One Woman
Isaac Hayes Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I fight my way through the 5 o'clock rush hour/ As daylight slowly leaves the sky/ I open the door to that little room we call home.

Her loving arms are to greet me/ And her tender lips are always there to greet me, at the end of every day/ You know, it's always been that way.

Then I fight my way through the early morning traffic/ ahhh, but someone else is heavy on my mind/ Then I open the door to our favorite little coffeeshop/ And she's right on time.

Her loving arms are there to greet me/ and her tender lips are there to greet me/ That's the way I start my day.
But it's too bad it dosen't end that way.

One woman is making my home/ While the other woman making me do wrong/ I didn't intend to let get that strong/ Now I gotta decide where I belong

(musical interlude)

Her loving arms are there to greet me/ Ooooo tender lips are there to meet me/ That's the way I start my day/ Whoaaaa, too bad/ so sad/ it dosen't end that way.

One woman making my home, yes she is/ While the other woman, you know making me do wrong/ I didn't intend to let this pain get that strong/ Now I gotta decide/ where I/ where I/ where I belong.

One woman ahhhh making my home yes she is now/ The other woman making this man do wrong/ I don't know which one to choose, no I don't/ And neither one can this man bear to lose/ Oooooo no/ no, no

I said/ One woman making my home/ Ooooo while this other woman making me do wrong, ahhhhh yeah/ I didn't intend to let this pain get this strong/ Now I gotta decide where I belong/ tell me/ which way to gooooooooo.





One woman making my home/ (fading) The other woman got me doing wrong.

Overall Meaning

Isaac Hayes's song "One Woman" tells the story of a man who is torn between two women - one who makes his home, and the other who causes him to do wrong. He begins every day looking forward to seeing the woman who loves him unconditionally and comforts him after a long day at work. However, he also has another woman on his mind, who he sees at his favorite coffee shop, and who he seems to have feelings for. As the song progresses, he realizes his mistake and begins to feel guilty for being unfaithful to the woman who has been there for him all along. He is left to decide which woman to choose, torn between his feelings for each of them.


The lyrics of "One Woman" touch on themes of love, infidelity, guilt, and the difficulty of decision-making. The singer of the song is portrayed as a flawed human being, struggling to navigate his feelings and desires. The chorus of the song, "One woman making my home, while the other woman making me do wrong," emphasizes the internal conflict that he is facing. In the end, he must come to terms with the fact that he cannot have both women and must choose who he belongs with.


Line by Line Meaning

I fight my way through the 5 o'clock rush hour
I struggle through the busy traffic of the early evening


As daylight slowly leaves the sky
The sun is setting and darkness is approaching


I open the door to that little room we call home.
I come home to our small living space


Her loving arms are to greet me
My significant other welcomes me with open, affectionate arms


And her tender lips are always there to greet me, at the end of every day
I am greeted with a soft kiss from my loving partner each day


You know, it's always been that way.
This has been a constant in our relationship


Then I fight my way through the early morning traffic
I struggle through congested morning roads


ahhh, but someone else is heavy on my mind
Someone else occupies my thoughts and worries me


Then I open the door to our favorite little coffeeshop
I arrive at our go-to coffee spot


And she's right on time.
My partner is prompt and dependable


Her loving arms are there to greet me
My partner embraces me with affection


and her tender lips are there to greet me
I am greeted with a soft kiss from my partner


That's the way I start my day.
This is my daily routine


But it's too bad it dosen't end that way.
Unfortunately, the day doesn't always conclude as well


One woman is making my home
My partner is building a home with me


While the other woman making me do wrong
Another person is leading me astray


I didn't intend to let get that strong
I didn't plan on the situation escalating to this point


Now I gotta decide where I belong
I must choose between two paths


Her loving arms are there to greet me
I receive warm embraces from my first partner


Ooooo tender lips are there to meet me
I am greeted with a soft kiss from my first partner


That's the way I start my day
This is how the beginning of my day usually unfolds


Whoaaaa, too bad/ so sad/ it dosen't end that way.
It's unfortunate the day doesn't always conclude positively


One woman making my home, yes she is/
My first partner is integral to our home life


While the other woman, you know making me do wrong/
The other person is leading me astray and causing me to make poor choices


I didn't intend to let this pain get that strong/
I didn't realize how much this situation would hurt me


Now I gotta decide/ where I/ where I/ where I belong.
I must make a difficult decision about my future


One woman ahhhh making my home yes she is now/
My first partner is actively creating our home


The other woman making this man do wrong/
The other person is leading me astray and causing me to act incorrectly


I don't know which one to choose, no I don't/
I am unsure about which path to take


And neither one can this man bear to lose/
I care about both women and don't want to hurt either of them


Oooooo no/ no, no
I am distressed


I said/ One woman making my home/
My first partner is building a home with me


Ooooo while this other woman making me do wrong, ahhhhh yeah/
The other person is leading me astray and causing me to act incorrectly


I didn't intend to let this pain get this strong/
I didn't anticipate the situation becoming so difficult


Now I gotta decide where I belong/
I must make a difficult decision about my future


tell me/ which way to gooooooooo.
I am in need of guidance to determine the best path forward


One woman making my home/
My first partner is a central figure in my home life


The other woman got me doing wrong.
The other person is leading me astray and causing me to act incorrectly




Contributed by Nathan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@eugenejappah8895

i can never get enough of this rich voice. he left the scene too soon for a lot of us

@aj.mcgowan5593

Isaac was ahead of his time. His vision, creativity and innovation was the force behind some of the best music ever produced. RIP Isaac, you are missed....

@mjenkman

Those are facts right there

@Etcher

"Born in the ghetto, it's hard to survive"

@kathylewis6177

Ike took Chi-Town by a storm when he performed at the Auditorium...I know, because I was there. What a concert!!! String instruments, OMG!!! You were an ICON, IKE. No one could sing like you, NO ONE. Missing you, RIP.

@rocjackson5975

Yes! His concerts were epic!

@BugzKiller

Isaac will always be the Black Moses! Got all his LP's still! Right next to all my Barry White LP's!! Another late Great!!!

@t-pitz8866

Wonderful 💯💯

@bertc2314

I'm jealous!!!

@QsLIFE1993

This is mesmerising - pure original - real music like we used to have!

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