His life took a turn, though, as he became a victim of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as stints with manic depression that found him hospitalized in a mental health facility. He had almost disappeared entirely when he started performing again on rare occasions in the early 1990s, often working with Tyrone Davis or Otis Clay.
Carr had suffered from lung cancer for many years, spending the end of his life in a nursing home in Memphis. At the age of 58, James Carr died there from his battle with the disease on January 7, 2001. It is said that he had been analphabetic.
A Man Needs A Woman
James Carr Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My dear mother had a
Little talk with me
She said a woman
Can be a contrary little thing
But, son, she mean a
Whole world to a man
If I hadn't loved
Your daddy this way
He wouldn't be the
Big man he is today
Don't you know
A man needs a woman
A man got to have a woman
To carry on (to carry on)
To carry on
Just like the fish needs the ocean
Just like rough hand need a little lotion
Like the window needs pane
Like the highway needs two lane
Don't you know
A man needs a woman
A man got to have a woman
To carry on (to carry on)
To carry on
Just like a vampire needs blood
Like a dead dog need them bugs
Just like the darkness needs the light
Just like the fisherman, he needs
He needs a little bite now, oh, yeah
Don't you know
A man needs a woman
A man got to have a woman
To carry on (to carry on)
To carry on
Just like a boxer need gloves
Just like me, I need a little love
Like the soldier needs a gun
Like a hamburger needs a bun
I need you, yes I do
I need you just to see me through
I've got to have you baby
The song "A Man Needs A Woman" by James Carr is a ballad about the importance of a woman in a man's life. The song starts with the singer reminiscing about a conversation he had with his mother when he was three years old. His mother told him that women can be difficult at times, but they mean everything to a man. She also tells him that if she hadn't loved his father the way she did, he wouldn't be the big man he is today. This statement sets the stage for the rest of the song, which is essentially an ode to the importance of women in men's lives.
The lyrics use a lot of metaphors to illustrate the point that a man needs a woman. Carr likens a man's need for a woman to a fish's need for the ocean, a rough hand's need for lotion, a window's need for a pane, and a highway's need for two lanes. The song also compares a man's need for a woman to other things like a vampire's need for blood, a dead dog's need for bugs, and the darkness's need for the light. The singer asserts that just like a boxer needs gloves, a soldier needs a gun, and a hamburger needs a bun, he needs a woman to carry on.
The lyrics of the song "A Man Needs A Woman" depict the importance of having a woman in a man's life. The metaphors used help illustrate the point that just like everything needs something to survive or thrive, a man needs a woman to carry on. The simple melody and James Carr's soulful voice add to the power of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was the age of three
At three years old, my mother spoke to me about the importance of women.
My dear mother had a
My mother had a cherished talk with me.
Little talk with me
She had a conversation with me to impart vital advice.
She said a woman
She told me that women,
Can be a contrary little thing
can be difficult to deal with sometimes,
But, son, she mean a
but they mean everything to men,
Whole world to a man
and make their lives complete.
If I hadn't loved
If my mother didn't love
Your daddy this way
my father as much as she does,
He wouldn't be the
he wouldn't have been
Big man he is today
as successful as he is today.
Don't you know
Don't you understand
A man needs a woman
that a man needs a woman
A man got to have a woman
that it's essential for a man to have a woman
To carry on (to carry on)
in order to move forward in life.
Just like the fish needs the ocean
Like fish need the ocean to survive,
Just like rough hand need a little lotion
like rough hands need lotion to be smooth,
Like the window needs pane
like windows require panes,
Like the highway needs two lane
like highways need two lanes to function,
Just like a vampire needs blood
just like vampires need blood to live,
Like a dead dog need them bugs
like a dead dog needs the bugs that feed on it,
Just like the darkness needs the light
just like darkness needs light to exist,
Just like the fisherman, he needs
just like fishermen need
He needs a little bite now, oh, yeah
a little jolt of excitement to keep going.
Just like a boxer need gloves
like boxers need gloves to fight,
Just like me, I need a little love
like I need a little love to keep me going,
Like the soldier needs a gun
like soldiers need guns to protect themselves,
Like a hamburger needs a bun
like hamburgers need buns to be complete,
I need you, yes I do
I need you in my life, yes I do,
I need you just to see me through
I need you to help me overcome my struggles,
I've got to have you baby
I really need you, baby.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: OSBIE MCCLINTON, QUINTON CLAUNCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Saleem Muhammad
Brother Carr put his soul in his music and you can feel it and realate to all his songs. We do not have this today and wwe should not let this go away. Let us keep his music alive!
MsE
Back when love meant life
Mary Huggins
Just love back in
Bernardo Oliveira
James carr,esse cantava com alma e o coração bons tempos que existia sentimento e amor de verdade já os tempos atuais não tem mais belas canções assim dê-se nível.
Johan Åkermyr
The best soul singer ever.
MsE
Too many to list.
love_shardah💚
Why am I just finding out about James Carr?!!!
I’m in love! 💕💕💕
Jeffrey Scott
To me James Carr is the king of soul and he was criminally under appreciated. Listen to "at the dark end of the street" the man puts so much emotion and soul into every word of every song it chills me to the Bone and gives me goosebumps
miss massima
I must've been about 13 years old when I first watched a movie called only you. It was that movie that in a slow dance scene this song was playing and I fell completely in love. Only 16 years old!!! I absolutely fell in love. I'm 29 now lol
Michael Bowen
You're a beautiful person who appreciates proper soul.