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: " .
Two Winters Long
Irma Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Since you been gone
I waited till I got tired
I forgot you was alive
So sorry, my dear
You know you should of been here
Two winters long
You left without a warning
Broke my heart in two
I didn't know what to do
But the rain and the windy season
Like a wave on a stormy sea
Blew away the memory of you
Since you left
I got somebody else
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
I didn't know what to do
Blew away the memory of you
Ah, since you left
I got somebody else
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
The lyrics of Irma Thomas’ song “Two Winters Long” speaks of the pain of heartbreak and the process of letting go of a lost love. The song tells the story of a person who has been left behind by someone who disappeared without a warning, leaving her heartbroken and lost. There is a sense of resignation in the first lines, as the singer declares that it has been so long since he/she has been gone that they have forgotten he was alive. The language used is simple, and sometimes repetitive, allowing the listener to get in touch with the raw emotions being portrayed.
The chorus, which repeats the line “two winters long” drives home the message that the person has been gone for a very long time, and the pain left behind has lasted that long as well. The rain and the wind are used as metaphors for the passage of time and the singer’s ability to slowly recover and move on. The memories of the lost love, which once seemed immovable like a “wave on a stormy sea,” are eventually blown away into oblivion.
The final verse of the song, which speaks of the singer finding somebody new, shows that the person has finally found a way to move on and leave the past behind. However, the sad tone of the song reminds us that while moving on is possible, the pain of heartbreak can be long-lasting and difficult to forget.
Line by Line Meaning
You know it's been so long, ah
It's been quite a while since you left, ah
Since you been gone
Since you left me
I waited till I got tired
I waited as long as I could until I couldn't wait anymore
I forgot you was alive
I completely forgot about you and that you existed
So sorry, my dear
I am sincerely apologetic, my beloved
You know you should of been here
You should have been here with me
Two winters long
It's been two winters since you left
You been gone two winters long
You have been away for two winters
You left without a warning
You departed without giving me any notice or indication
Broke my heart in two
You shattered my heart into broken pieces
I didn't know what to do
I was clueless on what actions to take
But the rain and the windy season
Yet, the rain and the windy season prevailed
Like a wave on a stormy sea
It came and went with force like a wave on a stormy sea
Blew away the memory of you
It swept away the memories I used to hold so dear of you
Since you left
Ever since you said goodbye
I got somebody else
I moved on and found someone else
Two winters long
Two winters have come and gone
You been gone two winters long
You have been absent for two winters
Two winters long
Two winters have elapsed
You been gone two winters long
It's been two winters since you've been away
Contributed by Reagan K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
raven ruger
amazing voice
Richard Trepsas
Thank you for posting this, I never heard this before this is a gym. I like the lyrics the tunes, that organ arrangement and the back up singers, as well as Irma
Bruce Kopetz
Did you mean "this is a GEM?"
DENNY R MAN
MISS IRMA THOMAS IS THE REAL SOUL QUEEN OF NEW ORLEANS SAW HER LIVE MANY MANY TIMES IN NOLA THE MUSIC MAN
EliRR
You know it's been so long, ah
Since you been gone
I waited till I got tired
I forgot you was alive
So sorry, my dear
You know you should have been here
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
You left without a warning
Broke my heart in two
I didn't know what to do
But the rain and the windy season
Like a wave on a stormy sea
Blew away the memory of you
Since you left
I got somebody else
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
I didn't know what to do
Blew away the memory of you
Ah, since you left
I got somebody else
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
Two winters long
You been gone two winters long
Marcos
GRACIAS POR ESCRIBIR LA LETRA DE ESTA MARAVILLOSA CANCIÓN. SALUDOS DESDE TOLEDO, SPAIN. THANK YOU ...
Marcos
UNA JOYA DEEP SOUL.
j lanz
Wow! The Original? Well Mr. Todd Jones, I have the 45 R.P.M. and this sounds identical. Of course I haven't listened to it in a long time.
barzoly
Very nice!!!
Todd Jones
This is actually "Two Winters Long" by Irma Thomas. Sorry.