It was after relocating to New York City in the early '90s (to study at N.Y.U.'s film school) that Osborne began to take a singing career seriously after singing Billie Holiday's classic "God Bless the Child" at a local bar's "open mic night." In addition to Holiday, Osborne looked to such legendary vocalists as Etta James and Ray Charles as role models, as the up-and-coming singer decided not to cater to major record companies and formed her own label, Womanly Hips, which resulted in such releases as 1992's in-concert Soul Show, among others. But eventually, Osborne decided to sign on with a major label, Mercury, which in turn issued the singer's next release, 'Relish,' in March 1995. The album eventually racked up sales of three million copies and proved to have a long life, as almost a year after its initial release the track "One of Us" became a massive MTV and radio smash, camping out at the number-one spot on the U.S. singles chart for 2 weeks. Other tracks ("Right Hand Man" and "St. Teresa") failed to match the success of Osborne's first hit, but the singer still managed to connect with a large and appreciative audience, especially while touring as part of the 1997 edition of Sarah McLachlan's Lilith Fair tour. Osborne received numerous Grammy nominations in both 1996 and 1997.
Producing a worthy followup to Relish proved to be a time-consuming challenge for Osborne. Mercury tried to buy her some time by issuing a compilation release, 'Early Recordings' (which collected the early releases 'Live at Delta '88' and 'Blue Million Miles'). In the meantime, Osborne focused on supporting a few groups/causes she felt strongly about, such as Rock the Vote and Planned Parenthood (eventually being named an honorary member of Planned Parenthood's Board of Advocates), besides covering "I'm Just a Bill" as a duet with Isaac Hayes on the 1998 'Schoolhouse Rocks the Vote' benefit album. Osborne also studied briefly with the late Qawwali master Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and performed alongside such notables as Stevie Wonder, Melissa Etheridge, Taj Mahal, Luciano Pavarotti, Spearhead, Bob Dylan, and the Chieftains.
September 2000 finally saw the release of Osborne's second all-new studio album, titled 'Righteous Love'; but it failed to match its predecessor's commercial success and sank from sight shortly after its release. In 2002, Osborne bounced back with 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of covers that leaned heavily on classic soul and R&B tunes from the 1960s and '70s. A career retrospective, 'One of Us,' came out in 2005.
Osborne played a prominent role in the 2002 film "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," performing with the legendary Motown house band the Funk Brothers in a concert performance segment, and appearing with several members of the group in an interview segment. She and her band accompanied the Dixie Chicks for a national tour in the summer of 2003, during which time she also joined veteran San Francisco jam-rockers the Dead as a vocalist, and released her fourth album, titled 'How Sweet It Is,' a collection of classic rock and soul covers.
During 2005 and 2006, she performed on numerous occasions with Phil Lesh and Friends. In February 2007, she appeared at the Grand Ole Opry.
In November 2006, Osborne released 'Pretty Little Stranger,' her self-described "Nashville album."
In May 2007, Osborne issued 'Breakfast in Bed,' a return to the soul music that she had covered on 'How Sweet It Is'. 'Breakfast in Bed' also featured the two songs ("Heatwave" and "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted") that she had covered for the film Standing in the Shadows of Motown.
She sings lead vocals on the cover of "Spoonful" on Vivian Campbell's solo album 'Two Sides Of If'.' Osborne also provided some vocals for "Wayfaring Stranger" on Spearhead's 1997 album 'Chocolate Supa Highway.' Joan is featured on The Holmes Brothers 2007 collection 'State of Grace' performing "Those Memories of You," an old Allan O'Bryant and Bill Monroe bluegrass tune.
Her album Bring It On Home was released on March 27, 2012. It is a collection of vintage blues and soul covers, and it received a 2013 Grammy Awards nomination for Best Blues Album.
Osborne was a member of Trigger Hippy from 2012 to 2018.
Osborne released the original album Love and Hate in 2014, and in 2017 the album Songs of Bob Dylan. A new album of original songs, Trouble and Strife, is due in September 2020.
