Irma Thomas (b. February 18, 1941, Ponchatoula, Louisiana) whose only natio… Read Full Bio ↴Irma Thomas (b. February 18, 1941, Ponchatoula, Louisiana) whose only national chart hit in a 50 year career is 1963's "Wish Someone Would Care", is an enduring, Grammy winning, soul, gospel, rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. Known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans", she is a contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James, but did not tour as relentlessly, and industry support and major commercial success eluded her for decades. Thomas, who once was told by execs at Atlantic in the late 60's that "she just didn't have it anymore", remained undaunted, and continues to perform to a loyal and growing following worldwide. She was finally awarded a Grammy for her 2006 Rounder album " After the Rain", after more than 40 years as singer. She won The Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy again for her 2008 album "Simply Grand".

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: " .

If I Had Any Sense I'd Go Back Home
Irma Thomas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I remember the day, I caught the train
I was standing out at the railroad crossing soaking wet with rain
Now I realize fortune and fame is not for me
And all them pretty stories ain't what they cooked up to be
I know every move I made was wrong, if I had any sense I'd go back home

My mother stood crying, my father had an aching heart
He said, girl, girl, please don't let us part

My sweetheart stood crying and I cried a little bit to
But I didn't have the will power to stop, I had to do what I had to do
Now I realize every move I made was wrong, if I had any sense I'd go back home

[Repeat: x2]
My baby wrote me said-, baby, baby come back to your good mans side
But I cant go back now I got too much pride
I'm having so much trouble I don't know what to do

Theres nothing but my mother and fathers prayers thats seeing me through
I know I stayed away too long, if I had any sense I'd go back home

Overall Meaning

In Irma Thomas's song, "If I Had Any Sense I'd Go Back Home," the singer reflects on the mistakes she's made in leaving her hometown for the lure of fortune and fame. She remembers the day she left and how it was pouring rain, symbolizing the tears that she shed and the sadness that she felt. Now, she realizes that the glitz and glamour she chased is not everything it's cracked up to be, and she wishes she could go back home. She knows that every move she made was wrong, and she should have listened to her parents and her sweetheart, who didn't want her to leave.

The lyrics convey a sense of regret and longing for the familiar and comforting surroundings of home, as well as the sadness of leaving behind loved ones. The line "if I had any sense I'd go back home" is a plea to herself to do the right thing and return to where she belongs. The song speaks to the universal need for roots and the importance of family and community support.

Line by Line Meaning

I remember the day, I caught the train
I can recall the day I left home by train

I was standing out at the railroad crossing soaking wet with rain
I was drenched standing at the railroad crossing

Now I realize fortune and fame is not for me
I now know that being rich and famous is not meant for me

And all them pretty stories ain't what they cooked up to be
All the attractive stories I heard turned out to be false

I know every move I made was wrong, if I had any sense I'd go back home
I understand that all my choices were incorrect and if I was sensible, I would go back home

My mother stood crying, my father had an aching heart
My mother shed tears, and my father felt heartbroken

He said, girl, girl, please don't let us part
My father pleaded, 'Please don't leave us, girl.'

My sweetheart stood crying and I cried a little bit to
My love wept, and I also felt emotional

But I didn't have the will power to stop, I had to do what I had to do
However, I didn't have the strength to resist, I did what I had to do

Now I realize every move I made was wrong, if I had any sense I'd go back home
I have come to the realization that all my actions were incorrect, and sensible option would be to return home

My baby wrote me said-, baby, baby come back to your good mans side
My lover requested, 'Darling, please come back to your caring man.'

But I cant go back now I got too much pride
I am too proud to go back now

I'm having so much trouble I don't know what to do
I am facing many problems, and I am uncertain of how to proceed

Theres nothing but my mother and fathers prayers thats seeing me through
Only my parents' prayers are helping me cope through this

I know I stayed away too long, if I had any sense I'd go back home
It's quite evident that I have been away for a prolonged period, and it would be wise to return home

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROSE MARIE MCCOY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS

Genre not found

Artist not found

Album not found

Search results not found

Song not found

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