Tony Rich got his start in the music industry as a staff writer at LaFace Records. While there, Rich penned hits for Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill, TLC and Toni Braxton.
While living in Detroit, Rich started playing in jazz fusion and soul bands and worked with local Detroit songwriters. It was at this time that John Salley, Detroit Pistons player and record producer, encouraged Rich to work with his artists and to even make his own tracks.
Meeting with R&B singer Pebbles, Tony Rich was introduced to her then-husband L.A. Reid. As co-founder of LaFace Records, Reid convinced Rich to move to Atlanta and to begin writing and producing for established acts. One of Rich's first projects was a session with Elton John and Sounds of Blackness for a Curtis Mayfield tribute LP. He then expanded his portfolio to include work with the previously mentioned stars.
In early 1996, Rich made his solo debut with the cd Words and the hit single Nobody Knows, which made it to number 2 on the top 100. Both the album and single went platinum and in 1997, Tony Rich won the Grammy for Best Male R&B album. The album featured two Grammy-nominated singles, Like A Woman and Nobody Knows.
The album was followed up in 1998 by Birdseye which, while critically praised, failed to generate much commercial success. Rich seemingly disappeared from the music world for several years after his album's release.
In 2003, Rich came back on the scene with the album Resurrected. Carrying a very different style this time around, the album featured Rich rocking out on the guitar as well as singing smooth ballads.
In 2006, Rich released a fourth album, Pictures. The album contains snapshots of a relationship, and is far more in the veins of his earlier works.
In 2008, he released his fifth album, Exist through Hidden Beach Recordings. Originally it was set for release on September 16, however it was pushed back to September 23, 2008. The album features download-only single, Part the Waves.
Like A Woman
The Tony Rich Project Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I find myself at the East river
Waiting to meet with you
And late at night
I keep dreaming of you
We're makin' love on the sofa
That belongs to you
We fly higher than kites
When we're face to face
Searching for time alone
In this here vital place
And we don't know who we are
Or why we met
But it's strangely good
In some sort of freakish way
The things we'll do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
Catch your breath
Your heart beats too fast
You feel my presence in your arms will not last
Although, I have an urge
I must kiss your hand
The fresh sent of this woman's fragrance
Lays deep in my hand
So we slit our wrists
And we join our blood
To symbolize some type of crazy oath
Sometimes it feels so wrong
But it could be good enough
To sacrifice our freedom
For each other's hearts
The things we'll do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
Like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
Who
Come along
I said the things we do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
The things that we do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
(She don't even know that man but she falls in love)
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
('Cause she loves him)
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
(But she don't even know his name)
The Tony Rich Project's song Like A Woman is a passionate love song that describes an intense and uncontrollable attraction between two people who don't fully understand why they were brought together. The lyrics suggest that physical intimacy between the two is so powerful that it's almost frightening, often leaving them wondering what they are doing and why. The lines "And we don't know who we are/Or why we met/But it's strangely good/In some sort of freakish way" highlight the confusion that both parties feel. Despite this uncertainty, the two keep coming back to each other, finding comfort in their shared experiences, and the feelings that they evoke.
