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: " .
Thinking About You
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the leaves were fallin' down softly
My cold hands needed a warm, warm touch
And I was thinkin' about you
But here I am lookin' for signs of leaving
You hold my hand, but do you really need me?
I guess it's time for me to let you go
I'll be thinkin' about you
When you sail across the ocean waters
And you reach the other side safely
Could you smile, a little smile for me?
'Cause I'll be thinkin' about you
I'll be thinkin' about you
I'll be thinkin' about you
I'll be thinkin' about you
In "Thinking About You," Irma Thomas sings about a contemplative moment during which she remembers someone she cannot be with. The first verse captures a fall day, with leaves delicately floating down from trees as the sun shines. Thomas's hands are cold, and she longs for a warm touch, missing the one she is thinking about. The second verse brings her back to the present as she looks for signs that the person she is with truly wants her. Unfortunately, she is met with questioning herself if it is time to let them go. The chorus finds her returning to the sense of loss established in the first verse, as she sings about thinking of the person as they sail off to new lands.
The wistful lyrics are given an extra layer of emotion through Thomas's soulful and plaintive vocals, which are filled with raw longing and sadness. Ultimately, the song paints a portrait of a woman grappling with loss while trying to move on, unable to forget someone who truly touched her heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Yesterday I saw the sun shinin'
The artist saw a beautiful day with sunshine.
And the leaves were fallin' down softly
Fall has arrived, and the leaves gently fell down.
My cold hands needed a warm, warm touch
The artist feels lonely and craves human contact.
And I was thinkin' about you
The artist is reminiscing about someone they miss.
But here I am lookin' for signs of leaving
The artist is considering leaving the person they are with.
You hold my hand, but do you really need me?
The artist questions whether the other person truly values them.
I guess it's time for me to let you go
The artist knows it's time to end the relationship.
And I'll be thinkin' about you
Even though the relationship is coming to an end, the artist will still think about the person.
When you sail across the ocean waters
The artist imagines the other person travelling far away.
And you reach the other side safely
The artist hopes the other person will arrive safely.
Could you smile a little smile for me?
The artist asks the other person to remember them and smile.
'Cause I'll be thinkin' about you
The artist reassures the other person that they will always remember them.
I'll be thinkin' about you
The song's chorus, emphasizing that the artist will continue to think about the other person.
I'll be thinkin' about you
The song's chorus, emphasizing that the artist will continue to think about the other person.
I'll be thinkin' about you
The song's chorus, emphasizing that the artist will continue to think about the other person.
I'll be thinkin' about you
The song's chorus, emphasizing that the artist will continue to think about the other person.
I'll be thinkin' about you
The song's chorus, emphasizing that the artist will continue to think about the other person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Fintage House Publishing
Written by: Norah Jones, Ilhan Ersahin
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