Percy Sledge (born 25 November 1940 in Leighton, Alabama; died 14 April 201… Read Full Bio ↴Percy Sledge (born 25 November 1940 in Leighton, Alabama; died 14 April 2015 in Baton Rouge) was an American R&B and soul performer who most notably recorded the single "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966, an international top 40 hit that the RIAA has certified as gold. Having achieved his best successes in the mid-to-late 60s and early 70s with a series of emotional soul songs, in his later years he received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Career Achievement Award and was inducted in 2005 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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.

Rainbow Road
Percy Sledge Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was born a poor, poor man
All my life I had hardworkin' hands
But I sang a song as I carried my load
'Cuz I had a dream about Rainbow

Then one day, my chance came along
A man heard me singin' and playing these old songs
He bought me fine clothes, paid the money I owed

Started me on my way down Rainbow

Then one night, a man with a knife
Pushed me till I had to take his life
Fast as fallin', all my friends were gone
That old judge traded me a sentence for a song

Just livin' with this ball n' chain
Had to wear a number for they never call my name

Like a dream, I'm growin' old
But we still sing about Rainbow

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Rainbow Road by Percy Sledge reflect the story of a man who experienced poverty and hardship but was then given an opportunity to succeed. The singer of the song recounts his struggles, stating that he was born a poor man and worked hard his entire life. However, he sings a song as he goes about his daily toil which reveals his dreams of a better future on Rainbow Road. The man's fortune changes when he meets someone who hears him singing and playing music. This benefactor pays off his debts, outfits him in fine clothes, and sets him on the path to success.

But the singer's hopes are shattered when he has to defend himself against an assailant who threatens his life. As a result of this violent incident, he loses all his friends and is given a long prison sentence. The only comfort he has left is the memory of Rainbow Road and the music he made there. Despite the injustice he feels at living with a ball and chain and being forced to wear a number instead of his name, he continues to sing about Rainbow Road and the hope it brought him.

In conclusion, Rainbow Road is not just a physical place but also a symbol of hope and a better life. The song shows that sometimes success can be cruelly taken away, but dreams remain, and the human spirit can overcome even the most challenging of circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

I was born a poor, poor man
I was born into poverty, with little to my name and few opportunities.

All my life I had hardworkin' hands
I spent my life working hard to make ends meet.

But I sang a song as I carried my load
Despite my difficulties, I found solace in music and used it to cope with my hardships.

'Cuz I had a dream about Rainbow
I held onto the hope that life could get better, symbolized by a place called Rainbow.

Then one day, my chance came along
Opportunity finally presented itself to me.

A man heard me singin' and playing these old songs
A person recognized my talent and gave me a chance to showcase it.

He bought me fine clothes, paid the money I owed
This person helped me take care of my debts and provided me with material support.

Started me on my way down Rainbow
This person gave me a head start on my journey towards my dreams.

Then one night, a man with a knife
One evening, I was faced with a violent threat.

Pushed me till I had to take his life
I was forced to defend myself and took the attacker's life for my own safety.

Fast as fallin', all my friends were gone
After this incident, my support system abandoned me.

That old judge traded me a sentence for a song
I was punished by the court with imprisonment, but music remained a source of comfort for me.

Just livin' with this ball n' chain
I am burdened by the weight of confinement and the limitations it imposes on me.

Had to wear a number for they never call my name
I am stripped of my identity and treated as a mere number within the prison system.

Like a dream, I'm growin' old
Time passes slowly while behind bars, but my hope for a better future remains.

But we still sing about Rainbow
Despite the odds, I and my fellow prisoners continue to hold onto the dream of a brighter future, represented by Rainbow.

Contributed by Nicholas G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@mattredfern1339

14w

i wonder sometimes will there ever come a day when the all too common story this song tells of the so called, no i prefer this maybe for a minute, the 'africanised' north american, experience no longer moves i deep down inside.

there are many songs for i of similar vein found in many genres over the years, "on the turning away" massive one among many from floyd, " "on the other side" by Clinton Fearon from the roots stable, another from the Soul stable"lean on me" by another great, Bill Withers even"teach the world to sing" forget the ad find the original and listen, enjoy the rythm we only need feel that but listen to the song please. "bridge over troubled water" so so many i could surely be here all day with just one genre.
listen to Joe South for crying out loud please how are we still only civilised by claim?

for the africanised north americans who cannot hear still the message caught so badly in the memory of suffering they never personally knew, for those few learn of the gypsies, an indian army in exile having pushed far beyond their supply lines on campaign read of their journey through europe your ancestors suffering pails a little, still hurts it happened but please don't miss the message.

it's everywhere.

anyway "mind how You go" and Peace to all... ❤

All comments from YouTube:

@sheilasams9515

I was 5 or 6 when Percy was getting his music out there and I Learned more about life because fortunately I had cool people around raising me, I LOVE 💘 PERCY, RIP😪♥️✌😎💯🙏