Music / Irma Thomas

The Soul Queen of New Orleans

Ruler of my heart
Robber of my soul
Where can you be?
I wait patiently

-"Ruler of my Heart"

The unrivaled Soul Queen of New Orleans, a title officially bestowed by the city's residents, at that. Irma Thomas ranks among New Orleans R&B's most notable singers. And although she never enjoyed the commercial successes of contemporaries like Aretha Franklin and Etta James, she nevertheless rarified herself in the minds of many traditional R&B and soul music listeners and obscure record holders.

Classic songs within her repertoire include "Ruler of my Heart", "Wish Someone Would Care", "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)", "It's Raining", "Breakaway" and "Time is on my Side".

Anyone who knows what tropes are, will understand

• Break Up Song: "Breakaway", "Cold Rain", "She'll Never be Your Wife". The list goes on.
• Grey Rain of Depression: "It's Raining":
  I’ve got the blues
  So bad
  I could hardly
  Catch my breath
  The harder it rains
  The worst it get
• Grief Song: A very common theme in her music with songs like "I Count The Tears" have the narrator say he will count each tear he cries until his lover returns.
• I Will Wait for You: "Ruler of my Heart" has someone begging for their love to come back, saying they've waited patiently.
  • "Time is on my Side" inverts this with the narrator glad that they don't have to wait anymore.