If I Was Your Man
Joan Osborne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Beyond the naked eye
Blue dreams about you
Keep playing in my mind
Oh if I was
Oh if I was your man
Oh if I was
I'm just a satellite,
So lazy in the breeze
Ready to fly away, I need your gravity
When I run down the path
And if I lose my way
Your wind will call my name
Oh if I was
Oh if I was your man
Oh if I was
Oh if I was your man
Let's go outside
To a dark place
Where the kitty cat hides
Put on your fake wings
Give the moon a ride
When you're lonely for the angel inside
3:30 in the morning is too early for you
But when it comes without a warning
What are you gonna do
This time?You gonna do this time?
Floating above you
Beyond the naked eye
Blue dreams about you
Come rushing through my mind
Branded with thoughts of you
They're tattooed on my soul
Why don't they seem to fade
Is what I'll never know
Oh if I was
Oh if I was your man
Oh if I was
Oh if I was your man
The opening lines of Joan Osborne's song "If I Was Your Man" paints a picture of someone who is lost in thoughts about someone else. The imagery of "floating above you beyond the naked eye" and "blue dreams about you" establishes a sense of distance and other-worldliness, as if these thoughts are existing in an ethereal realm. The repetition of the line "oh if I was your man" throughout the song creates a yearning for a deeper connection with the person being thought about.
However, the song is not just about longing from afar. The singer also acknowledges their own limitations, comparing themselves to a "lazy" satellite in need of the other person's "gravity". The idea of being lost and needing guidance is also explored in the lines "when I run down the path and if I lose my way, your wind will call my name".
The final verse takes a more surreal turn, painting a picture of a nighttime adventure with the person being thought about, with the lyrics "let's go outside to a dark place where the kitty cat hides, put on your fake wings, give the moon a ride". The line "when you're lonely for the angel inside" hints at a desire for a deeper spiritual connection with the other person, and the repeated question "what are you gonna do this time?" suggests a sense of uncertainty and longing for something more.
Overall, "If I Was Your Man" is a dreamy and mysterious song that explores the complexities of longing and desire, as well as the limitations of the self.
Line by Line Meaning
Floating above you
Feeling spiritually elevated in your presence
Beyond the naked eye
Unseen and intangible to the physical senses
Blue dreams about you
My subconscious mind is consumed with thoughts of you
Keep playing in my mind
Recurring thoughts and feelings persist
Oh if I was
Expressing a deep desire for something unattainable
Oh if I was your man
If I could be closer to you and experience a deeper connection
I'm just a satellite,
I am orbiting around you, constantly drawn to your energy
So lazy in the breeze
Lost in thought and drifting aimlessly
Ready to fly away, I need your gravity
I am ready for emotional movement, but require your grounding influence
When I run down the path
When I make decisions and take action
And if I lose my way
If I become lost or uncertain
Your wind will call my name
Your guidance and support will draw me back to you
Let's go outside
A call to adventure and exploration
To a dark place
An unknown, possibly dangerous location
Where the kitty cat hides
Where secrets and mysteries dwell
Put on your fake wings
Embrace a false sense of identity or confidence
Give the moon a ride
Experience a surreal and otherworldly journey
When you're lonely for the angel inside
Feeling isolated and disconnected from inner peace and happiness
3:30 in the morning is too early for you
It is difficult to find clarity or purpose in the midst of confusion or despair
But when it comes without a warning
Unexpected life experiences can be unsettling
What are you gonna do
How will you respond to adversity?
This time?You gonna do this time?
Encouragement to face challenges with strength and resilience
Branded with thoughts of you
Permanently marked by memories and emotions related to you
They're tattooed on my soul
Indelibly imprinted on the essence of who I am
Why don't they seem to fade
The intensity of my feelings and memories remain strong
Is what I'll never know
Acceptance of the mystery and uncertainty surrounding my emotions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROB HYMAN, JOAN E OSBORNE, RICHARD E CHERTOFF, JOSEPH LYBURN ARTHUR, LOUIS FRAUSTO PEREZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind