As part of my ritual for Sunday, I try to go to church, have a good meal, talk to those who keep me grounded 😀 and listen to good old music. A newspaper used to be part of my ritual but I stopped buying a paper when David Bullard was fired. That was was moons ago, now I don’t know exactly why I am not buying a paper (but lets blame recession :P).
Anyway, today I listened to a classic: “I ‘ve never been to me” a song that has been sung by many gifted artists. I listened to the version sang by the Temptations. I thought it was rather interesting how the male and female version contrast with each other. For example, the man steals a woman but a woman doesn’t just steal another woman’s husband, she takes a priest!
The table below provides the comparison of the male and female lyrics for this beautiful song. Bottom line is: male and female version of paradise is certainly not the same!
| Male Lyrics | Female Lyrics |
|---|---|
| Hey mister, hey mister I just want a dime 'Cause I need a cup of coffee and a moment of your time I can tell your raising hell the way I used to do But I wish someone woulda' talked to me Like I wanna talk to you I've been to Georgia and California Anywhere I could run I stole a woman in Tennessee and we made love in the sun But I ran out of places and friendly faces Because I had to be free I've been to paradise but I've never been to me Thanks mister, thanks mister But please don't walk away 'Cause I have this need to tell you Why I'm all alone today I can see so much of me still living in your eyes Won't you share a part of an old mans heart On the day before he dies I've been to China & Asia Minor On any ship that would sail I made some noise with some good old boys We wrecked a southern jail I've seen the best men crawl and some teardrops fall There ain't nothing I ain't seen I've been to paradise but I've never been to me I've even been to marriage Where children cry for someone they couldn't find Never knowing that I was searching For things I left behind I thought my heart could wait but I learned too late Only love can make people free I've been to paradise but I've never been to me | Hey lady, you lady, cursing at your life You're a discontented mother and a regimented wife I've no doubt you dream about the things you'll never do But, I wish someone had talked to me Like I wanna talk to you..... Oh, I've been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run I took the hand of a preacher man and we made love in the sun But I ran out of places and friendly faces because I had to be free I've been to paradise but I've never been to me Please lady, please lady, don't just walk away 'Cause I have this need to tell you why I'm all alone today I can see so much of me still living in your eyes Won't you share a part of a weary heart that has lived million lies.... Oh, I've been to Niece and the Isle of Greece while I've sipped champagne on a yacht I've moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed 'em what I've got I've been undressed by kings and I've seen some things that a woman ain't supposed to see I've been to paradise, but I've never been to me [spoken] Hey, you know what paradise is? It's a lie, a fantasy we create about people and places as we'd like them to be But you know what truth is? It's that little baby you're holding, it's that man you fought with this morning The same one you're going to make love with tonight That's truth, that's love...... Sometimes I've been to crying for unborn children that might have made me complete But I took the sweet life, I never knew I'd be bitter from the sweet I've spent my life exploring the subtle whoring that costs too much to be free Hey lady...... I've been to paradise, (I've been to paradise) But I've never been to me |
