Katie Webster (born Kathryn Jewel Thorne, 11 January 1936 – 5 September 199… Read Full Bio ↴Katie Webster (born Kathryn Jewel Thorne, 11 January 1936 – 5 September 1999) was an American boogie-woogie pianist. Her place of birth is listed as Houston, Texas.

She is acknowledged as one of the most important blues artists of her generation.

Webster was initially best known as a session musician behind Louisiana musicians on the Excello and Goldband record labels, such as Lightnin' Slim and Lonesome Sundown. She also played piano with Otis Redding in the 1960s, but after his death, went into semi-retirement. During her career, she was duet partner to many stars, among them B. B. King, Robert Cray and Rockin' Sidney. Her long professional relationship with the Alligator Records label is also worthy of noting.

In the 1980s, she was repeatedly booked for European tours and recorded albums for the German record label, Ornament Records. She cut You Know That's Right with the band Hot Links, and the album that established her in the United States; The Swamp Boogie Queen with guest spots by Bonnie Raitt and Robert Cray. She performed at both the San Francisco Blues Festival and Long Beach Blues Festival.

Webster suffered a stroke in 1993 while touring Greece and returned to performing the following year. She died from heart failure in League City, Texas, in September 1999.

Hard Lovin' Mama
Katie Webster Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(spoken:)
If you fool around with me man,
I'll put so much lovin' on you
I will put goosepimples on your goosepimples!

Well I want you men to listen
To what I have to say
You better be in good shape

When you come my way

chorus:
'Cause I'm a hard lovin' mama
Healthy, firm, and fine
And if you fool around with me
I know I can make you mine
All the time

Now you may be a playboy
Handsome and free
But there'll be no more playin'
When you're playin' 'round with me

(chorus)

(piano solo, over which:)
Baby I don't take nothin'
'Cause I know what I got is hot
Microwave stuff

(guitar solo, over which:)
Oh take your time baby
You know that's right

Well I ain't been mistreated
I ain't been never crossed
'Cause when it comes to lovin'
Katie knows she's the boss

(chorus)

Cause I'm a hard lovin' mama
Yes I'm a hard lovin' mama
Sexy firm and fine
And I know I can make you mine
Yes I'm a hard lovin' mama
Healthy firm and fine
Hard lovin' mama
Hard lovin' mama
I'm a hard lovin' mama
Healthy firm and fine
And if you mess around with me
I know I can make you mine
All the time

Hard lovin' mama
Hard lovin' mama

I'm a hard lovin' mama
I'm a hard lovin' mama... (fade)

Overall Meaning

The song "Hard Lovin' Mama" by Katie Webster is a powerful and confident statement about her sexuality. The spoken introduction warns men about what they can expect if they fool around with her, stating that she will put so much love on them that they will have goosebumps on their goosebumps. The chorus reinforces her message of being a hard-loving woman who is healthy, firm, and fine, and is not to be messed with. She sings about how she knows she's in charge when it comes to loving and that men better be in good shape if they want to come her way.

The piano and guitar solos add to the sensual nature of the song, with Webster expressing her confidence in her own abilities and emphasizing her microwave hotness. The repetition of the chorus at the end underscores her message of being a hard-loving mama, a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to take it. Overall, "Hard Lovin' Mama" is an assertive and empowering song that celebrates female sexuality.

Line by Line Meaning

If you fool around with me man, I'll put so much lovin' on you I will put goosepimples on your goosepimples!
If you cheat on me, I won't hold back; I'll shower you with so much love that you'll get goosebumps all over

Well I want you men to listen To what I have to say You better be in good shape When you come my way
Hey, listen up guys; better make sure you're prepared before approaching me

'Cause I'm a hard lovin' mama Healthy, firm, and fine And if you fool around with me I know I can make you mine All the time
I'm a strong, sexy woman, and if you cheat on me, I'll still make you mine with my love

Now you may be a playboy Handsome and free But there'll be no more playin' When you're playin' 'round with me
You might be a ladies' man, but you won't be playing around with me

Baby I don't take nothin' 'Cause I know what I got is hot Microwave stuff
I know I got something special, and I won't settle for less

Oh take your time baby You know that's right
Let's take our time together, we're on the same page

Well I ain't been mistreated I ain't been never crossed 'Cause when it comes to lovin' Katie knows she's the boss
I've never been mistreated or taken advantage of because I'm in charge of my love life

Cause I'm a hard lovin' mama Yes I'm a hard lovin' mama Sexy firm and fine And I know I can make you mine
I'm a tough, attractive woman who can easily win your heart

Hard lovin' mama Hard lovin' mama I'm a hard lovin' mama
I'm a woman who loves hard and isn't afraid to show it

Healthy firm and fine Hard lovin' mama Hard lovin' mama
I'm a healthy, strong, and attractive woman who loves with everything she's got

And if you mess around with me I know I can make you mine All the time
If you dare to cheat on me, I know I'll still be able to win you over with my love

Contributed by Riley A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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