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!"
Souvenirs
Phyllis Hyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are the treasures of my life
Fresh and still brand new
Times that I turned dark to light
Every bout with wrong and right
They're a part of me will never fade from view
CHORUS
For the crazy things that happened through the years
The laughter and the tears
Souvenirs
My collection of the triumphs and the fears
They all are so very clear
Souvenirs
Now as a new chapter unfolds
My heart will always hold
A memory chest of gold
You with every twist and turn
The lessons I have learned
Seem to keep us young than old
Souvenirs
For the crazy things that happened through the years
The laughter and the tears
Souvenirs
My collection of the triumphs and the fears
They all are so very clear
Souvenirs
Souvenirs remind us of the times we've had
Even though some are good and some are bad
CHORUS
Souvenirs
For the crazy things that happened through the years
The laughter and the tears
Souvenirs
My collection of the triumphs and the fears
They all are so very clear
Souvenirs
CHORUS
Souvenirs
For the crazy things that happened through the years
The laughter and the tears
Souvenirs
My collection of the triumphs and the fears
They all are so very clear
Souvenirs
Phyllis Hyman's song "Souvenirs" is a testament to the power of memory and the impact that our experiences have on our lives. The song reflects on the memories that are tucked away in the corners of the mind, the treasures that have shaped us into who we are, the good and the bad. The lyrics suggest that these memories are like souvenirs that we collect throughout our lives as a way of remembering events. They serve as a reminder of the time spent with people who have had an impact on our lives, the laughter and the tears that we have experienced together, and the lessons that we have learned from our experiences.
The chorus of the song repeats the theme of souvenirs, reminding us of the crazy things that have happened in our lives, the laughs and the tears, and the triumphs and fears that have shaped us. The memories that we collect over the years are like a memory chest of gold that we can always go back to and revisit, giving us a sense of comfort and security in the present, as well as hope and inspiration for the future. The lyrics suggest that memories help people stay young and that they are a part of us that will never fade from view.
Overall, the song "Souvenirs" is a poignant reflection on the power of memory and the significance of experiences in shaping our lives. It reminds us that the memories we collect over time are precious, and that they serve as a reminder of who we are and where we came from.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep in the corners of my mind
Memories from my past, buried within me.
Are the treasures of my life
These memories are what I hold dear and give meaning to my existence.
Fresh and still brand new
These memories remain vivid and continue to impact me, even after all this time.
Times that I turned dark to light
Moments when I overcame challenges and transformed difficult situations into positive outcomes.
Every bout with wrong and right
Each decision I've made, and the accompanying struggles, have shaped who I am today.
They're a part of me will never fade from view
These memories are essential to my identity, and I will always carry them with me.
Souvenirs
These memories, my treasures, my collection.
For the crazy things that happened through the years
For all the unexpected and unusual events that occurred in my life over time.
The laughter and the tears
Both the happy and sad moments that have shaped me as a person.
Now as a new chapter unfolds
As my life continues to progress and I experience new things.
My heart will always hold
I will always cherish these memories, both old and new.
A memory chest of gold
My memories are like precious treasures, valuable and significant to me.
You with every twist and turn
You, my companion, have been with me through every unexpected occurrence and change in life.
The lessons I have learned
Through these experiences, I have gained valuable knowledge and wisdom.
Seem to keep us young than old
By continuing to learn and grow from these experiences, we remain youthful and vibrant.
Souvenirs remind us of the times we've had
These memories bring us back to the moments we've experienced in our lives.
Even though some are good and some are bad
Whether the events were positive or negative, we value them all the same as they have contributed to our growth and development.
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.