He gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.
Born in Rogers, Texas, in 1935 and raised in Baytown, TX, Tex's career started after he was signed to King Records in 1955 following four wins at the Apollo Theater. Between that year and 1964, however, Tex struggled to find hits and by the time he finally recorded his first hit, "Hold What You've Got", in 1964, he had recorded thirty prior singles that were deemed failures on the charts. Tex went on to have three million-selling hits, "Hold What You've Got" (1965), "Skinny Legs and All" (1967) and "I Gotcha" (1972).
Joe Tex with the raspy voice & charm of a southern preacher and the linguistic skills of a true street hustler made a string of funky chart topping hits and occasional raps with moral themes. His peak as a hitmaker occured in the mid & late 60's, but extended into the 70's disco era.
His breakthrough 1965 song "Hold What You've Got" topped both the Pop and R&B charts. In 1966 he released "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It", which was the first major pop record associated with the Vietnam War. His style was usually more light hearted fare, like "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" and his biggest hit "Skinny Legs And All".
His last major record was 1972's funky jam "I Gotcha", a #1 song. It was after this release that he converted to Islam. After the death of Elijah Mohamed in 1975, Joe Tex received the blessing and approval of the Nation of Islam to begin recording and performing again. His career resurgence came as the disco years were in full swing. His late career comeback song was "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)".
Sweet
Joe Tex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To handle a man with so much ease
After all of his life
He's used to doin' as he pleased, yeah
You got me doing all the good things
That a man's supposed to do
I know a lot of men who wish they had
A sweet little woman like you
Woman tell me, where did you learn
To make a man feel like a king
When all the time he knows
That he hasn't got a thing, yeah
Stand by my side baby
And there is no limit to what I can do
I know some men who'd give their right arm
To have a sweet little woman like you
Because your kind is so hard to find
Your kind is so hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like is hard to find
And that's why I'm so glad I got mine
Woman tell me, what do I have to do
To make you really see
Just how much I really love you
And how much you mean to me, yeah
Don't be afraid to tell me baby
'Cause there's nothin' that I wouldn't do
I know a lot of men that wish they had
A sweet little woman like you
'Cause your kind is so hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is so hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is so hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
In Joe Tex's "A Sweet Woman Like You," the singer marvels at the wonder of finding a woman who knows how to handle men with ease. He asks her how she learned to do so, as he is used to doing as he pleases in his life until now. He is amazed that she is able to inspire him to do all the good things that a man is supposed to do. He is even more grateful that his sweet woman makes him feel like a king even when he knows he hasn't got anything. He tells her that if she stands by him, there is no limit to what he can do. He begs her to tell him what he can do to make her see just how much he loves and adores her.
The song essentially pays homage to the love of a good woman. The singer acknowledges that good women are indeed rare, and he is lucky to have found one. He acknowledges that she challenges and inspires him to be the best version of himself. If he were to lose her, he knows he would not be able to find anyone else like her. The song, therefore, is not only a love song but also a tribute to the strength and wonder of women.
Line by Line Meaning
Woman tell me, where did you learn
To handle a man with so much ease
After all of his life
He's used to doin' as he pleased, yeah
Asking the woman where she learned to satisfy a man so much, considering he has been accustomed to getting his way all his life.
You got me doing all the good things
That a man's supposed to do
I know a lot of men who wish they had
A sweet little woman like you
'Cause your kind is so hard to find
The woman has inspired the man to do all the things that a man ought to do, and other men wish they could find a woman like her because it is rare.
Woman tell me, where did you learn
To make a man feel like a king
When all the time he knows
That he hasn't got a thing, yeah
Asking the woman how she learned to make a man feel so grand, despite him knowing he has nothing.
Stand by my side baby
And there is no limit to what I can do
I know some men who'd give their right arm
To have a sweet little woman like you
Because your kind is so hard to find
If the woman stays by his side, there is nothing he cannot do, and some men will go to extremes to find a woman as rare and special as her.
Woman tell me, what do I have to do
To make you really see
Just how much I really love you
And how much you mean to me, yeah
Don't be afraid to tell me baby
'Cause there's nothin' that I wouldn't do
I know a lot of men that wish they had
A sweet little woman like you
'Cause your kind is so hard to find
The man wants to make sure the woman knows how much she means to him and is willing to do anything for her, and he recognizes that many men are searching for a woman like her.
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like is hard to find
And that's why I'm so glad I got mine
Reiterating that a woman like her is difficult to find, which is why the man is grateful to have found her.
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is so hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
A sweet woman like you is so hard to find
A sweet woman like you is hard to find
Continuing to emphasize how rare and unique the woman is and how difficult it is to find someone like her.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Joe Tex
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leonard Harrison
Woman tell me where did you learn
To make a man feel like a king
When all the time he knows
That he hasn't got a thing, yeah
Stand by my side and there is no limit to what I can do
I know some men whod give their right arm
To have a sweet little woman like you
Because your kind is so hard to find
Your kind is so hard to find
Mr. Gracian
Probably the best of Joe. Mesmerizing!
EriTree
It's 2021 and still listening my oldies.
Sarah Re Reynolds
Loving it thanks for sharing
Raphael Sam Mguni
Every song in the compilation marks a time in my life. Sweet and painful. Hope someone out there shares the moments in my life.
Gerda Pons
That,s real music..love,it.
Diane Giles
Joe could be so serious when he was not kidding around and I thank God for that. Amen. Diane G.
Jacquelyn Shreeves-Lee
I have loved just like this but my love wasn't returned...I'm still looking for my sweet man. A good, sweet man is hard to find. If you've found one, you're truly blessed so hold him close and tell him just how much he means to you xx
Joey V. DeStefano
I'd like to thank marketing executives for killing music. Never again will people want to listen to stuff like this, it's such a shame. 20 years of modern music can't touch this 3 minutes of song.
VINCENT EDWARDS
GREAT POST BY A GREAT SINGER JOE TEX. THANKS. j Vincent Edwards
Leonard Harrison
Woman tell me where did you learn
To make a man feel like a king
When all the time he knows
That he hasn't got a thing, yeah
Stand by my side and there is no limit to what I can do
I know some men whod give their right arm
To have a sweet little woman like you
Because your kind is so hard to find
Your kind is so hard to find