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!"
You Know How To Love Me
Phyllis Hyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your love's so much pleasure
Like a haunting melody
You came inside and captured me
And I'm so happy
You're the rhythm of my rhyme
You and I, together
You know how to love me (sure you do)
You know to make it right (so nice)
You know how to love me (there's no denyin')
Sweet as morning light
Sooner or later
I knew you'd come my way
You're welcome to my love
Just promise that you'll stay (yeah)
You know how to love me
Right, special way
(You know how) you know how to love me
Tonight all I want to say
(You know how) you know how to love me
You're the real that I feel, never go away
Seeing's believin'
Don't you know you're a dream come true
Ain't nothin deceivin'
'Bout the way that I'm lovin' you, yeah
You know how to love me (you know, you know)
You know to make it right (I can feel it)
You know how to love me (no doubt about it)
Sweet as morning light
Nothing's forever
That's what people say
But each time were together
Forever and a day, yeah
(You know how) you know how to love me
Right, special way
(You know how) you know how to love me
Tonight all I want to say
(You know how) you know how to love me
You're the real that I feel, never go away
You know how to love me (oh, you know that you do)
You know how to love me, baby
Oh, I know you do, whoa
Oh, I can feel (you know how to love me), I can feel it
The lyrics of Phyllis Hyman's song "You Know How To Love Me" convey the feeling of being captivated by someone who knows how to love deeply and make their partner happy. The comparison to a "haunting melody" implies that the love is so beautiful, it sticks to the mind of the person, and they cannot help but feel pleasure every time they think about it. The singer feels secure that their love will last long, and no trial or test of time will threaten it.
The song's chorus reiterates the idea that the person knows how to love the singer well, making them feel happy as "sweet morning light." The pre-chorus communicates the idea of the singer waiting for a while to find someone who would make them feel happy in love, but now that they have, they promise to cling to the person. The bridge section further emphasizes the quality of the love bond between the two persons as genuine, and sweet referring to the person as a dream come true.
Line by Line Meaning
Measure for measure
Your love is proportional to mine
Your love's so much pleasure
Your love is very enjoyable
Like a haunting melody
Your love is memorable and lingers on my mind like a song
You came inside and captured me
You entered my life and won my heart
And I'm so happy
I am delighted with our relationship
You're the rhythm of my rhyme
You are the missing component that brings completeness to my life
You and I, together
We are a team
We'll stand the test of time
Our relationship will endure
You know how to love me (sure you do)
You have a unique way of expressing love to me and I am convinced of it
You know how to make it right (so nice)
You always make things right, and it feels great
You know how to love me (there's no denyin')
It cannot be disputed that you love me strongly
Sweet as morning light
Your love is pure and refreshing as the dawn
Sooner or later
I knew we would meet
I knew you'd come my way
I was certain we would find each other
You're welcome to my love
You are accepted and invited to receive my love
Just promise that you'll stay (yeah)
Remain committed to our relationship
Right, special way
You love me differently and uniquely
Tonight all I want to say
At this moment, the only message I have is
You're the real that I feel, never go away
You are the true love that I feel and never go away
Seeing's believin'
It's only after seeing something that we can believe it to be true
Don't you know you're a dream come true
You are the person I've always dreamed of
Ain't nothin deceivin'
There is nothing doubtful or fraudulent
Bout the way that I'm lovin' you, yeah
My way of loving you is pure and genuine
No doubt about it
I am fully convinced
Nothing's forever
They say that nothing lasts forever
But each time we're together
Whenever we are together
Forever and a day, yeah
Our love will last an eternity and beyond
Oh, I know you do, whoa
I am well aware that you love me
Oh, I can feel (you know how to love me), I can feel it
I can sense and experience your love
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: James Mtume, Reggie Lucas
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valeriewright1169
It's 2024, and I'm still jamming to my favorite Phyllis Hyman song. RIP forever.
@andyagostinucci3423
2024
@jesuinojunior2368
Great music!!! Makes me feel young again. Today, i have 51 years old. 70 and 80 decade was the best times. Beautiful musics and more.
@kevinhunter2777
Tears swell in my eyes when I listen to Phyllis music...her voice express pain, desire, and loneliness. Those who've dealt or are dealing with depression hears her story.....Always R.I.P Phyllis and thank you for your music, it still helps me cope to this very day.
@pooliecratch2523
BLESSED to have been a part of this time of life.... 💝🌷💋🎯⌛
@hopeful6157
💯
@jeremypatterson27
💯💯Yeah Mann it took me to hear her story to feel her pain too
@Libra-nv2rn
I HAD A NERVOUS BREAK DOWN IN APRIL OF 2018.....IN AND OUT OF DEPRESSION....IT SUCKS.....GOD HAS MY BACK....
@jacquelynmoore5771
Beautiful.. Well said....
@cosmicviewer477
Man! The days when you had entire orchestras as back-up. Artists, producers, song writers and sound engineers actually worked together to put good music out.