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!"
Someone to Love
Phyllis Hyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someday I?ll finally find the man I dreamed about
He?ll be the love that touched my heart and turned my feelings inside out
It's been so long and I grow tired of being all alone
Am I asking for too much?
All I want is someone I can touch
Why must it take so long to find someone to love?
I tried to lose myself and fool myself
Hide myself in someone?s arms
I tried to make believe I had it all
But deep inside I always knew
That lovers who pretend lose out in the end
No matter how long it may take
I know the difference and I?ll wait for someone to love
Ooh, someone to love
Someone to love, someone to love
Whose beauty lies within their sensitivity
I?ll walk with hope and I?ll hold on
Until the day shall come along
Am I asking for too much?
All I want is love that I can touch
Why must it take so long to find ooh, someone to love?
Oh, oh, oh, somebody to love
In the song "Someone to Love", Phyllis Hyman expresses her longing and search for true love. She sings about a man who will love and touch her heart, turning her feelings upside down. The singer feels tired of being alone and wonders if it's too much to ask for someone she can finally touch. Hyman sings that she has tried to fool herself and hide in someone's arms but deep down, she knows that pretending will only lead to disappointment.
The singer believes that the difference between a pretend lover and a real one is found in their sensitivity. She hopes to find a person who possesses the beauty of sensitivity inside them. Hyman sings that she is determined to wait until someone who fits the bill comes along. She ends the song with a plea for somebody to love.
Overall, "Someone to Love" is a song about being patient and persevering in the search for love. Hyman's powerful vocals and emotive singing bring out the longing and vulnerability in the lyrics, making it a relatable and poignant song for anyone who has ever searched for love.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone to love
The singer is expressing her desire to find someone to love.
Someday I'll finally find the man I dreamed about
The singer hopes that one day she will find the man of her dreams.
He'll be the love that touched my heart and turned my feelings inside out
The singer envisions a love that truly moves her and makes her feel deeply.
It's been so long and I grow tired of being all alone
The singer has been alone for a long time and is growing weary of it.
Am I asking for too much?
The singer questions whether it is reasonable to ask for someone to love.
All I want is someone I can touch
The singer desires a love that she can physically experience.
Why must it take so long to find someone to love?
The singer is frustrated at the length of time it is taking to find someone to love.
I tried to lose myself and fool myself
The singer has attempted to escape her solitude by pretending to be someone else.
Hide myself in someone's arms
The singer has sought refuge in the embrace of another person.
I tried to make believe I had it all
The singer has pretended to have everything she wants in a relationship.
But deep inside I always knew that lovers who pretend lose out in the end
The singer recognizes that pretending in love ultimately leads to disappointment.
No matter how long it may take, I know the difference and I'll wait for someone to love
Despite the challenges, the singer is determined to wait for the right kind of love.
Whose beauty lies within their sensitivity
The singer values sensitivity and inner beauty in a partner.
I'll walk with hope and I'll hold on until the day shall come along
The singer remains optimistic and patient in her search for love.
Oh, oh, oh, somebody to love
The singer continues to express her desire for someone to love.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LINDA CREED, MICHAEL MASSER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind