White Town is a techno-pop act (actually only one man, Jyoti Mishra, born i… Read Full Bio ↴White Town is a techno-pop act (actually only one man, Jyoti Mishra, born in Rourkela, India, on July 30, 1966; Mishra has lived in the United Kingdom since the age of three), often regarded as a one-hit wonder for its 1997 song "Your Woman", which sampled a 1930s song called "My Woman" by Al Bowlly, which was featured in the Dennis Potter drama Pennies From Heaven. This single was often known not by its name, but by the title of the EP it originally appeared on - ">Abort, Retry, Fail?_".

Mishra, a straight edger and ex-Marxist, often incorporates political concerns in his songs veiled in terms of personal relationships (as in his only hit). After a troubled working relationship with EMI Records, Mishra was dropped from the label in 1997 and since then has gone back to working with indie labels like Parasol Records. His last album, 2000's Peek & Poke, received moderately enthusiastic reviews but sold pitifully compared to his major label work.

In 2005 White Town contributed the song "The PNAC Cabal" to the charity album "Voyces United for UNHCR" (Voyces United for UNHCR (disc 1)).

In October 2006 White Town released a new album, Don't Mention The War on Mishra's own label, Bzangy Records.

4. Your Woman
White Town Lyrics

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Just tell me what you've got to say to me
I've been waiting for so long to hear the truth
It comes as no surprise at all you see
So cut the crap and tell me that we're through

Now I know your heart, I know your mind
You don't even know you're bein' unkind
So much for all your highbrow Marxist ways

Just use me up and then you walk away
Boy, you can't play me that way

Well I guess what you say is true
I could never be the right kind of girl for you

I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman

When I saw my best friend yesterday
She said she never liked you from the start
Well me, I wish that I could claim the same
But you always knew you held my heart

And you're such a charming, handsome man
Now I think I finally understand
Is it in your genes
I don't know
But I'll soon find out, that's for sure
Why did you play me this way

Well I guess what you say is true
I could never be the right kind of girl for you

I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman

Well I guess what they say is true
I could never spend my life with a man like you

I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman

I could never be your woman
I could never be your woman

Overall Meaning

Your Woman is a song by British musician White Town, released in 1997. The song explores the painful realization of a woman that her lover has never truly cared about her and has been using her for his own benefit. The lyrics express her frustration and anger towards the man, demanding that he tells her the truth and puts an end to their relationship. The woman feels that she can never be the kind of woman this man wants or needs, and that they are fundamentally incompatible. Despite this, she still struggles with the feelings she has for him, indicating that the man has a certain charm that draws her in.

What resonates most closely with the woman in this song is the sense of manipulation, that she has been "used up" and then "walked away from". She accuses the man of pulling one over on her, of pretending to be something in which he wasn't interested, just to get closer to her. The woman is smart enough to see through all this, realises that she deserves better and ultimately disengages herself from the relationship. The theme of not being able to live up to someone’s standards is really prevalent throughout the entire song.

The song became a massive hit in the UK when it was released, inspired by the music of the 1930s and 40s. The snippet of a trumpet solo in the chorus, heard on an answering machine recording featured in the song, was sampled by White Town from a song by Al Bowlly, a British singer popular during the same era. This catchy and memorable trumpet riff has helped define the sound of the song and make it one of the most well-known tracks to come out of the UK during the late 90s.

Line by Line Meaning

Just tell me what you've got to say to me
Express your honest feelings to me

I've been waiting for so long to hear the truth
I have been anticipating the truth for quite some time

It comes as no surprise at all you see
The fact does not astonish me by any means

So cut the crap and tell me that we're through
Stop beating around the bush and inform me that our relationship is over

Now I know your heart, I know your mind
At present, I have a sound understanding of your feelings and thoughts

You don't even know you're bein' unkind
You are unintentionally causing harm to me

So much for all your highbrow Marxist ways
Your pretentious Marxist beliefs do not amount to anything

Just use me up and then you walk away
Exploit me until I am of no use to you any longer and abandon me

Boy, you can't play me that way
You cannot manipulate me like that

Well I guess what you say is true
I suppose what you are saying is valid

I could never be the right kind of girl for you
I am not the type of woman who is compatible with you

I could never be your woman
I cannot be the woman you desire

When I saw my best friend yesterday
Yesterday, when I encountered my closest friend

She said she never liked you from the start
She disclosed that she never fancied you since the beginning

Well me, I wish that I could claim the same
I would love to make a similar assertion

But you always knew you held my heart
However, you were aware that I was smitten with you

And you're such a charming, handsome man
You are an attractive and charismatic individual

Now I think I finally understand
I have come to comprehend now

Is it in your genes
Does it run in your DNA

I don't know
I am uncertain

But I'll soon find out, that's for sure
However, I will confirm that soon enough

Why did you play me this way
What was the reason you treated me in this manner

Well I guess what you say is true
I suppose what you are saying is valid

I could never be the right kind of girl for you
I am not the type of woman who is compatible with you

I could never be your woman
I cannot be the woman you desire

Well I guess what they say is true
I suppose what others say is accurate

I could never spend my life with a man like you
I could not imagine a future with a man such as yourself

I could never be your woman
I cannot be the woman you desire

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jyoti Prakash Mishra, George Clinton, Max Wartell, Irving Wallman, Bing Crosby

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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