-----------------------… Read Full Bio ↴Percy is an Electronic producer from Toronto
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Post-punk three piece from York, England comprising Colin Howard (vocal, keyboard, guitar), Andy Wiles (bass) and Dan Whiting (drume). Active since 1996, notable tracks include "The Beast of Bramley", "Donny Rednex" and "Caravan", the latter two being featured on the playlist of the late lamented John Peel. After a 6 year hiatus have now written and recorded a batch of new tracks "Anthems for a Wasted Youth", released October 2013 on iTunes.
When a Man Loves a Woman
Percy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
He'd change the world
For the good thing he's found
If she's bad, he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comforts
And sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves you, woman
I gave you everything I had
Trying to hold on to your heartless love
Baby, please don't treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Loving eyes can't ever see
When a man loves a woman
He can do her no wrong
He can never want some other girl
Yes, when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'Cause baby, baby, you're my world
When a man loves a woman
Percy Sledge's song "When a Man Loves a Woman" is a powerful ballad that explores the depths of love and devotion that a man can experience for a woman. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is utterly consumed by his love for his woman. When he loves her, he cannot keep his mind on anything else. He will do whatever it takes to make her happy and to keep her in his life. He would even change the world if that meant he could keep the good thing that he has found.
The song also speaks to the potential downside of this kind of all-consuming love. When a man is so deeply in love with a woman, he becomes blind to her faults. He may even turn his back on his best friends if they dare to criticize her. He is willing to sacrifice everything he has, from his comforts to his last dime, in order to make her happy.
The climax of the song is the line "baby please don't treat me bad." Here, the singer recognizes that this kind of love can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it can bring great joy and happiness. On the other hand, it can also lead to heartbreak and misery if the woman does not reciprocate the man's feelings. Despite this potential pitfall, the singer declares that he will always love this woman because she is his world.
Line by Line Meaning
When a man loves a woman
When a man truly loves a woman and is deeply devoted to her
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
His thoughts are consumed by love for her and nothing else can distract him
He'd change the world
He would do anything to make things better for her
For the good thing he's found
He found something good in her and he cherishes it
If she's bad, he can't see it
Even if she does something bad, he can't see her flaws
She can do no wrong
In his eyes, she is perfect and can never be wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
He would choose her over anyone, even his closest friends
If he put her down
He would never criticize or belittle her, even if others do
Spend his very last dime
He would spend all his money to make her happy
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He will do whatever it takes to hold on to her, and she is what he needs
He'd give up all his comforts
He would give up everything that makes him comfortable for her
And sleep out in the rain
He would endure anything for her, even if it means sleeping out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
He would obey her every word, even if it goes against his own beliefs
Well, this man loves you, woman
The man singing this song loves the woman he is addressing
I gave you everything I had
He has already given her his all, and there's nothing left to give
Trying to hold on to your heartless love
Despite her being insensitive, he's trying his best to hold on to her love
Baby, please don't treat me bad
He's pleading with her not to hurt him
Down deep in his soul
His love for her is rooted deep within his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she hurts him, she can bring him great pain and sadness
If she plays him for a fool
If she deceives him or treats him unfairly, it's hard for him to realize it
He's the last one to know
Because he's in love, he's blinded to her negative behavior and struggles to see the truth
Loving eyes can't ever see
Because he loves her so deeply, he can't see her negative side
He can do her no wrong
He would never intentionally do anything to hurt her, even by mistake
He can never want some other girl
He is completely devoted to her and has no desire for anyone else
I know exactly how he feels
The singer knows what it's like to love someone so deeply
'Cause baby, baby, you're my world
The woman he loves is his entire world and everything to him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Calvin Houston Lewis, Andrew James Wright
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind