Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6 1949 - June 30, 1995), was born in Philadelphia… Read Full Bio ↴Phyllis Linda Hyman (July 6 1949 - June 30, 1995), was born in Philadelphia, and grew up in Pittsburgh. She is perhaps best remembered for her signature song, You Know How to Love Me (1979), which was the title track from her fourth album and which peaked at #6 on the disco chart that year.

Hyman began singing professionally in 1971 as part of the group The New Direction. She was also a member of Miami groups All The People and The Hondo Beat before forming Phyllis Hyman & the P/H Factor in 1974 and touring for two years before relocating to New York.

She became a featured vocalist on Norman Connors' album, You Are My Starship (1976) performing "Betcha By Golly Wow" and the duet "We Both Need Each Other" with Michael Henderson.

Hyman released her debut album on Buddah Records with Phyllis Hyman (1977), followed by Sing a Song (1979). After the second album, she signed with Arista, delivering: Somewhere in My Lifetime (1979); You Know How to Love Me (1979); Can't We Fall in Love Again (1981); and Goddess of Love (1983). She then joined Gamble & Huff at Philadelphia International for Living All Alone (1987); Prime of My Life (1991); and I Refuse to Be Lonely (1995), which was released posthumously.

Hyman's first solo Top Ten hit came in 1981 with "Can't We Fall In Love Again", a duet with Michael Henderson. The song was recorded while she was performing in the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies (1981), a tribute to Duke Ellington. She performed in the role for almost two years, receiving a Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer and a Tony Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. In 1992 she was voted 'Number One Best Female Vocalist' in the United Kingdom by Blues & Soul magazine readers. She has also been honored with a bronze plaque along the Philadelphia Walk of Fame, a tribute to the city's native and immigrant musical legends.

In addition to duets with Henderson, Hyman lent vocals to projects with Grover Washington Jr., Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Joe Sample, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jon Lucien, The Fatback Band, Chuck Mangione, The Whispers and The Four Tops. Some of these collaborations appear on One on One (1998).

She can be heard in movie soundtracks: for Too Scared to Scream ("I'll Be There"); The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh ("Magic Mona"); and School Daze ("Be One"). The latter two titles are included on In Between the Heartaches (2004), a compilation that also contains guest appearances and previously unreleased material.

On the afternoon of June 30, 1995, Hyman committed suicide, leaving a note to her fans, family and friends that read in part: "I'm tired. I'm tired. Those of you that I love know who you are. May God bless you." She was buried on what would have been her 46th birthday. For her stage presence and fashion sense, Hyman was often known as "The Sophisticated Lady".
At the coda of a particularly pretty and memorable tune from McCoy Tyner's "Looking Out" called "In Search of My Heart", Phyllis soulfully sings "Remember me!"

Funny How Love Goes
Phyllis Hyman Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Phyllis)
Funny how love goes
I wish I had never met you
(Damon)
I wish I had never seen your face
(Phyllis)
Cause now I can't forget you
(Damon)

The memory of you is too much for me to take

(Phyllis)
There was a time when you were mine
I couldn't wait to see you, hold you in my arms

(Damon)
Oh how I would yearn
And my heart would burn with love for you, you

(Phyllis)
You and me we got along so good
I thought our love would last forever

(Damon)
Suddenly things changed
Now the mere mention of your name

(Phyllis)
Makes me sad and blue
Oh I'm missing you

(Phyllis)
Funny how love goes
I wish I had never met you
(Damon)
I wish you had never come into my life
(Phyllis)
If I could just forget you
I know that everything would be alright
Everything would be alright

Late at night when I'm fast asleep
I can hear you calling out my name
(Damon)
When will it end
(Phyllis)
There's no need to pretend
I still love you the same,
Ooh yes I do

(Damon)
If I could just put my pride aside
I'd come running back to you

(Phyllis)
But I know it wouldn't do any good
Because I did the best I could
It would be the same thing again
Oh, oh yeah

(Phyllis)
Funny how love goes
I wish I had never met you
(Damon)
I wish I had never tasted your love
(Phyllis)
Cause now I can't forget you
The memory of you is too much for me to take

(Phyllis & Damon)
Funny how love goes
(Damon)
Funny how love goes
(Phyllis)
Funny how love goes
(Damon)

Funny how love goes

(Phyllis)
Talking about you baby
(Damon)
I can't, I can't
(Damon)
I can't baby
Love, love, love, love

fade

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Phyllis Hyman's song Funny How Love Goes explore the complexities of love and heartbreak. The song begins with Phyllis expressing regret about meeting her lover, lamenting that she wishes she had never met him. Damon responds by saying he wishes he had never seen her face and that the memories of her are too painful. Despite their feelings, they both recognize that they can't forget each other and that the memory of their past love is too overwhelming.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "funny how love goes," which acknowledges the unpredictable and often painful nature of love. Phyllis reflects on happier times when they were in love, and how she couldn't wait to see him and hold him close. However, now the mere mention of his name makes her sad and blue, and she admits that she misses him. Similarly, Damon expresses his lingering love for her, even though he knows it wouldn't do any good to come running back to her. Finally, the song ends with both of them acknowledging the irony of love, singing "funny how love goes" one last time.

Overall, the lyrics to Funny How Love Goes are poignant and emotional, conveying the pain and complexity of love and heartbreak. The song highlights the ways in which love can be unpredictable and bittersweet, and how even after the end of a relationship, the memories of love can linger.

Line by Line Meaning

Funny how love goes
Love can be unpredictable and unexpected

I wish I had never met you
I regret meeting you

Cause now I can't forget you
I can't get you out of my mind

There was a time when you were mine
We had a good relationship in the past

I couldn't wait to see you, hold you in my arms
I was excited and thrilled to be with you

You and me we got along so good
Our relationship was good

I thought our love would last forever
I believed our love was eternal

Suddenly things changed
Our relationship took a turn for the worse

Now the mere mention of your name
Your name brings up painful memories

Makes me sad and blue
I feel sad and depressed

Oh I'm missing you
I miss you