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: " .
Loving Arms
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one who said that he'd rather roam
The one who said he'd rather be alone
If you could only see me now
If I could hold you now
Just for a moment if I could make you mine
Just for a while turn back the hands of time
I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain
Taking any comfort that I can
Looking back and longing for the freedom from my chains
Lying in your loving arms again
If you could hear me now
Singing somewhere through the lonely nights
Dreaming of the arms that held me tight
If you could only hear me now
I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain
Taking any comfort that I can
Looking back and longing for the freedom from my chains
Lying in your loving arms again
In the first verse of Irma Thomas's song Loving Arms, she describes the regret of a man who claimed he would rather be alone or roam free. The persona in the song seems to be indicating that she is the one who had left the man to be alone after she caused him hurt in some way. However, she is now feeling a deep sense of loneliness and sadness, wishing she could turn back the hands of time and hold him again. This overwhelming emotion stems from the realization of the true value of love and the comfort that comes with intimacy.
The second verse reflects on the long time the persona has been alone, feeling lost and confined due to the chains of her past mistakes. Desperately seeking comfort from any source of emotional warmth, she longs to be in the arms of the person she loves once again. The chorus complements the theme of the song, representing a cry for a second chance for redemption and an opportunity to make amends.
Line by Line Meaning
If you could see me now
If only you could witness my current state and compare it to how I was in the past
The one who said that he'd rather roam
The person who once claimed that he preferred wandering alone from place to place
The one who said he'd rather be alone
The person who professed a desire to remain solitary
If you could only see me now
If only you could witness my current state
If I could hold you now
If only I could have you in my embrace at this moment
Just for a moment if I could make you mine
If only I could have you for a brief instance and make you mine
Just for a while turn back the hands of time
If only for a short time, we could relive the past and reverse the consequences of our actions
If I could only hold you now
If only I could have you in my arms at this moment
I've been too long in the wind, too long in the rain
I have endured immense hardships for a significant period of time
Taking any comfort that I can
Seeking solace in any form that is available
Looking back and longing for the freedom from my chains
Reflecting on the past while yearning to be free from the issues that have been holding me back
Lying in your loving arms again
Being with you and wrapped in your affectionate embrace once more
If you could hear me now
If only you could listen to my voice at this moment
Singing somewhere through the lonely nights
My voice echoes throughout the lonesome nights, reaching out to you wherever you may be
Dreaming of the arms that held me tight
Engaging in a deep slumber, where I envision your arms surrounding me with love and security
Contributed by London L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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