As a teenager, I often sang the song “My Man” at parties. I
had a lot of requests for it. So many times I sang these lyrics, never thinking
twice about them: “He isn’t good, he isn’t true, he beats me too. What can I
do?” I was more focused on this part: “Oh, my man, I love him so.”
My mouth is wide open in shock at the line. But I so wish I had been able to go to your parties.
ReplyDeleteI wish you had too. My group of teenage friends was both large and close, and we had some great times.
DeleteI don't know that I ever heard that song, but maybe if I heard the music I would.
ReplyDeleteFanny Brice introduced the song in the 1930's (before my time!), and it became famously connected to her. In the 1960's Barbra Streisand played Fanny in "Funny Girl" (happy to say I saw her in it on Broadway), and I thought she sang the full song in the show. But a quick look on YouTube yielded only abbreviated versions by Streisand. The "he beats me too" part was left out. But then I found the original version, sung by Fanny herself.
DeleteHere's Barbra's and here's Fanny's.
Nice. I have it associated with Billie Holiday...
ReplyDeleteBoys will be boys? Ugh.
ReplyDelete