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: " .
Too Much Thinking
Irma Thomas Lyrics
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Sometimes the cold comes creeping through the floor
Sometimes the damp comes crawling up my wall
Most time those things don't worry me at all
[Chorus]
Cause I got too much thinking on my mind [Repeat: x3]
To worry about little things
I'm never ready when my rent comes due
I just go hungry when my moneys through
I keep quiet when the bill collector calls
Most time those things don't worry me at all
[Chorus]
Sometimes I feel like I should worry
Sometimes I feel like I should care
Then again, I'm in no hurry
To be tied down by those troubles
Cause I think I've had my share
[Chorus]
[Repeat: x2]
To worry, to worry, to worry about the little things
The little things like rent
To worry, to worry, like bills
To worry, to worry, I'm hungry somebody will feed me
To worry about nothing
[Repeat: x3]
To worry, to worry, to worry about the little things
Who me worry,
To worry, to worry, to worry about the little things
I ain't going to worry about a thing I cant do nothing about
In “Too Much Thinking,” Irma Thomas sings about the many struggles and concerns she faces on a daily basis, from the wind hollering through her door to the damp crawling up her wall. These things don't seem to worry her, though, because she has too much thinking on her mind. She doesn't have time to focus on the little things, like when her rent comes due or when the bill collector calls. She just goes hungry when her money is gone and keeps quiet when necessary. Sometimes she feels like she should worry and care more, but she's not in any hurry to be tied down by her troubles.
The lyrics in this song speak to the everyday struggles of working-class people who often have to choose between basic necessities like food or shelter. It also speaks to the resilience of people who are used to struggling and can't allow small things to get in their way. The idea that keeping your mind occupied with other things like thinking could be a coping mechanism for the struggles of daily life is central to this song. This song reminds us that we can find ways to cope even in the toughest of circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes the wind comes hollering through my door
Occasionally, the wind comes through my door with a howling sound
Sometimes the cold comes creeping through the floor
Sometimes, cold makes its way through the floor slowly and steadily
Sometimes the damp comes crawling up my wall
Every now and then, moisture sneaks up on my wall, making it damp
Most time those things don't worry me at all
Normally, I am not bothered by these things
Cause I got too much thinking on my mind [Repeat: x3]
To worry about little things
Since I have a lot of thoughts on my mind, I cannot worry about small things
I'm never ready when my rent comes due
I am never prepared for when my rent is due
I just go hungry when my moneys through
I have no money left, so I go without food
I keep quiet when the bill collector calls
When the bill collector calls, I remain silent
Most time those things don't worry me at all
Generally, I am not concerned about these things
Sometimes I feel like I should worry
At times, I feel like I should be concerned
Sometimes I feel like I should care
Occasionally, I feel like I should take notice
Then again, I'm in no hurry
To be tied down by those troubles
However, I don't want to rush into being burdened by those issues
Cause I think I've had my share
Since I believe I have already had my part
To worry, to worry, to worry about the little things
To fret about small details
[Repeat: x2]
To worry, to worry, to worry about the little things
Repeating the idea to worry about insignificant things
The little things like rent
By little things, I mean things like rent
To worry, to worry, like bills
To be anxious about payments
To worry, to worry, I'm hungry somebody will feed me
To worry about nothing
Agitated about being hungry and unsure if someone will provide food, ultimately worrying about nothing
[Repeat: x3]
To worry, to worry, to worry about the little things
Once again, emphasizing the point of worrying about trivialities
Who me worry,
Me, worried?
To worry, to worry, to worry about the little things
To be fretful about unimportant matters again
I ain't going to worry about a thing I cant do nothing about
I refuse to worry about something that I have no control over
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
etienne gaide
looking for lyrics if someone got it :)
etienne gaide
looking for lyrics if someone got it :)