The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I was born on a levy
A little bit south of Montgomery
Mama worked at the big house
And daddy he worked for the County
I never had no learnin'
Until I turned 16
When Joe Henry come up the river, y'all
Law, made a woman out of me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
I used to tease Joe Henry
I guess I teased to hard
And one day it all happened
Right in my own backyard
Joe Henry had his way
He wouldn't set me free
I'm hear to tell everybody
That the man made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
When I think back to that day
So long ago
I get a little feelin' on my mind
Even though it hurt me
There's one thing I know
When he left, he left him a woman behind
When I meet another young man
Wantin' to love and run
My mind goes back to Joe Henry James
And a heck of a job he done
Ain't no other man let me down
You see I been set free
Ever since way back yonder
When Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
A little bit south of Montgomery
Mama worked at the big house
And daddy he worked for the County
I never had no learnin'
Until I turned 16
When Joe Henry come up the river, y'all
Law, made a woman out of me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
I used to tease Joe Henry
I guess I teased to hard
And one day it all happened
Right in my own backyard
Joe Henry had his way
He wouldn't set me free
I'm hear to tell everybody
That the man made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
When I think back to that day
So long ago
I get a little feelin' on my mind
Even though it hurt me
There's one thing I know
When he left, he left him a woman behind
When I meet another young man
Wantin' to love and run
My mind goes back to Joe Henry James
And a heck of a job he done
Ain't no other man let me down
You see I been set free
Ever since way back yonder
When Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Joe made a woman outta me
Lord, he made a woman outta me
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
He Made a Woman Out of Me Lyrics as written by Fred B Burch Don Hill
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
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This is an absolutely awesome song. I can't believe it was written by 2 men. But hearing this song at such a young age when everything about women's sexuality was a big no-no, was very real.
Bettye's version was not the one I heard first. I know both her and Bobbie Gentry made it their own. A great song and two powerful women singing it.
I apologize because I know this review belongs under Bobbie Gentry, but Songmeanings has stripped that album to only 4 songs. Disgusting.
I came here looking for Bobbie Gentry's version tho, because it was on one of the hands-down best albums ever, produced by Rick Hall. And this song, along with the title song Fancy (classic written by Bobbie Gentry herself!), and some very fine covers like Rainmaker, Something in the way he moves, Find 'em fool em' and forget em', Delta man, If ya gotta make a fool of somebody...all take me to the heat and laid back feeling of the south in a way nobody ever has before or since.