The song was first recorded and made a hit by Percy Sledge. A decade and a half later, Bette Midler’s version hit the charts. Twenty years later, Michael Bolton lifted her to the top of the ratings.
Sledge’s stories about the history of the track’s creation abounded in vivid and touching details. Against their background, the memories of his colleagues about the history of the creation of When a Man Loves a Woman seem boring and prosaic.
Let’s try to find out how the legendary work was written.
The story and meaning of the song When a Man Loves a Woman
The motive for the future melody was spinning in Percy’s head long before it became a completed work.
During the day, Percy worked as an orderly at a hospital in Colbert County, Alabama. In the evenings, he sang with The Esquires Combo.
One day Percy was dumped by a girl. She broke up with him for a modeling career. Sledge explained:
I had no money at all to follow her, so there was nothing I could do to try and get her back.
Percy was so upset that when he was on stage in front of the microphone that evening, Percy found himself unable to concentrate on the program. He asked the band to play light blues and began to hum, pouring out his soul in the words of an impromptu song.
I drank a couple of shots of Jack Daniel’s and my eyes were the size of a hen’s egg. I felt light as a feather and just wanted to talk.
Rolling Stone 1988
Allegedly, this is how When a Man Loves a Woman was born.
Andrew Wright’s version is somewhat different:
We were supposed to play Friday night at the dance and we were rehearsing… I was fooling around at the organ when this riff came out of nowhere. There was no one in the club but us. I told Calvin to go home and write some words.
Percy insisted that he wrote the main part of the composition, but his fellow musicians Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright are considered the official authors.
Sledge later said:
This is the worst decision I have ever made. But I’m not at all angry. I guess if God wanted me to do what I did by telling those guys they can take this song, then so be it. I would never change that.
They called the new track Why Did You Leave Me.
After the performance, Percy couldn’t sleep:
That night I went home and started working on Why Did You Leave Me. I was sitting in the kitchen singing when my mother came down and told me to go to the bedroom, which I did. Then I started singing in the bedroom, and my mother came and told me: “Please go to sleep.”
The Standard Report, 2006
Release and achievements
Producer Quin Ivy attended that memorable party. He liked the song and invited Sledge to record the track.
It was Ivey who suggested changing the title to When a Man Loves a Woman and putting this phrase at the heart of the plot of the composition. Andrew Wright recalled:
We saved some phrases, worked for several weeks and spent a lot of time in the studio.
On February 17, 1966, the recording was ready.
When a Man Loves a Woman attracted the attention of Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records, and the record was released in the spring on this famous label.
The single soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and the R&B chart. In the British hit parade, he first got to fourth place. In 1987, the song was featured in an advertisement for Levi’s jeans, after which it climbed to number two on the UK Singles Chart.
Rolling Stone magazine included the song in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.
Cover versions of When a Man Loves a Woman
The composition was sung by Esther Phillips, John Wesley Ryles, Jack Grayson, Narvel Felts and other musicians.
Listen to Bette Midler’s version.
In 1991, Michael Bolton recorded the song for the album Time, Love, & Tenderness.
Next is the video clip of When a Man Loves a Woman by Mile Bolton.
His version topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was awarded a Grammy. At the awards ceremony, Bolton did not mention Sledge, which caused him to be heavily criticized. Michael apologized to Percy by sending him a letter saying:
It always seemed to me that your performance was the element that made a great song a truly classic recording and standard.
At a concert for VH1 in Chicago, Michael Bolton performed When a Man Loves a Woman with Percy Sledge.
Let’s watch the music video.
Interesting Facts
- The song A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum is based on the chord progression from When a Man Loves a Woman.
- This is one of the most popular wedding compositions. Sledge repeatedly sang it himself at the weddings of friends.
- The song was loved by American soldiers in Vietnam.
- In 1987, When a Man Loves a Woman was featured on the soundtrack of the film Platoon.
- The 1994 film starring Andy Garcia and Meg Ryan is named after the song.
When a Man Loves a Woman Lyrics by Percy Sledge
When a man loves a woman
Can’t keep his mind on nothing else
He’ll trade the world
For the good thing he’s found
If she’s bad he can’t see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Trying to hold on to what he needs
He’d give up all his comfort
Sleep out in the rain
If she said that’s the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves you woman
I gave you everything I had
Trying to hold on to your precious love
Baby, please don’t treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He’s the last one to know
Loving eyes can’t ever see
When a man loves a woman
He can do no wrong
He can never own some other girl
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
‘Cause baby, baby, baby, you’re my world
Lyrics of When a Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge Alternate
When a man loves a woman
He can’t think of anything else.
He is ready to give the whole world
For the good things he got.
If she’s bad, he doesn’t see it
Because she can’t do anything wrong.
He turns his back on his best friend
If he offends her.
When a man loves a woman
He spends every last penny
Trying to keep what he needs.
He would give up all comforts
And sleep in the rain
If she had told him that it was necessary.
Yes, this man loves you woman
I gave you everything I had
Trying to keep your precious love.
Baby please don’t hurt me
When a man loves a woman
To the depths of my soul
She could hurt him so much.
If she fools him
He’ll be the last to understand
After all, loving eyes see nothing.
When a man loves a woman
He can’t do bad
He will never possess another girl.
Yes, when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
‘Cause baby, baby, baby, you’re my whole world.
Song Quotes
All my songs are reactions to that song. This is the grandmother of all my songs. The boss of all my songs. I have a lot of respect for that song. And I will always test.
Percy Sledge
When a Man Loves a Woman is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard.
Rod Stewart, 2005
If Percy Sledge had only recorded When a Man Loves a Woman, one of the greatest soul songs, he would still deserve a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Hall of Fame
… the sacred anthem of love.
Jerry Wexler
