MEAN WOMAN BLUES
Jerry Lee Lewis & Van Morrison Lyrics

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I got a woman
Mean as she can be
I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me

A black cat up and died of fright

'Cause she crossed his path last night
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me

She kiss so hard, she bruise my lips
Hurts so good, my heart just flips
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me

The strangest gal I ever had
Never happy 'less she's mad
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be
Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me

She makes love without a smile
Ooh, hot dog that drives me wild
Oh, I got a woman
Mean as she can be

Sometimes I think
She's almost mean as me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Jerry Lee Lewis's song "Mean Woman Blues" depict the singer's frustration with his significant other who has a mean streak that matches his own. The repetition of the phrase "mean as she can be" emphasizes just how unpleasant the woman in question can be. The first stanza suggests that the woman's behavior is so bad, it's almost on par with the singer's own bad behavior. The lyricist employs figurative language to explain just how bad the singer's relationship is, describing a black cat that died of fright after crossing her path.

The singer highlights some of the more physical aspects of the relationship in the next stanza, suggesting that the woman kisses so hard that she causes bruising on the singer's lips. However, despite this pain, the singer seems to enjoy the relationship, with "hurts so good" suggesting the idea that he likes the pain. The third stanza emphasizes just how difficult the woman is to please, with "never happy 'less she's mad" describing her extreme mood swings. Finally, the last stanza suggests that the woman is quite passionate in the bedroom, but that her love-making style is passionless, with "She makes love without a smile."

Overall, the lyrics showcase a tumultuous and unhealthy relationship that's characterized by pain, anger, and a troubling lack of love.

Line by Line Meaning

I got a woman
I am in a relationship with a woman

Mean as she can be
She is very difficult to deal with and ill-tempered

Sometimes I think
There are moments when I reflect on our relationship

She's almost mean as me
Her personality is as unpleasant as mine

A black cat up and died of fright
She is so notoriously unpleasant that even animals fear her

'Cause she crossed his path last night
She was in the black cat's path and it caused his death

She kiss so hard, she bruise my lips
When she kisses me, she does it so passionately that it results in physical injury

Hurts so good, my heart just flips
Despite the pain, her love for me is overwhelming and makes me feel excited

The strangest gal I ever had
She is the most peculiar woman I have ever been with

Never happy 'less she's mad
She is only content when she is angry or upset

She makes love without a smile
When we are being intimate, she does not show any signs of pleasure or enjoyment

Ooh, hot dog that drives me wild
Even though she is not smiling, the physical aspect of our intimacy still excites me

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Claude Demetruis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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