas house but she began to shout
[Chorus]
I went to ducky chase to get somethin' to eat
The waiter looked at me and said you sure look beat
[Chorus]
I had a lot of money when I started out
Cant find my baby and now my money's run out
[Chorus; x3]
The song "Early in the Morning" by Irma Thomas is a classic blues tune that tells the story of a woman who has been stood up by her lover, leaving her feeling heartbroken and with a serious case of "the blues". The song opens with the singer explaining that it is early in the morning and she "can't get right", meaning that she is feeling very down and out of sorts. She then reveals that she had a date with her baby the previous night, which has clearly not gone according to plan.
The chorus of the song highlights the desperate situation the singer finds herself in, as she has lost her lover and seems to have lost all hope of finding him again. The line "early in the morning and I ain't got nothin' but the blues" is repeated several times, underscoring the overwhelming sense of sadness and despair that she is feeling. In a bid to find her lover, the singer retraces their steps, going to all the places they used to go, including his house and his mother's house, but to no avail. She even goes to a restaurant called Ducky Chase to get something to eat, but the waiter looks at her pityingly and tells her she looks beaten down.
The song is a classic example of the traditional blues style, with Irma Thomas's soulful vocals and the mournful horn section adding to the despairing tone of the lyrics. Overall, "Early in the Morning" is a poignant and moving song that speaks to the heartbreak of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the morning and I cant get right
It's morning but I'm still feeling the effects of my date with my baby last night and can't seem to shake it off.
Had a little date with my baby last night
I went on a date with my significant other last night.
And that was early in the morning, early in the morning
It feels like it was just moments ago that I was with my baby.
Early in the morning and I ain't got nothin' but the blues
I'm feeling down and out because I can't find my baby.
I went to all the places we used to go
I revisited all the places where my baby and I used to spend time together.
Even went to his house but he don't live there no more
I went to my baby's house but found out that he no longer lives there.
I went to the lions den and he was not about
I looked for my baby at the lions den but he wasn't there.
Went to his mommas house but she began to shout
I went to my baby's mother's house but she started yelling at me.
I went to ducky chase to get somethin' to eat
I went to Ducky Chase to grab a meal.
The waiter looked at me and said you sure look beat
The waiter at the restaurant commented that I looked exhausted.
I had a lot of money when I started out
I had a good amount of money with me when I began my search for my baby.
Cant find my baby and now my money's run out
I still haven't found my baby and now I'm out of money too.
Early in the morning and I ain't got nothin' but the blues
I'm still feeling down and out because I can't find my baby.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHARLES MILLER, HAROLD RAY I. BROWN, HOWARD E. SCOTT, JERRY GOLDSTEIN, LE ROY L. JORDAN, LEE OSKAR, MORRIS DEWAYNE DICKERSON, SYLVESTER ALLEN
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