Most of his life was spent in the vast landscapes of America or in the apartment of his mother, with whom he lived most of his life. Faced with a changing country, Kerouac sought to find his place, eventually bringing him to reject the values of the fifties. His writing often reflects a desire to break free from society's mold and to find meaning in life. This search may have led him to experiment with drugs (he used psilocybin, marijuana, morphine, and benzedrine, among others), to study spiritual teachings such as Buddhism, and to embark on trips around the world. His books are sometimes credited as the catalyst for the 1960s counterculture. Kerouac's best known works are On the Road and The Dharma Bums.
When a Man Loves a Woman
Jack Kerouac Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doing what he can
But what does she care
When a woman loves a man
She'll just string along
All through thick and thin
Till his ship comes in
It's always that way
She'll be the first one to praise him
When he's goin' strong
The last one to blame him
When everything's wrong
It's such a one-sided game that they play
But women are funny that way
Tell her she's a fool
She'll say yes, I know
But I love him so
And that's how it goes
When a woman loves a man
Tel I her she's a fool
She'll say yes, I know
But I love him so
And that's how if goes
When a woman loves a man
These lyrics, written by Jack Kerouac, explore the complex nature of love, specifically the way in which women love men. The singer suggests that even if the man is not perfect, the woman will still love him and support him through thick and thin. The woman will be the first to praise him when he is doing well, but the last to blame him when things go wrong. This one-sided game is just the way it is when a woman loves a man. Even if someone tells her she is a fool for loving him, she will still continue to love him with all her heart.
The repetitive chorus in the song highlights the resilience of a woman’s love. Even if someone tells her she is being foolish, she will declare her love for him despite the apparent imperfections. It is interesting to note that while the lyrics focus on the female perspective, it is actually Kerouac himself singing the song. It is like he is speaking for the women he observed throughout his life.
Overall, Kerouac's lyrics provide an insightful and empathetic look into the nature of love and relationships. They acknowledge the challenges of loving someone imperfect, but celebrate the resilience and depth of a woman’s love.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe he's not much, just another man
Sometimes the man she loves is not a great person, just an ordinary man
Doing what he can
He tries his best to make her happy
But what does she care
However, she does not care about his imperfections
When a woman loves a man
When a woman falls in love with a man
She'll just string along
She will follow him wherever he goes
All through thick and thin
She will be with him through difficult times and good times
Till his ship comes in
She will wait for him until he gets what he wants in life
It's always that way
This is the way it always happens
She'll be the first one to praise him
She will be the first to appreciate his success
When he's goin' strong
When he is doing well
The last one to blame him
She will never blame him for anything when circumstances are bad
When everything's wrong
When everything feels wrong or goes wrong
It's such a one-sided game that they play
This kind of love is usually one-sided, and only one of them does most of the giving and accommodating
But women are funny that way
But women have their own unique ways of loving someone despite the difficulties that come with it
Tell her she's a fool
If you tell her she is making a mistake
She'll say yes, I know
She will admit that she might be making a mistake
But I love him so
However, she cannot help but love him deeply
And that's how it goes
And that's just how their relationship works, no matter how difficult it may be
When a woman loves a man
When a woman is truly in love with a man
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MILT COLEMAN, RALPH RAINGER, BILLY ROSE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ankeeth Bryan D
When a woman loves a man
She's as happy as can be
When a woman loves a man
She's crazy
And I know and you know
When a woman loves a man
She must be completely irrational
Something's wrong with her
Because she loves a man
I don't know what bridge she tried to cross
She tried it
Tried to run away
She ran as fast as she could go
Yes she ran
Couldn't get across that lonesome bridge
'Cause when a woman loves a man
He's so happy, he's almost mad
That man is happy 'cause a woman loves him
She thinks she's playing all that strange music in Province Town
I've hitchhiked
We've hitchhiked
We know all that strange new town
We'd big plans, we made lobster
We had red sweaters, everybody danced
When a woman loves a man
Okay.
Marti Grant
Such an honest song. I am a woman and he knows what he is talking about. And what another beautiful thing to learn about him. He was a great singer. You can hear his sadnesses in his voice when he sings. The more I learn about him the more I love him.
Michael DLecki
Great artist , timeless account of an early youthood, regardles of generation
Castor Denston
Never imagined I'd ever hear Jack singing. Thanks!
Ankeeth Bryan D
When a woman loves a man
She's as happy as can be
When a woman loves a man
She's crazy
And I know and you know
When a woman loves a man
She must be completely irrational
Something's wrong with her
Because she loves a man
I don't know what bridge she tried to cross
She tried it
Tried to run away
She ran as fast as she could go
Yes she ran
Couldn't get across that lonesome bridge
'Cause when a woman loves a man
He's so happy, he's almost mad
That man is happy 'cause a woman loves him
She thinks she's playing all that strange music in Province Town
I've hitchhiked
We've hitchhiked
We know all that strange new town
We'd big plans, we made lobster
We had red sweaters, everybody danced
When a woman loves a man
Okay.
I M
You can definitely hear some Chet influence in that tone for sure :)
Master Bodhi
Not as hoof hearted as chet or chet dirty
Ronnie Cozzi
Did not know Kerouac sang.
Master Bodhi
Did you hear the on the road song he did - poetic ah so poetic zowy
Wallace Chrstensen
Beautiful.
Ibru Sidd
Jack ❤️