About the song
“I Got a Woman,” originally titled “I’ve Got a Woman,” is a landmark song in the career of Ray Charles, showcasing his incredible influence on the development of soul music. Released as a single by Atlantic Records in December 1954, this track quickly established itself as a major hit, climbing to number one on the R&B charts by January 1955. It remains one of Ray Charles’s most celebrated songs, illustrating his innovative approach to blending gospel, jazz, and rhythm and blues.
The origins of “I Got a Woman” are rooted in Ray Charles’s deep musical influences. The song was inspired by the gospel tune “It Must Be Jesus” by the Southern Tones, which Charles heard while traveling with his band. Additionally, a bridge in the song was inspired by Big Bill Broonzy’s “Living on Easy Street.” Collaborating with his band’s trumpeter Renald Richard, Charles crafted a track that fused a gospel-like fervor with secular lyrics, set against a jazz-inspired R&B backdrop. This blend of styles would later become a defining characteristic of what is now known as soul music.
Recorded on November 18, 1954, at the Georgia Tech radio station WGST in Atlanta, “I Got a Woman” was Ray Charles’s first major hit. Its success was pivotal in his career, leading to further hits and solidifying his position in the music industry. The song’s energetic rhythm and heartfelt lyrics reflect Charles’s ability to connect with audiences through powerful emotional expression.
The 1954 recording of “I Got a Woman” has been recognized for its lasting impact on music. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1990 and was ranked No. 239 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1965, Charles revisited the song with a re-recorded version that also achieved notable success on the pop charts.
“I Got a Woman” is not only a significant milestone in Ray Charles’s discography but also a pivotal moment in the evolution of soul music. Its enduring appeal highlights the timeless quality of Charles’s artistry and the innovative spirit that defined his groundbreaking career.
Video
Lyrics
Well
I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
Say, I got a woman, way over town
Good to me, oh yeah
She give me money when I’m in need
Yeah, she’s a kind of friend indeed
I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
She saves her lovin’, early in the morning
Just for me, oh yeah
She saves her lovin’, early in the morning
Just for me, oh yeah
She saves her lovin’, just for me
Ah, she love me so tenderly
I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
She’s there to love me
Both day and night
Never grumbles or fusses
Always treats me right
Never runnin’ in the streets
And leavin’ me alone
She knows a woman’s place
Is right there now in her home
I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
Say, I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
Oh, she’s my baby
Oh, don’t you understand?
Yeah, and I’m her lover man
I got a woman, way over town
That’s good to me, oh yeah
Oh, don’t you know she’s alright
Oh, don’t you know she’s alright
She’s alright, she’s alright
Whoa yeah, oh yeah