Treat Her Right's self-financed debut, Treat Her Right, was released on the small Boston label Soul Selects Records in 1986. It was a modest success; Champagne's "I Got a Gun" and Sandman's cover of James Blood Ulmer's "Where Did All the Girls Come From?" received some play on college radio. "I Think She Likes Me" describes Sandman's experience in a Fairplay, Colorado bar where a woman came on to him. The group signed to RCA Records, who reissued the debut in 1988.
Tied to the Tracks was issued in 1989. Sales did not meet RCA's expectations. In the notes for their third record, the group writes, "RCA decided that if our little basement tape could do so well, why not spend fifty times more money and it will be fifty times better! (They think everything works like that.)" Treat Her Right were dropped from their RCA contract.
What's Good for You was issued on Rounder Records in 1991. The ragged, live-in-the-studio sound was partly modeled on the model established by Chess Records, which had released many classic blues and early rock and roll records.
Shortly after this third release, Treat Her Right disbanded, but reformed in 1995 under the direction of Rolling Stones backup guitar player Bob Anderson, and disbanded a second time in 1998.
Hank
Treat Her Right Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Buh I know that love comes from the one above ...
You juss need to treat her right, give her wah she wants ...
Never turn that We are to a we was ...
Understand all the pain and the tears ...
Become a sheild and block out all her fears ...
I know we all fall in love in different ways ...
But ...
(Hook)
I ain't tellin' no lie ...
You need to treat her right
You need to show love and affection ...
Make sure that she's satisfied with your attention ...
Never show her your wrong side, with aggression ...
Be the student, let her give you some detention ...
Teach each other, love ain't noth'n to be playin' with ...
Give her your ear and listen to wah she's sayin' ...
Give her time and understand when she's playin' ...
Attention is the only thing you should be payin' ...
Conversations must be an everday meal ...
And don't your keep her hidden wah if she wants to be seen ...
Avail yourself everytime when she wants you to meet ...
And make sure that you happy coz she wants you to be ...
Live a little maybe joke around with her ...
Tell her that you love her, maybe pull her by the hair ...
Be a gettleniqqa to her heart never bring hurt ...
Treat her like she's fragile, make her your favourite pet ...
When she's sad, offer a shoulder on ...
And tell a coupla stories, maybe jokes she can laugh on ...
Make her see that you the only niqqa she would cry for ...
Give her memories where she would draw all her love from ...
And in an argument you gotta take the blame ...
To make sure that your relationship doesn't end in pain ...
Tell her that your love for her grows stronger everyday ...
And juss to keep safe, you juss gotta always say ...
That you love her to the moon and pro'lly back ...
Fallin' in step in love with her was your life's best step ...
And that you wouldn't trade her love for any amount of cash ...
And lovin' her is the only thing that you don't regret ...
And that you don't mind to start talkin' to her dad ...
Makin' him aware that his daughter drives you mad ...
And that you walk on red carpets, holdin' hands ...
He should let her be your woman and you be her man ...
Coz wah's love when you alone?
(Hook)
I ain't tellin' no lie ...
You need to treat her right
The lyrics to Treat Her Right's song "Hank" speak to the importance of treating a woman with love, respect, and care in a relationship. The singer acknowledges that love comes from a higher power, but emphasizes that it's necessary to give a woman what she wants and needs in order to make a relationship work. The lyrics emphasize the importance of communication, listening, and understanding in a relationship. The singer encourages men to show their love and affection for their partners, to be patient and attentive, and to be willing to learn from one another.
Throughout the song, Treat Her Right stresses the importance of treating a woman right in order to create a strong and lasting relationship. The lyrics encourage men to be gentle, understanding, and compassionate with their partners. The song also emphasizes the importance of taking responsibility in a relationship, acknowledging mistakes, and working together to overcome challenges. Ultimately, "Hank" serves as a powerful reminder that love requires work and dedication, and that treating a partner right is essential to creating a happy and fulfilling relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I ain't tryna teach you how to love ...
I'm not trying to school you on love
Buh I know that love comes from the one above ...
But I know that love is divine
You juss need to treat her right, give her wah she wants ...
You just need to treat her well and give her what she desires
Never turn that We are to a we was ...
Don't let the 'we' turn into a thing of the past
Understand all the pain and the tears ...
Comprehend all the struggles and sorrows
Become a sheild and block out all her fears ...
Be a shield and protect her from her fears
I know we all fall in love in different ways ...
I know we all experience love differently
But ...
However,
(Hook) I ain't tellin' no lie ...
I'm not lying
You need to treat her right
You need to treat her well
You need to show love and affection ...
You need to demonstrate love and affection
Make sure that she's satisfied with your attention ...
Ensure that she's content with your care
Never show her your wrong side, with aggression ...
Never display your negative side with aggression
Be the student, let her give you some detention ...
Be a student, learn from her and let her correct you
Teach each other, love ain't noth'n to be playin' with ...
Teach each other, love should be taken seriously
Give her your ear and listen to wah she's sayin' ...
Listen attentively to what she's saying
Give her time and understand when she's playin' ...
Give her time and comprehend when she's joking or playing
Attention is the only thing you should be payin' ...
Attention is the only thing you should give
Conversations must be an everday meal ...
Conversations should be an everyday occurrence
And don't your keep her hidden wah if she wants to be seen ...
Don't keep her hidden if she wants to be seen
Avail yourself everytime when she wants you to meet ...
Be available every time when she wants you to meet
And make sure that you happy coz she wants you to be ...
Ensure that you're happy because she wants you to be
Live a little maybe joke around with her ...
Enjoy yourself and joke around with her
Tell her that you love her, maybe pull her by the hair ...
Tell her that you love her, and maybe tease her a little
Be a gettleniqqa to her heart never bring hurt ...
Be gentle and never hurt her
Treat her like she's fragile, make her your favourite pet ...
Treat her delicately and make her feel special
When she's sad, offer a shoulder on ...
When she's down, support her and give her a shoulder to lean on
And tell a coupla stories, maybe jokes she can laugh on ...
Tell her a few humorous stories or jokes to make her laugh
Make her see that you the only niqqa she would cry for ...
Make her realize that you're the only guy she would cry for
Give her memories where she would draw all her love from ...
Give her memories that she can hold onto for her love
And in an argument you gotta take the blame ...
Take responsibility and don't always place blame in arguments
To make sure that your relationship doesn't end in pain ...
To prevent your relationship from ending in pain
Tell her that your love for her grows stronger everyday ...
Tell her your love for her grows with time
And juss to keep safe, you juss gotta always say ...
To stay safe, you should always express your love
That you love her to the moon and pro'lly back ...
That you love her more than anything
Fallin' in step in love with her was your life's best step ...
Falling in love with her was the best thing that ever happened to you
And that you wouldn't trade her love for any amount of cash ...
You wouldn't trade her love for anything in the world
And lovin' her is the only thing that you don't regret ...
Loving her is the only thing you don't regret
And that you don't mind to start talkin' to her dad ...
You don't mind speaking to her father
Makin' him aware that his daughter drives you mad ...
Making him aware that his daughter is the one driving you wild
And that you walk on red carpets, holdin' hands ...
Walking on red carpets together, holding hands
He should let her be your woman and you be her man ...
He should let her be with you and you be her partner
Coz wah's love when you alone?
Because what is love when you're alone?
(Hook) I ain't tellin' no lie ...
I'm not lying
You need to treat her right
You need to treat her well
Writer(s): Mark Sandman
Contributed by Anna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.