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: " .
In the Middle of It All
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the middle of it all
My house is a lonely house
And it once was a happy house
And the two of us we were so happy
As I recall
And loneliness surrounds it
And I I'm in the middle of it all
My friends look at me and say
I wonder what made the girl that way
the girl doesn't even smile at all
but I wondered what my friends would say
if there world just came down one day
and they were in the middle of it all
I gave that guy all the love
that I had had to give
And the love that I gave him
Was really really real
Now I ache with heartbreak and pain
And the hurt that I just cant explain
It looks like my life is about to fall
But I built a shield around it
But sadness has found it
And I'm in the middle of it all
The lyrics of the song "In the Middle of It All" by Irma Thomas depict a sense of loneliness and heartbreak that surrounds the singer. The house, once a happy place, now stands in the middle of the rain and loneliness. The singer longs to go back to the days when she and her partner were happy. She gave him everything she had, and the love that she felt was genuine, but now it seems that sadness has found its way into her life.
The second verse of the song highlights the judgment that the singer receives from her friends. They wonder why she doesn't smile anymore, but she wonders how they would feel if they were in her shoes. She feels alone and abandoned, and the hurt that she feels from the broken relationship is consuming her. She built a shield around herself, but sadness has found its way in, and she is now in the middle of it all.
Overall, the song is a poignant portrayal of love, loss, and heartbreak, and the feelings of loneliness and despair that can accompany these emotions. It's a reminder that even when the world seems to be falling apart, it's possible to find strength and resilience to carry on.
Line by Line Meaning
My house is a lonely house
My home feels empty and isolated
And it once was a happy house
My home used to be filled with joy
And the two of us we were so happy
We were extremely happy together
As I recall
From what I remember
But now the rain falls around it
But now there is constant sorrow and depression
And loneliness surrounds it
A feeling of isolation permeates my home
And I I'm in the middle of it all
I am in the midst of these emotions
My friends look at me and say
My friends observe my behavior and comment
I wonder what made the girl that way
They wonder what happened to make me feel this way
the girl doesn't even smile at all
I don't seem to display any happiness
but I wondered what my friends would say
However, I wonder what they would feel if they were in my position
if there world just came down one day
If their worlds were to suddenly collapse
and they were in the middle of it all
And they were in the same emotional state as I am
I gave that guy all the love
I gave my partner all the love I had
that I had had to give
All the love I was capable of giving
And the love that I gave him
My love was genuine and true
Was really really real
My feelings were authentic and deeply felt
Now I ache with heartbreak and pain
Now I feel immense emotional pain and despair
And the hurt that I just cant explain
The depth of my pain is inexplicable
It looks like my life is about to fall
It feels like my life is on the verge of collapse
But I built a shield around it
But I try to protect myself from further hurt
But sadness has found it
But sadness and pain still haunts me
And I'm in the middle of it all
And I am still in the midst of these emotions
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ARTHUR ALEXANDER
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