The song describes not just the physical attraction between two people but also a deep emotional connection. The lines "To sacrifice our freedom/For each other's hearts" suggest that they are willing to go to great lengths for each other, even if they don't really know why. The desire to consume one another is so strong that they are willing to risk everything for something that may not last. The song is a powerful testament to the intoxicating effects of passion, desire, and attraction, reminding us that love is complicated and often cannot be explained.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know what I'll do to you
I am unsure of how I will act towards you
I find myself at the East river
I am currently located at the East river
Waiting to meet with you
I am anticipating meeting with you
And late at night
During the late hours of the night
I keep dreaming of you
You are constantly on my mind, even in my dreams
We're makin' love on the sofa
We are engaging in sexual activity on your sofa
That belongs to you
The sofa we are engaging in sexual activity on belongs to you
We fly higher than kites
Our love is a euphoric experience
When we're face to face
When we are in close proximity to each other
Searching for time alone
We are looking for opportunities to be alone together
In this here vital place
We are in a location that is important or necessary for us to be in
And we don't know who we are
We are uncertain of our identities
Or why we met
We are unsure of why we have crossed paths
But it's strangely good
Despite our uncertainty, our connection is strong in a strange way
In some sort of freakish way
Our connection is peculiar or unusual in some way
Catch your breath
Take a moment to calm down and relax
Your heart beats too fast
You are feeling overwhelmed or nervous
You feel my presence in your arms will not last
You feel that the moment we are sharing together will not last forever
Although, I have an urge
Despite the circumstances, I feel a strong desire
I must kiss your hand
I feel compelled to show you affection by kissing your hand
The fresh sent of this woman's fragrance
I can smell the perfume you are wearing
Lays deep in my hand
The scent of your perfume lingers on my hand
So we slit our wrists
We are committing to each other in a dramatic way
And we join our blood
We are symbolically united through the sharing of our blood
To symbolize some type of crazy oath
Our blood pact represents an intense and extreme commitment
Sometimes it feels so wrong
Despite our strong connection, our actions may not be socially acceptable
But it could be good enough
Despite the potential risks, our connection is strong enough to justify our actions
To sacrifice our freedom
We are willing to give up our personal independence for each other
For each other's hearts
We are committed to each other emotionally
The things we'll do will make you feel like a woman
Our actions will make you feel feminine and desired
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
Despite the uncertainty of our connection, you are falling in love with me
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
Our conversations will lead you to self-discovery and introspection
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
You will seek to understand the implications of our actions
Like a woman
You will feel feminine and desirable
Who
An interjection, likely prompting a response or further action
Come along
An invitation to accompany or follow
I said the things we do will make you feel like a woman
I am repeating that our actions will make you feel feminine and desirable
She don't even know that man but she falls in love
Despite not knowing me well, you are falling in love with me
('Cause she loves him)
An aside, indicating that your feelings for me are driving your actions
But she don't even know his name
You do not have a strong connection to me or know me well
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: TONY RICH PROJECT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Kabii
I don't know what I'll do to you
I find myself at the East river
Waiting to meet with you
And late at night
I keep dreaming of you
We're makin' love on the sofa
That belongs to you
We fly higher than kites
When we're face to face
Searching for time alone
In this here vital place
And we don't know who we are
Or why we met
But it's strangely good
In some sort of freakish way
The things we'll do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
Catch your breath
Your heart beats too fast
You feel my presence in your arms will not last
Although, I have an urge
I must kiss your hand
The fresh sent of this woman's fragrance
Lays deep in my hand
So we slit our wrists
And we join our blood
To symbolize some type of crazy oath
Sometimes it feels so wrong
But it could be good enough
To sacrifice our freedom
For each other's hearts
The things we'll do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
Like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
Who
Come along
I said the things we do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
The things that we do will make you feel like a woman
Falling in love with a man she doesn't even know
(She don't even know that man but she falls in love)
The words we'll say will send your mind on a journey
('Cause she loves him)
Looking for self understanding of the things we've done
(But she don't even know his name)
Candace Le Maitre
that feeling when you stumble upon music you used to love but forgot about... 🎶😊🥰
2FarGone Daytona
I never forgot about this! This white boy is here right now! A town forever
Ricci Niles
This song is, was, will ALWAYS BE, perfection! 🙌🙌🔥
Landon Wilder
This man is beyond talented. If this doesn't get a woman's interest and inspire men to want women to feel this way then there is no hope left for love in this world.
Bamidele Abayomi
Lmaof
Tarig Salah
The most underrated artist on planet earth
Easy Mobss
You mean biter not artist right ?
Aaron Jones
One thing that shows why this album is so great: If you look at the liner notes, it says it was produced, written, and all instruments and background vocals were performed by Tony Rich. Truly his masterpiece, and something you almost never see today
K Paehua
I still love this entire album. 20 plus years on
Communist Hippie
Yeah its crazy. I remember listening to this and maxwells album, hang suit"something" as a teenager. Now im 36, and still i think the songs are really good, contrary to alot of the other stuff i listened to back then