Macy Gray was originally hesitant to record a studio album due to what is, arguably, her most recognizable feature -- her voice. She started her music career as a songwriter. Her first album was actually a mistake; she was at the studio waiting for the person who was supposed to be singing her song, and the producer wanted to hear what one of the songs was supposed to sound like. Once she started singing, the producer liked the rough sound of her voice so much he offered her a record deal.
That Man
Macy Gray Lyrics
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We always rock arou-
We gonna rock around
We always rock around
I was so happy 'bout the love I found
'Til I went to the library and I saw him, oh oh
Sayin', "Oh yeah, oh yeah, I want that man"
He stole my heart and he's killing me softly (uh huh)
He stole my heart and he's killing me softly
She said, "Oh, if he's stealin' and killing
Then he must be a black man" (a black man)
He's my brand new Ferrari, he's my piece of cake
My personal President of the United States
Hey baby, hey daddy, hey sugar
You sure are a looker in your bling-bling chain and your Gucci shades
He got the custom Range Rover
I think I'm comin' over
Saying, "Oh yeah, oh yeah, I want that man"
I'm gonna say it loud, I'm gonna say it loud
I was so happy 'bout the love I found
See, I went to the museum (uh huh) and I saw him, oh oh
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I want that man
He wrote me poetry and bought me a car (uh huh)
He wrote me poetry and bought me a car
She said, "Oh, if he wrote you poetry
And bought you a car, he must be a nice man" (uh huh)
He's my brand new Mercedes
He's my piece of pie
He's my very own personal Jesus Christ
Hey baby, hey daddy, hey sugar
You sure are a looker in your bling-bling chain and your Gucci shades
You got the custom Range Rover
I think I'm comin' over
Saying, "Oh yeah, oh yeah, I want that man" (that man)
Hey baby, baby, I've been lookin' all over the world
You be my man, I will be your girl
I think together we could go real far
Especially if we had a jet, private
You can get it, you bet it
Hey baby, baby, I've been lookin' all over the world
You be my man, I will be your girl
Extraordinary (that man)
I wanna marry (that man)
Hey daddy, hey sugar (that man)
Yeah, you sure are a looker (that man)
When I look at you, all I have to say is, "That man"
Macy Gray's "That Man" is a song that tells the story of a woman who saw a man at the library and fell in love with him. The upbeat tempo and funky beat of the song contains a genuine romanticism that is balanced with the humor from the absurd specificity of the details mentioned. The lyrics talk about the man she desires as "my brand new Ferrari," "my piece of cake," and "my personal president of the United States." The song is amusing when she listed "blung-bling chain" and "Gucci shades" as part of the man's charm. He writes poetry, buys her cars, and is compared to Jesus Christ, making a girl's heart skip a beat.
However, in the second verse, the singer goes to a museum and sees him again, with her love intensifying. The humorous part comes when her friend assumes the man is black because it seems no other reason she could find for the man if he's "stealing and killing." The chorus, with the repeated phrase "Oh yeah, I want that man" stresses how strongly this woman feels about him. She proclaims her affection for this mysterious man while still having fun through the words.
Besides having many ear-catching lyrics, the song's melody is a mix of retro and modern tones, which is distinct from Gray's usual soulful sound. Overall, the song is catchy, romantic, and amusing at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
We always rock around
We are always on the move and doing things
We gonna rock around
We are going to keep moving forward
I was so happy 'bout the love I found
I was happy with my previous relationship
'til I went to the library and I saw him
Until I saw the man who caught my attention at the library
Sayin', 'Oh yeah
Exclaiming my interest in him
Oh yeah, I want That Man'
I am interested in That Man and desire to be with him
He stole my heart and he's killing me softly
He captured my emotions and I am deeply affected by his actions
She said, 'Oh, if he's stealin' and killin'
Someone speculated that his actions of stealing and killing could be associated with his race
Then he must be a black man' (A black man)
They suggest his race to be black
He's my brand new Ferrari
He is like a beautiful, new car to me
He's my piece of cake
He is someone I find very easy to love and be with
My personal president of the United States
He is as important to me as the President of the United States is to the country
Hey baby, hey daddy, hey sugar,
Terms of endearment for That Man
You sure are a looker in your bling-bling chain and your Gucci shades
You look very attractive in your jewelry and sunglasses
He got the custom Range Rover
He has an exclusive car
I think I'm comin' over, saying, 'Oh yeah
I am considering approaching him and showing my interest
'I'm gonna say it loud
I am going to express my desire loudly and clearly
See, I went to the museum and I saw him
I saw That Man at the museum
He wrote me poetry and bought me a car
He is romantic and generous
She said, 'Oh, if he wrote you poetry
Someone suggested that his actions show him to be a good man
And bought you a car, he must be a nice man'
They conclude that his actions prove him to be a good guy
He's my brand new Mercedes
He's my own personal luxury car
He's my piece of pie
He makes me happy like a piece of pie would
He's my very own personal jesus christ
He is my savior and brings me happiness and salvation
Hey baby, baby, I've been lookin' all over the world
I've searched the entire world for someone like him
You be my man, I will be your girl
I want to be with him forever
Extraordinary (That man)
He is remarkable and special
I wanna marry (That man)
I want to spend the rest of my life with him
Hey daddy, hey sugar (That man), yeah, you sure are a looker (That man)
Addressing That Man with words of endearment and admiration
When I look at you, all I have to say is, 'That man'
He is the only one for me and I love him dearly
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Natalie McIntyre, Mel Hinds, Lamar Mitchell, Philip White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on I Try
Redemption Song - Macy Gray - Lyrics
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold out to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs