Whitney's performing career started as early as three years old while touring with her family's gospel group, the Manning Gospel Singers. Singing with James Brown in the late 1960s, she was able to make a name for herself with powerful songs like "I'm Tired, I'm Tired, I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before It's Too Late)" and "If You Don't Work (You Can't Eat)." Her recording of "It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It To)" reached the R&B Top 20. Her song "Unwind Yourself" has been sampled by numerous modern artists, including DJ Kool.
Although she's not a household name, Marva Whitney is fondly remembered by funk devotees as one of the rawest, brassiest, most powerful divas the music ever produced. Along with fellow funk belters Lyn Collins and Vicki Anderson, Whitney made her name singing with the James Brown Revue for a few years, and her limited, much-sampled recordings for Brown-associated labels now fetch astronomical sums on the collector's market. Born in Kansas City, Whitney began performing at the age of three with her family's touring gospel group, the Manning Gospel Singers. She studied music in college and caught on as lead singer of the R&B group Tommy Gadson & the Derbys. In 1967, she signed on with the James Brown Revue as a featured female vocalist, meaning that she would perform her own small set every night while Brown took a break. Whitney accompanied Brown on his late-'60s tour of Vietnam, and made other international appearances with him as well.
In 1969, Whitney made her first solo recordings for King, Brown's label at the time. She scored a Top 20 hit on the R&B charts with "It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It To)," a rewrite of the Isley Brothers hit; the follow-up, "Things Got to Get Better (Get Together)," just missed the R&B Top 20. Far too gutsy and funky to cross over to the pop charts, Whitney remained with the Revue until 1970, without scoring any more significant hits on her own. Still, cuts like "Unwind Yourself" (now very recognizable through several hip-hop samples) and the duet "You Got to Have a Job (If You Don't Work)" helped cement her reputation among record collectors. Her only studio LP, It's My Thing, was released in 1969 and has been heavily bootlegged and sampled by numerous DJs; her Live and Lowdown at the Apollo LP also commands hefty price tags.
Whitney went on to record for the Isley Brothers' T-Neck label, as well as Nashboro, but her prime material is from the James Brown years. Seven of those tracks were compiled on the Polydor collection James Brown's Original Funky Divas. Whitney has reunited sporadically with Brown for live performances over the years.
In December 2009, Whitney collapsed on stage in front of thousands of fans in Lorne, Australia, while performing with The Transatlantics at Falls Festival. She was immediately rushed to Geelong Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a stroke. The remaining dates of her tour had to be canceled, but Whitney made a recovery and performed again in 2010.
In December 2012, Whitney died from complications of pneumonia at her home. She was 68.
It's My Thing
Marva Whitney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can do what I wanna do
You can't tell me
Who to sock it to
It's my thing
I can do what I wanna do
You can't tell me
Who to sock it to
You don't want me to love you
It ain't no big deal
You don't wanna leave me man
It ain't no big deal
I don't need love
As for as you
Make me no difference
Who you sock it to
It's my thing
I can do what I wanna do
You can't tell me
Who to sock it to
It's my thing
I'm got hurt
For your love
Oh it's pathetic baby
I gotta be on alert
I'll do anything
Anything I choose
I just can't be at the window
Stopped for you
It's your thing, my thing
That I want to do
You can't tell me
Who to sock it to
It's my thing
I can do what I wanna do
You can't tell me, no
Who to sock it to
In Marva Whitney's song "It's My Thing," the singer is asserting her independence and autonomy when it comes to her life and her relationships. She declares that she has the right to do what she wants to, and that no one can dictate to her who she should give her love to or how she should live her life. The phrase "it's my thing" is repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the singer's ownership of her own decisions and actions.
The singer also seems to be reacting against the pressure to conform and to fit into someone else's idea of what a relationship should be. She dismisses the idea that she needs love from any particular person, saying that it makes no difference to her who they give their love to. Instead, she insists on her own agency and the right to make choices that are right for her.
At the same time, there is a hint of vulnerability in the song, as the singer acknowledges that she has been hurt and that she needs to be cautious in the future. But even in this more vulnerable moment, she affirms her right to do whatever she chooses and to live life on her own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
It's my thing
I have control over myself and what I choose to do
I can do what I wanna do
I have the freedom to make my own choices and act accordingly
You can't tell me
No one else has the authority to dictate my actions
Who to sock it to
I can express myself and love whomever I desire
You don't want me to love you
If someone doesn't reciprocate my feelings of love, it's not a major issue
It ain't no big deal
It's not worth worrying over
You don't wanna leave me man
If someone doesn't want to be with me, it's not a major issue
I don't need love
I don't require someone to love me to be content with myself
As for as you
It doesn't matter to me what you choose to do
Make me no difference
It has no impact on me
Who you sock it to
Who someone chooses to love is their own decision
I'm got hurt
I suffered emotional pain from a past lover
For your love
Because I was in love with that person
Oh it's pathetic baby
I feel embarrassed or remorseful about my past behavior
I gotta be on alert
I need to take precautions and not let myself be hurt again
I'll do anything
I am willing to take any action necessary
Anything I choose
I can decide what actions I want to take
I just can't be at the window
I can't wait around for someone who doesn't want me
Stopped for you
Holding myself back or waiting for your attention
It's your thing, my thing
Each individual has their own personal choices to make
That I want to do
We both have unique wants and desires
You can't tell me
No one can dictate my individual choices
Who to sock it to
I can express love freely towards whoever I desire
It's my thing
I am in control of my own life and decisions
I can do what I wanna do
I am empowered to make my own choices
You can't tell me, no
No one has the right to control my actions
Who to sock it to
I have the freedom to love whomever I please
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES BROWN, MARVA WHITNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@qwertyiuwg4uwtwthn
1:40
"Right about now, N.W.A court is in full effect
Judge Dre presiding
In the case of N.W.A versus the Police Department
Prosecuting attorneys are MC Ren, Ice Cube
And Eazy-motherfucking-E
Order, order, order!
Ice Cube, take the motherfucking stand
Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth
And nothing but the truth so help your black ass?
You goddamn right
Well, won't you tell everybody what the fuck you gotta say?"
@CityofCompton-lb2fz
1:40 and a legendary beat was born
@kandidmania
Thank you grand ma’ for giving me your record collection this was the 1st 45 I’ve ever had long live Marva Whitney & King James Brown.
@derrickcross8630
Legendary 😮💨🔥
@ronaldgranville9760
Goooood Lord. She is a female James Brown with the exact same amount of soul and then some!!!!!!!!!!
@user-yw7ek6jn3z
My father said this was my song because it’s my thang
@WalterWhite-iu1dc
1:40 legend
@samuelvance5674
For those of us who lived this kind of Groove , this slides back on as easily as an old pair of jeans . Matter of fact, where's my Dashiki ?
@fillipicb
1:40 ''right about now, n.w.a. court is in full effect, judge dre presiding in the in the case of NWA versus the police department...''
@ruthdixon7807
fantastic...marva never really got given her due.
@robsonborret5621
Super Marca, super funky.