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: " .
Long After Tonight Is All Over
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have learned what my lips are for
And darling, now that I've kissed you
I'm craving to kiss you more
Let me tell you
Long after tonight is all over
Long after tonight is all gone
For ever and a day and
Yours, come anything that may
You'll always be just everything to me
Here in my arms
When I hold you
I can feel that the world is mine
Don't go away
Don't you leave me
Or I'll cry 'til the end of time
Let me tell you
Long after tonight is all over
Long after it's all gone
I'll be yours
Come anything that may and
Yours, for ever and a day
You'll always be just everything to me
Let me tell you
Long after tonight is all over
Long after it's all gone
I'll be yours
For ever and a day and
Yours, come anything that may
You'll always be just everything to me
Long after tonight is all over
Long after tonight is all over
After it's over and done
After it's over and done
After it's gone
After it's gone
Long after
Tonight will be for the first time I have learned what my lips are for is a statement that shows a sense of self-discovery and realization of one's desires. The songwriter is indicating that after a long period of not knowing what her lips were for, she has discovered that they are meant for kissing her love interest. The line And darling, now that I've kissed you, I'm craving to kiss you more shows that the songwriter has tasted love, and she wants more of it. She is describing this deep longing for more love and intimacy with her partner.
The chorus "Long after tonight is all over, Long after tonight is all gone, I'll be yours" underlines the intensity of the love that she feels for her partner. She is expressing a love that will stay for a long time, no matter what happens in the future. The line "Yours, come anything that may and Yours, for ever and a day" show that she's willing to stay loyal to her partner even in the face of uncertainty.
The writer's stated that "Here in my arms, When I hold you, I can feel that the world is mine" shows that the songwriter is cocooned in a brilliantly loving relationship. The writer feels that when they hold their partner, nothing else matters in the world. The song stresses the permanence of love, even when everything else comes and goes, and the writer will be committed to her partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight will be for the first time
This is the first night that I have truly understood the power of my level of attraction and ability to love
I have learned what my lips are for
Through this experience, I have realized the true purpose and potential of my lips in expressing love and affection
And darling, now that I've kissed you
After experiencing a kiss with you, my love and passion for you has only increased
I'm craving to kiss you more
I have such a strong desire and longing to kiss you again, and I cannot get enough of our connection
Here in my arms
In this moment of physical intimacy, I feel a sense of closeness and completeness
When I hold you
Being able to hold you close brings me a sense of comfort and happiness that I have never known before
I can feel that the world is mine
With you in my arms, I feel as though I have everything I could ever want or need in this world
Don't go away
I fear that if you were to leave, my heart would be shattered and I would be left feeling empty and alone
Don't you leave me
I am begging you to stay by my side, because without you, I am nothing
Or I'll cry 'til the end of time
The thought of losing you is so incredibly painful that I cannot even imagine living without you. Just thinking about it brings me to tears
Long after tonight is all over
Even after this night passes and becomes a memory, my feelings for you will remain just as strong
Long after tonight is all gone
Even when this night and all of its experiences are long behind us, my love for you will never fade
I'll be yours
No matter what happens, you will always have my heart and my love
For ever and a day
My love for you is eternal and will last forever and beyond
Yours, come anything that may
No matter what challenges or obstacles we may face, I will always be here for you and remain devoted to you
You'll always be just everything to me
To me, you are everything, and nothing will ever change that. You are the love of my life
Contributed by Tristan R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PlotTwistHub
Ellen really got caught ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbr5noYczHo
@hannadeshler1426
3:00 - Why did Ellen, whose very wealthy because of the ratings generated by guests, not step in & offer this deceived guest, help with college for her daughter??
@user-ii2uh1xq7b
umm its al staged and rehearsed
@user-ii2uh1xq7b
@@hannadeshler1426 they know the questions and rehearse it before the show.
@BeverlyMurphy-ii2wp
Why is this piece still on TV. I thought they got rid of her. Whew she is a piece This is the inner mean side coming out as she plays it like a Joke NOT Funny !!!! When will we see the LAST OF HER!!!!! A.S.A.P. 🤞
@anthonyglee1710
I can’t understand why Ellen is so popular. She gives me the creeps.
@lisawentworth6831
she used to be self-effacing and wonderfully awkward. Now she pulls mean stunts....isn't that what schoolyard bullies do?
@lisawentworth6831
@Youtubers fan And dj too You don't think what in 2021? The topic was why is Ellen so popular, when she gives some the creeps. Justin Beiber and stuff like that was much later. She used to have a sitcom where they was beloved. Then she came out ,dropped off the radar for a while, but came back due to her niceness. What a lot of us are saying is that she is not that nice; her whole playing pranks is a schoolyard bully tactic, and not what nice people do.
@vmm5163
I used to love Ellen in her sitcom, she was very smiley and likable. But she turned into a horrible person
@ianmangham4570
Alot of CREEPS in this world.