In October 2004, Etheridge was diagnosed with breast cancer, and underwent surgery and chemotherapy. At the 2005 Grammy Awards, she made a return to the stage and, although bald from chemotherapy, performed a tribute to Janis Joplin with the song "Piece of My Heart". Etheridge's performance was widely lauded, with India.Arie writing "I Am Not My Hair" about Etheridge. Later that year, Etheridge released her first compilation album, Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled. The album was a huge success, peaking at #14 on the Billboard 200, and going Gold immediately. Her latest release is 4th Street Feeling.
Etheridge is known for her mixture of "confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals." She has also been an iconic gay and lesbian activist since her public coming out in January 1993.
Thing About You
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ah you gotta be careful what you dream
I thought this might pass with time
Yeah I thought I was satisfied
Honey let me tell you I got a thing about you
Let me tell you I got a thing about you
And no matter what you say
I, I, I got a thing about you
I, I, I got a thing about you
Somewhere deep in the middle of the night
Oh lovers hold each other tight
They whisper in their ancient ...???....
Oh ...???... love they disappear
Well
Honey let me tell you I got a thing about you
Let me tell you I got a thing about you
And no matter what you say
No matter what you do
I, I, I got a thing about you
I, I, I got a thing about you
You hold some strange control over me
You know that it's so wild it hypnotizes me
Yeah
Honey let me tell you I got a thing about you
Let me tell you I got a thing about you
And no matter what you say
No matter what you do
I, I, I got a thing about you
I, I, I got a thing about you
I got a thing about you
Ah yes
Oh baby yes I do
Oh honey got a thing about you
Oh baby got a thing about you
I said ooh honey got a thing about you
Yeah I got a thing, I got a thing about you
I said oh girl I got a thing about you
Yeah yeah I got a thing about you
The lyrics to Melissa Etheridge's "Thing About You" appear to revolve around the singer's fascination with a particular person. At the beginning of the song, she acknowledges that she knows she has to be careful about what she dreams, but she can't help the thoughts that enter her mind. Although she thought she was satisfied with her life, this person has stirred something inside of her that she can't explain.
Later in the song, she describes the power that this person has over her. She refers to the mysterious control that they hold over her and how it's so intense that it completely hypnotizes her. She can't help feeling drawn towards this person, no matter what they say or do.
Overall, the song seems to be about the intense, mysterious pull that some people have over others. It's a common human experience to be drawn to someone for reasons that we can't entirely articulate or comprehend, and Melissa Etheridge has done an excellent job of capturing that experience in "Thing About You."
Line by Line Meaning
I'm not much on mystery
I am not interested in things that are unclear or difficult to understand
Ah you gotta be careful what you dream
You should be cautious about what you wish for or desire
I thought this might pass with time
I believed that my feelings for you would fade as time went by
Yeah I thought I was satisfied
I used to think that I was content without you in my life
Honey let me tell you I got a thing about you
I have an intense attraction or obsession towards you
And no matter what you say
Your words or actions will not change my feelings
No matter what you do
Your actions will not affect the strength of my attraction to you
Somewhere deep in the middle of the night
During the night, when it is quiet and still
Oh lovers hold each other tight
Couples embrace each other closely
They whisper in their ancient ...???....
They speak softly to each other in a secret, intimate language
Oh ...???... love they disappear
They become lost in their love and forget their surroundings
You hold some strange control over me
You have a unique power to influence my thoughts and emotions
You know that it's so wild it hypnotizes me
Your intense and impulsive nature has a strong effect on me, making me feel mesmerized
I got a thing about you
I have a deep and undeniable attraction to you
Oh baby yes I do
My feelings for you are real and genuine
Oh honey got a thing about you
My attraction to you is strong and cannot be ignored
Oh baby got a thing about you
I have a powerful and intense connection to you
Yeah yeah I got a thing about you
My feelings for you are strong and persistent
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.