Peter Himmelman — Woman With The Strength Of 10,000 Men
Album: From Strength To StrengthAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 178
Length: 4:48
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From the moment I saw your face
I knew I could never take living for granted
I froze right in my place, as I became aware
of the ground on which my feet were planted
And as your eyes were focused on the alphabet
in your video screen
I stood there and stared in disbelief
I was speaking to you with my voice
You were speaking to me
by choosing letters with your eyebrow
You didn’t have no choice
And yet you had an attitude like
that’s just the way that it goes now
I started talking to you about the fish
swimming in your aquarium
But all the while I wanted to take away your pain
Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10, 00 men
From the moment I saw your face
I knew all my so-called troubles were nothing
You put me in my place
I knew right then I better start living for something
There ain’t nobody alive that can keep your spirit down
No one can keep you from changing what just ain’t fair
Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10, 000 men
And the words come ticking out
and the words bring us together
And the words come ticking out
and the words must keep you sane
Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10, 000 men
I knew I could never take living for granted
I froze right in my place, as I became aware
of the ground on which my feet were planted
And as your eyes were focused on the alphabet
in your video screen
I stood there and stared in disbelief
I was speaking to you with my voice
You were speaking to me
by choosing letters with your eyebrow
You didn’t have no choice
And yet you had an attitude like
that’s just the way that it goes now
I started talking to you about the fish
swimming in your aquarium
But all the while I wanted to take away your pain
Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10, 00 men
From the moment I saw your face
I knew all my so-called troubles were nothing
You put me in my place
I knew right then I better start living for something
There ain’t nobody alive that can keep your spirit down
No one can keep you from changing what just ain’t fair
Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10, 000 men
And the words come ticking out
and the words bring us together
And the words come ticking out
and the words must keep you sane
Susan I owe you an apology
Susan I owe you an apology
For all the days I just let slide right through my hands
You are the woman with the strength of 10, 000 men
Comments (19)add comment
I can't decide if this sounds like Bruce Springsteen or Elvis Costello and that juxtaposition really confuses me.
I think this is the first comment I have made on this site. "Noyou's" comment was what I was going to quote. I also heard this interview when I lived in Chicago. It gets extra points based on why he wrote it!
This entire album is excellent. If you get a chance to see his live show, do it! Very entertaining . . . and darn funny!
All the fish swimming in your quim ?
Here's an article that Peter wrote about this song.
mojo423 wrote:
I heard that interview as well. So fascinating to understand the true meaning of the song. Sad the rating is so low. We took our grandkids to see him at the Old Town School of Folk Music last year. They had no idea who he was, but he was absolutely entertaining and utterly hilarious.
noyou wrote:
I heard in an interview with him that it was about his meeting a lady with a disease that made her grow much larger than normal (real tall, huge feet, Etc...). Not a love song at all. But definately about respect.
Peter Himmelman was interviewed on Chicago radio station WXRT several years ago and explained the origins of this song.
He met a woman in Minnesota had made significant progress in "righting societal wrongs" through a campaign of letters to legislators. The interesting part is that the woman was a quadriplegic, and could only move her eyes and eyebrows. Through the use of a computer, she was able to write letters and communicate with others. The song is a description of his meeting with her, how she still maintained a positive attitude ("There ain't nobody alive that can keep your spirit down"), was able to make more of a difference in society than anyone else at the time ("You are the woman with the strength of 10,000 men"), and how humbled he felt for being healthy and not making more of his life ("From the moment I saw your face, I knew I could never take living for granted").
It's written as an apology for letting so many days go by without making full use of them (as the subject has done). It's really a terrific song.
Peter Himmelman gave a much more eloquent explanation of the song when he was on WXRT but, it's been years, and I'm paraphrasing from memory.
I heard in an interview with him that it was about his meeting a lady with a disease that made her grow much larger than normal (real tall, huge feet, Etc...). Not a love song at all. But definately about respect.
Peter Himmelman was interviewed on Chicago radio station WXRT several years ago and explained the origins of this song.
He met a woman in Minnesota had made significant progress in "righting societal wrongs" through a campaign of letters to legislators. The interesting part is that the woman was a quadriplegic, and could only move her eyes and eyebrows. Through the use of a computer, she was able to write letters and communicate with others. The song is a description of his meeting with her, how she still maintained a positive attitude ("There ain't nobody alive that can keep your spirit down"), was able to make more of a difference in society than anyone else at the time ("You are the woman with the strength of 10,000 men"), and how humbled he felt for being healthy and not making more of his life ("From the moment I saw your face, I knew I could never take living for granted").
It's written as an apology for letting so many days go by without making full use of them (as the subject has done). It's really a terrific song.
Peter Himmelman gave a much more eloquent explanation of the song when he was on WXRT but, it's been years, and I'm paraphrasing from memory.
I heard that interview as well. So fascinating to understand the true meaning of the song. Sad the rating is so low. We took our grandkids to see him at the Old Town School of Folk Music last year. They had no idea who he was, but he was absolutely entertaining and utterly hilarious.
Thank goodness it's over.
First time I think I have ever heard this song. Started out nice, then got very very good. Nice, keep this in rotation please!
noyou wrote:
I heard in an interview with him that it was about his meeting a lady with a disease that made her grow much larger than normal (real tall, huge feet, Etc...). Not a love song at all. But definately about respect.
Peter Himmelman was interviewed on Chicago radio station WXRT several years ago and explained the origins of this song.
He met a woman in Minnesota had made significant progress in "righting societal wrongs" through a campaign of letters to legislators. The interesting part is that the woman was a quadriplegic, and could only move her eyes and eyebrows. Through the use of a computer, she was able to write letters and communicate with others. The song is a description of his meeting with her, how she still maintained a positive attitude ("There ain't nobody alive that can keep your spirit down"), was able to make more of a difference in society than anyone else at the time ("You are the woman with the strength of 10,000 men"), and how humbled he felt for being healthy and not making more of his life ("From the moment I saw your face, I knew I could never take living for granted").
It's written as an apology for letting so many days go by without making full use of them (as the subject has done). It's really a terrific song.
Peter Himmelman gave a much more eloquent explanation of the song when he was on WXRT but, it's been years, and I'm paraphrasing from memory.
leeminah wrote:
Why do songs automatically have to be about romantic love? I think the love in this song is more fraternal/universal than romantic. It's also about respect.
I heard in an interview with him that it was about his meeting a lady with a disease that made her grow much larger than normal (real tall, huge feet, Etc...). Not a love song at all. But definately about respect.
This song makes me want to puke. My ex\'s name is Susan.
Originally Posted by dfox68:
The lyrics sound like they were written by committee in a junior high school creative writing class
agreed.
The lyrics sound like they were written by committee in a junior high school creative writing class
Ughh - Sounds like it missed the cut for the Footloose soundtrack....
*Thought* I recognized that voice. I like some of his other work better, though, check out \"Flown This Acid World\" for some less poppy stuff.