Percy Sledge worked in the fields in Leighton before he worked as an orderly at Colbert County Hospital in Sheffield. By the mid-1960s, Sledge was touring the Southeast with the Esquires Combo on weekends and working at the hospital. A former patient who was a friend of producer Quin Ivy introduced the two, an audition followed, and Sledge was signed to a recording contract.
Sledge's smooth voice was perfect for the series of soul ballads produced by Ivy and Marlin Greene, which rock critic Dave Marsh called "emotional classics for romantics of all ages."
"When a Man Loves a Woman" was the first song recorded under the contract (released in 1966), and it became not only an international hit (it reached #1 in the US) but was also the first gold record released by Atlantic Records. The magnificent soul anthem became the cornerstone of Sledge's career and was followed by "Warm and Tender Love," "Take Time to Know Her," and "Cover Me."
Sledge charted with "I'll Be Your Everything" and "Sunshine" during the 1970s, and has become an international concert favorite throughout the world, especially in the Netherlands, Germany, and on the African continent.
His career enjoyed a renaissance in the 1980s when "When a Man Loves a Woman" re-entered the Top 10 in the UK after being used in a Levi's commercial.
Sledge was an inaugural Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award honoree in 1989. In 2005, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
My Girl
Percy Sledge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl
I've even got the month of May
With my girl
The lyrics to Percy Sledge's song "My Girl" speak to the joy and happiness that can come from being in love. The first verse talks about how even on a cloudy day, the singer has sunshine because of his beloved. The metaphorical meaning behind this suggests that even on days when life may seem dark and gloomy, the presence of the singer's girl brings light and joy to his life. Similarly, the second verse speaks to how the singer's love is sweeter than the honey the bees collect and the songs that the birds sing. He is filled with gratitude for the love that he has, and the song seems to suggest an appreciation for the small things in life, rather than monetary or external riches.
In the bridge of the song, Sledge sings that he doesn't need any money, fortune, or fame because he has everything he needs in his girl. He claims that he has all the riches that one man can claim, and this suggests that to him, love is the ultimate wealth. The lyrics repeat the sentiment from the beginning, emphasizing that the singer has sunshine on a cloudy day and the month of May because of his girl. The song highlights the beauty and value of love, and the way that it can bring meaning and happiness to one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
Even on tough days I have reasons to be happy with my girl.
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
Even during the dreary times, thinking of my girl brings warmth and optimism to my life.
I guess you'd say
It's hard to explain, but this feeling is so special and intense.
What can make me feel this way?
What other force in the world could create this level of joy and contentment?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
It's my girl who brings this overwhelming joy into my life.
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
This entire song is devoted to singing the praises of my amazing girl.
I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I feel incredibly fortunate to have so much sweetness and love in my life because of my girl.
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
My happiness is expressed through an even more beautiful melody than nature itself.
Hey hey hey
I just can't contain my excitement and joy!
Ooh
This feeling is so intense, it's almost overwhelming.
I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
All the material possessions in the world could never compare to the blessing that is my girl.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
With my girl, I feel like the wealthiest person on the planet. No amount of money could ever come close.
With my girl
As long as I have my girl by my side, everything in life feels perfect.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: William Smokey Robinson, Ronald White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Herron
Happy Birthday to the Late Percy Sledge his Birth Card is Eight 🎱 of Hearts 💕 Rest in Peace ✌️🕊️! Merry Christmas ⛄🎄 Blessings and Hugs 💖💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕💕!
Lil Red Corvette Girl
Do it Baby ~ Sock it to me ❤️ 2020 ❤️ My most favorite song ever ☑️ Love the Temptations & Motown ❤️ Love PERCY SLEDGE ❤️
Christine Kavita
One of my favourite songs of my best singer of all times
Christine Kavita
This what I m waiting for so good.!
stephen bynum
Rest In Peace
A C Spaans
onwijze goei zanger en muziek
Carolyn Forsyth Brown
neither one of them were ever with the temptations
Christine Kavita
I mean is also good.
interpopol
@xTheRealMohamKBx Thanks a lot ;)