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: " .
Get Here
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can reach me by trail-way
You can reach me on an airplane,
You can reach me with your mind
You can reach me by caravan,
Cross the desert like an Arab man
I don't care how you get here,
You can reach me by sail boat,
Climb a tree and swing rope to rope
Take a sled and slide down the slope,
Into these arms of mine
You can jump on a speedy colt,
Cross the border in a blaze of hope
I don't care how you get here,
Just, get here if you can
There are hills and mountains between us,
Always something to get over
If I had my way, surely you would be closer
I need,
I need you closer
You can windsurf into my life,
Take me up on a carpet ride
You can make it in a big balloon,
But you better make it soon
You can reach me by caravan,
Cross the desert like an Arab man
I don't care how you get here,
Just, get here if you can
I don't care, I don't care,
I need you right here, right now
Oh, I need you
See, I don't care, I don't care
No, I don't care, I don't care
I don't care how'll you get here
Just get here
If you, you can
The song "Get Here" by Irma Thomas is essentially about the longing for someone who is far away. The lyrics express the desire for the person to come closer, as the singer is willing to accept any means of transportation - be it by railway, trail-way, airplane, or even through the mind. The lyrics go on to mention different modes of transportation, from sailing to riding on a speedy colt, as the singer emphasizes that it doesn't matter how the person gets there; they just need to arrive.
Thomas explains that there are hills and mountains between them, making the journey difficult, but that the person needs to find a way to come closer. The song is emotionally powerful, with the lyrics conveying a deep sense of longing and a willingness to make any effort to be reunited with the person. The singer affirms that they need the person here, right now, and nothing else matters.
The song has been interpreted as a message of peace and love, as it became an anthem for families separated by the Gulf War in 1991, with family members on both sides of the war citing it as a reminder of their love for one another. The song also features in the soundtrack of numerous romantic movies and television series and has been covered by various artists, including Oleta Adams, whose version of the song became a top 10 hit in the UK.
Line by Line Meaning
You can reach me by railway,
You can communicate with me via any means of transportation including trains, which is the easiest and most conventional way.
You can reach me by trail-way
You can communicate with me via any means of transportation including trail-ways, which is a more adventurous but scenic way.
You can reach me on an airplane,
You can communicate with me via any means of transportation including airplanes, which is the fastest and most convenient way.
You can reach me with your mind
You can communicate with me telepathically, which is the most abstract but still valid way.
You can reach me by caravan,
You can communicate with me via any means of transportation including caravans, which are slower but more traditional way.
Cross the desert like an Arab man
You can reach me even by crossing the harsh desert like how an Arab would, which is a more arduous way.
I don't care how you get here,
The means of communication is not significant, just the intent of reaching the intended destination.
Just, get here if you can
The artist is looking forward to a desired arrival, whatever means chosen for communication is irrelevant.
You can reach me by sail boat,
You can communicate with me even via sail boats, which is relaxing but slow way.
Climb a tree and swing rope to rope
You can communicate with me even by swinging from tree to tree on a rope, which is the most creative way.
Take a sled and slide down the slope,
You can communicate with me even by riding a sled down a slope, which is a very fun but dangerous way.
Into these arms of mine
The artist awaits the arrival of the significant one who is going to be embraced with warm and welcoming hands.
You can jump on a speedy colt,
You can communicate with me even by riding a fast horse, which is a classic way.
Cross the border in a blaze of hope
You can communicate with me by crossing the border with great expectancy, which can be a rebellious way.
There are hills and mountains between us,
There are various obstacles between the singer and the other person, including physical and emotional distance.
Always something to get over
There always seems to be a hurdle to overcome, a feeling of hopelessness in the situation.
If I had my way, surely you would be closer
If the artist could change the circumstance, they would be together, which shows the eagerness of the artist to have the other person close.
I need,
The singer is emphasizing the urgency and necessity of having the other person close.
I need you closer
The singer is expressing the yearning and longing to have the other person close, indicating that the singer values the significance of the other person.
You can windsurf into my life,
You can communicate with me by windsurfing into my life, which is a romantic and adventurous way.
Take me up on a carpet ride
You can communicate with me even by taking a magical and exotic carpet ride, which is an imaginative and extraordinary way.
You can make it in a big balloon,
You can communicate with me by flying into my life on a big balloon, which is a whimsical and fanciful way.
But you better make it soon
The singer is emphasizing the immediacy of the situation, urging the other person to come soon.
I don't care, I don't care,
The artist is stressing that the method of communication does not matter; it is the result that is important.
No, I don't care, I don't care
The singer is conveying the message of the irrelevance of the method of communication one more time.
I don't care how'll you get here
The singer is reiterating that the important part is for the other person to come; how they arrive is not significant.
Just get here
The singer's prime focus is on the desire for the other person's presence, conveying the importance of the facilitation of their arrival.
If you, you can
The artist is motivating and coaxing the other person to do everything possible to come and be a part of the artist's life.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brenda Russell
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