Irma Thomas (b. February 18, 1941, Ponchatoula, Louisiana) whose only natio… Read Full Bio ↴Irma Thomas (b. February 18, 1941, Ponchatoula, Louisiana) whose only national chart hit in a 50 year career is 1963's "Wish Someone Would Care", is an enduring, Grammy winning, soul, gospel, rhythm and blues singer from New Orleans. Known as the "Soul Queen of New Orleans", she is a contemporary of Aretha Franklin and Etta James, but did not tour as relentlessly, and industry support and major commercial success eluded her for decades. Thomas, who once was told by execs at Atlantic in the late 60's that "she just didn't have it anymore", remained undaunted, and continues to perform to a loyal and growing following worldwide. She was finally awarded a Grammy for her 2006 Rounder album " After the Rain", after more than 40 years as singer. She won The Best Contemporary Blues Album Grammy again for her 2008 album "Simply Grand".

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: " .

Yours Until Tomorrow
Irma Thomas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tonight I hold to nothing
but the feelings in my soul
My heart overflows with emotion
I just can't control
There's someone you are going to
But tonight
I just can't tell right from wrong

Let me be yours until tomorrow
Let me be yours until tomorrow
Give me one night of your life
Just be mine 'til the dawn

Tomorrow the real world
Will come crashing down on me
I know I must lose you and that's the way it has to be
But tonight I see no boundries
So I beg you before my chance is gone

Let me be yours until tomorrow
Let me be yours until tomorrow
Give me one night of your life
So I can go on.

Till the dawn's intrusion
Ends this sweet illusion
Make believe you're mine, love
This is not goodbye, love,
All I ask is one night, till the morning sunlight
Won't you stay here in my arms

And baby, let me be yours until tomorrow
Let me be yours until tomorrow.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Yours Until Tomorrow" by Irma Thomas speak of a powerful and desperate plea for affection. It is a plea from someone who knows that the relationship they share will soon come to an end. The first verse indicates that the author has no hope of changing the future and that his/her feelings for their partner will not surpass the night he/she is asking for. There is an overwhelming emotion that has taken over this person and they cannot control it. The next verse indicates that the author knows that soon reality will return along with the awareness that he/she will lose the person they love. In order to delay the impending doom, the author makes a desperate appeal to their partner. They are asking for one more night, one more chance to feel the love that they know will not be theirs for much longer. The author is begging to be loved until the morning when the reality of the situation will hit them.

Throughout the chorus, the author is pleading with their partner to give them one night and make them feel loved, if only for a little while. Their hearts are begging for love and affection and they want to delay the pain until they are truly able to move on. They want to feel as if the world has stopped and that the only thing that matters is the love they share. The ultimate message is that the author is willing to give up everything just for one night to remember the love they shared for a short time.

Line by Line Meaning

Tonight I hold to nothing but the feelings in my soul
At this moment, I have nothing except my emotions that are overwhelming me.

My heart overflows with emotion I just can't control
I am experiencing emotions so strongly that I can't contain or manage them.

There's someone you are going to But tonight I just can't tell right from wrong
You have someone else in your life, but right now, I am so consumed with my feelings for you that I can't distinguish between what is right and wrong.

Let me be yours until tomorrow Let me be yours until tomorrow Give me one night of your life Just be mine 'til the dawn
Please give me this one night to be with you. Let me have this moment until the morning comes and reality sets in.

Tomorrow the real world Will come crashing down on me I know I must lose you and that's the way it has to be
Once tomorrow arrives, reality will sink in, and I understand that I have to let you go.

But tonight I see no boundaries So I beg you before my chance is gone
In this moment, my thoughts are clouded, and I can't see the obstacles that will inevitably come with you leaving me, so I'm begging for this one chance to be with you.

Till the dawn's intrusion Ends this sweet illusion Make believe you're mine, love This is not goodbye, love, All I ask is one night, till the morning sunlight
When the light of day breaks and our time together ends, please pretend that we belong to each other. This isn't goodbye, it's just one last chance to be together until the morning light arrives.

Won't you stay here in my arms And baby, let me be yours until tomorrow Let me be yours until tomorrow.
Please stay with me and let me be the one you turn to for tonight. Let me hold you in my arms and be yours until tomorrow comes.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CAROLE KING, GERRY GOFFIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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