In 1956 Tony formed his first band. In 1958, at 18, he began appearing on the BBC's Oh Boy, playing electric guitar. He was eventually offered a contract to perform at the Top Ten Club in Hamburg, Germany.
While performing in Hamburg between 1960 and 1963, Sheridan employed various backup bands. In 1961, one such band, who had met Sheridan during their first visit to Hamburg in 1960, and who worked with him on their second, was The Beatles (with their line-up at the time as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best). When German Polydor agent Bert Kaempfert saw the pairing on stage, he suggested that they make some recordings together. In 1962, after a series of singles (the first of which, "My Bonnie"/"The Saints" made it to #5 in the Hit Parade), Polydor released the album My Bonnie across Germany. The word Beatles was judged to sound too similar to the German Pidels (pronounced peedles), the plural of a slang term for penis, hence the album was credited to Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers. After The Beatles had gained fame, the album was re-released in Britain, with the credit altered to Tony Sheridan and The Beatles.
By 1967, Sheridan had become disillusioned with his Beatle-brought fame. As he was more concerned by the Vietnam War, Sheridan agreed to perform for the Allied troops. While in Vietnam however, the band that he had assembled was fired upon and one of the members was killed. Reuters reported that Sheridan himself had died. For his work entertaining the Allies, Sheridan was made an honorary Captain of the United States army.
In the early 1970s, Sheridan managed a West German radio programme of blues music, which was well-received. In 1978, the Star Club was reopened, and Sheridan performed there along with Elvis Presley's TCB Band.
On August 13, 2002, Sheridan released Vagabond, a collection largely of his own material, but also including a new cover version of "Skinny Minnie", a song he had years earlier recorded for his first album.
I Got a Woman
Tony Sheridan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's good to me, oh ho yeah
Said I got a woman way cross town
She's good to me, oh yeah
She gives me money every time I need
Yes, you know she's a kind of friend indeed
Said I got a woman way cross town
She says she loves me early in the morning
Just for me, oh ho yeah
She says she loves me early in the morning
Just for me, oh yeah
She says she loves me just for me, yeah
You know she loves me so tenderly
Said I got a woman way cross town
She's good to me, oh yeah
Ow!
She's there to love me
All day and night
Never grumbles or fusses
Just treats me right
Never runnin' in the streets
Leave me alone
She knows a woman's place
Is right back there with her hanging around the home
Got a woman way cross town
She's good to me, oh yeah
Well, I got a woman way cross town
She's good to me, oh yeah
Well, she's my baby, don't you understand
That I, I, I, I, I'm her loving man
Said I got a woman way cross town
She's good to me, oh ho yeah
Well, that much is alright
Well, that much is alright
I got a woman
Way cross town
She's good to me
Oh ho ho yeah
The lyrics of Tony Sheridan's "I Got A Woman" describe a woman who is good to the singer, giving him money when he needs it, loving him early in the morning, and treating him right all day and night. The woman is portrayed as someone who is always there for the singer, never complaining, and who knows her place as being right back there with her hanging around the home. The singer is very appreciative of this woman and lets the listener know that she is his baby and that he is her loving man.
The song is a tribute to the African-American gospel song "I Got a Savior (Way Across Jordan)", which was a traditional gospel song that dates back to the early 20th century. The song was made popular by Ray Charles in 1954, Sheridan's version is a cover version of Ray Charles' song. The lyrics are changed from the original religious language to a romantic theme.
The song was recorded in Hamburg in 1961 by Tony Sheridan with The Beatles as his backing band. The band had recently arrived in Hamburg and was unknown at the time.
The song was not released as a single by The Beatles, but it was included on their album "Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962."
The lyrics of "I Got A Woman" were controversial at the time of release because they portrayed a strong and independent woman, which was not a common theme in popular music in the early 1960s.
The song's lyrics have been covered by many other artists, such as Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran, and The Animals.
Tony Sheridan has said that "I Got A Woman" was one of his favorite songs to perform live because it was such an upbeat and fun song.
The guitar riff in the song was inspired by Ray Charles' hit "What'd I Say".
The song was recorded in one take, and the studio relied on a tap-tapping sound to keep the rhythm while recording.
The lyrics reveal that the woman is not just a sexual object, but that she provides for the singer, showing that he has a level of respect and admiration for her.
The song's chord progression is similar to Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode."
Chords: G, C, G, D, G.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I got a woman way cross town
I have a woman who lives far away from me
She's good to me, oh ho yeah
She treats me well and I appreciate it
Said I got a woman way cross town
I'm repeating myself because it's important
She gives me money every time I need
She helps me out financially
Yes, you know she's a kind of friend indeed
She's a true friend
She says she loves me early in the morning
She expresses her love in the morning
Just for me, oh ho yeah
I'm the only one she loves
She says she loves me just for me, yeah
My personality and character are what she loves
You know she loves me so tenderly
Her love is gentle and soft
She's there to love me
She's always available to show me love
All day and night
24/7
Never grumbles or fusses
She never complains or argues
Just treats me right
She treats me well and with respect
Never runnin' in the streets
She's not out and about without a good reason
Leave me alone
She's not clingy or overly-needy
She knows a woman's place
She understands traditional gender roles
Is right back there with her hanging around the home
Her place is at home
Well, she's my baby, don't you understand
She's my significant other
That I, I, I, I, I'm her loving man
She's devoted to me
Well, that much is alright
Things are good between us
I got a woman
I have a female partner
Way cross town
She lives far away
Oh ho ho yeah
An expression of happiness and satisfaction
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Renald J. Richard, Ray Charles
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind