About the song
“I Got a Woman,” originally titled “I’ve Got a Woman,” is a seminal track co-written and recorded by the legendary American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles. Released by Atlantic Records in December 1954, with “Come Back Baby” on the B-side, the song quickly became Charles’s first major hit, topping the R&B charts in January 1955. It laid the groundwork for Charles’s distinctive blend of gospel fervor with the rhythmic intensity of jazz and blues, setting the stage for what would later be recognized as soul music.
The genesis of “I Got a Woman” stems from Charles’s encounter with “It Must Be Jesus” by the Southern Tones, a gospel group whose impassioned style deeply influenced him. Combined with elements inspired by Big Bill Broonzy’s “Living on Easy Street,” Charles and trumpeter Renald Richard crafted a song that fused gospel’s spiritual urgency with the secular themes and upbeat tempo of rhythm and blues. This innovative blend marked a departure from traditional gospel music, infusing it with a modern, jazz-inflected rhythm that resonated widely with audiences.
Recorded on November 18, 1954, at the Georgia Tech radio station WGST in Atlanta, “I Got a Woman” showcased Charles’s virtuosity as a singer and pianist. Its infectious energy and Charles’s dynamic vocal delivery propelled the song to immense popularity, foreshadowing his future success with Atlantic Records. The song’s impact on popular music was profound, influencing the evolution of soul music and laying the groundwork for Charles’s own groundbreaking hits, including the iconic “What’d I Say.”
Recognized for its cultural significance, “I Got a Woman” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1990, highlighting its enduring legacy and enduring influence on subsequent generations of musicians. Its re-recorded version as “I Gotta Woman” in 1965 also achieved chart success, underscoring the song’s lasting appeal and Charles’s ability to continually innovate within the music industry.
“I Got a Woman” remains a cornerstone of Ray Charles’s illustrious career, celebrated for its pioneering role in shaping the landscape of American popular music and solidifying Charles’s reputation as a trailblazer in the realms of rhythm and blues and soul. Its inclusion on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time further underscores its status as a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
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