During the 70s, while still in his teens, Mitchell began playing with local bands in the city of Sarnia. After evolving through a few name changes with essentially the same band, Mitchell and a group titled "Zooom" headed off for Toronto, Ontario. The band eventually dissolved, with Mitchell travelling over to the Greek islands.
Upon his return to Canada, he formed the band Max Webster, which managed to finally break through commercially. Besides playing the group, Mitchell and wrote most of the band's songs with fellow Sarnia native and lyricist, Pye Dubois (Paul Woods). Max Webster toured extensively and built a string of hits. Mitchell's solo career began after his departure from Max Webster, with session work and a succession of solo albums.
In early 1985, the song "Go For Soda" from the Akimbo Alogo album became an international hit and perhaps remains his best known song outside of his native Canada.
In 2004, Mitchell entered the radio broadcasting industry, becoming afternoon drive time host on Toronto classic rock radio station Q107.
As of 2005, Mitchell, still does the afternoon drive time on Q107, and is working on a new double CD set for a Spring 2006 release.
In December of 2005, Mitchell had proposed to the Q107 listeners that they write a Christmas song together. The resulting song is entitled "A Christmas Smile". At the end of the song, Mitchell advises his fans not to drink and drive, but to "go for a soda" instead.
That's A Man
Kim Mitchell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's looking for relief
Going faster double blind
His reputation is getting loud, yes
That's a man
That's a man
That's a man
You know he's having trouble
Saying yes to his woman on the telephone
'Cause he's got another woman
Waiting on the other line
And he sits in public places getting loud, yes
That's a man
That's a man
That's a man
That's the best part of a man
The lyrics to "That's A Man" by Kim Mitchell appear to be an ode to masculinity, specifically highlighting the dangerous and reckless side of it. The opening lines, "He's got eyes like burning embers, he's looking for relief" suggest a man who is running on pure adrenaline and is possibly seeking escape from something, while the line "Going faster double blind" could signify a man living in a self-destructive manner.
The chorus, which repeats the phrase "That's a man, that's the best part of a man" may be an acknowledgement of the perceived positive aspects of masculinity - strength, courage, and boldness - while also hinting at the darker side of it. The lines, "You know he's having trouble saying yes to his woman on the telephone, 'cause he's got another woman waiting on the other line, and he sits in public places getting loud" further suggest a man who is conflicted and lacks emotional honesty or integrity.
Overall, the lyrics to "That's A Man" seem to depict a man who is living life on his own terms, but not necessarily in a healthy or positive way. The song may be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of toxic masculinity and the societal pressures that may push men towards reckless behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
He's got eyes like burning embers
His gaze is intense, passionate and unyielding that it appears as if his eyes are afire
He's looking for relief
He's searching for a way to deal with the pressure and tension he's feeling
Going faster double blind
He's moving forward at an accelerated pace without any regard for consequences or potential dangers
His reputation is getting loud, yes
His character and achievements are being talked about and celebrated in a very vocal and enthusiastic manner
That's a man That's a man That's a man That's the best part of a man
He embodies the qualities of a true man, including strength, courage, and the ability to stand up for himself
You know he's having trouble
It's apparent that he's struggling with a difficult situation
Saying yes to his woman on the telephone
He can't commit to his partner even when she's not physically present
'Cause he's got another woman
He's seeing someone else behind his partner's back
Waiting on the other line
His other lover is on hold, waiting for him to take her call
And he sits in public places getting loud, yes
He's careless about displaying his boisterous attitude and celebrating his identity as a 'man,' even in public places
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