Born Maria Garzia Rosa Domenica d'Amato on 12th September 1943 in Greenwich Village, New York, she performed in the early 1960s in Greenwich Village with Bob Dylan, John Sebastian, David Grisman, and Stefan Grossman. Later in the 1960s her distinctive vocals were heard in many of the tracks recorded by Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band.
She began her solo career in 1972 when her marriage to fellow Jug Band member Geoff Muldaur ended, retaining her married name. Her first solo album "Maria Muldaur", released in 1973, contained her hit single "Midnight at the Oasis", which reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. It also peaked at number 21 in the UK Singles Chart. Later that year, she released her second album Waitress In A Donut Shop. This included a re-recording of "I'm a Woman", the Leiber and Stoller number first associated with Peggy Lee and a standout feature from her Jug Band days. The title of this album is taken from a line in another song on the album, "Sweetheart" by Ken Burgan.
Around this time, Muldaur established a relationship with the Grateful Dead. Opening for some Grateful Dead shows in the summer of 1974, with John Kahn, bassist of the Jerry Garcia Band, would eventually earn her a seat in that group in the late 1970s, as a backing vocalist.
Later in her career, as her voice deepened, the blues were featured in more of her recordings. Her 2005 release Sweet Lovin' Ol' Soul was nominated for both a W.C. Handy Award and a Grammy award in the Traditional Blues Category.
In 2011 she released the album "Steady Love".
Lover Man
Maria Muldaur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I long to try something I've never had
Never had no kissin', oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man, oh, where can you be
The night is cold and I'm so all alone
I'd give my soul just to call you my own
Got a moon above me, but there's no one to love me
I've heard it said
That the thrill of romance can be
Like a heavenly dream
I go to bed with a prayer
That you'll make love to me
Strange as it seems
Someday we'll meet
And you'll dry all my tears
Then whisper sweet little things in my ears
Huggin' and a-kissin'
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man oh where can you be
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man, oh, where can you be
In the song “Lover Man,” Maria Muldaur sings about a longing for a lover who has not yet come into her life. She begins with an introspective statement about feeling sad, but not knowing why. She then reveals her desire to try something new and speaks to the fact that she has never experienced physical intimacy with a lover. In the chorus, she repeatedly calls out to her lover, asking where he is and lamenting the absence of his love in her life. Muldaur's use of a romantic metaphor to describe the thrill of love, compares it to experiencing a heavenly dream. She reveals that she goes to bed every night, hoping and praying that he will find her and make love to her.
Throughout the song, Muldaur describes the emotional loneliness of waiting for a lover. She references the cold night and having no one to love her, despite the moon shining above her. In the final verse, Muldaur expresses hope and faith that someday she will meet her lover. She describes the lover holding her, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, and expressing physical affection through hugs and kisses. Through her lyrics, Muldaur illustrates the deep longing for a relationship and the desire for physical intimacy that many people can relate to.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know why, but I'm feeling so sad
I'm feeling down, but I'm not sure why
I long to try something I've never had
I yearn to experience something new and exciting
Never had no kissin', oh, what I've been missin'
I haven't shared intimate moments with someone, and I'm missing out on the joy of it
Lover man, oh, where can you be
I wish my lover were here with me right now
The night is cold and I'm so all alone
I'm lonely and the night feels unbearable because of it
I'd give my soul just to call you my own
I'm willing to give everything I have to make you mine
Got a moon above me, but there's no one to love me
Even though the moon is shining, I feel unloved and alone
I've heard it said
That the thrill of romance can be
Like a heavenly dream
I've been told that falling in love can feel like a wonderful, heavenly experience
I go to bed with a prayer
That you'll make love to me
Strange as it seems
Even though it may seem strange, I pray that we can share intimacy and affection together
Someday we'll meet
And you'll dry all my tears
I believe that someday we'll meet and you'll comfort me when I'm upset
Then whisper sweet little things in my ears
Huggin' and a-kissin'
I want you to whisper sweet nothings to me and hold me close
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man oh where can you be
I'm missing the love and affection of a partner, and I'm desperately searching for my lover
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man, oh, where can you be
I can't stop thinking about what I've been missing in my love life, and I'm still searching for my perfect match
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind