"When a Man Loves a Woman."

One of the Flaming Lips says virtually nothing, bassist Michael Ivins. He typically isn't around for meet-and-greets backstage after shows, preferring to break down the gear with the roadies, as he's sort of the technological genius behind the stage show. (He was the brains behind fixing the video wall that fell down due to severe weather after the disaster known as Tulsa, Summer 2011.)

But when he does speak, he fucking nails it.

iTunes shuffled Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman" a few minutes ago, and I was reminded of Ivins' opinions about love, and in particular, THAT love song.

He said:

"That falling in love thing--whatever that drug is, they need to bottle it. It's as bad as heroin or speed or any of that, because that shit will fuck you up. That song, 'When a Man Loves a Woman,' people play that at their weddings--but they obviously don't listen to the lyrics, because that's what love is: You will fuck your friends over, you'll fuck your family over, you will change the way you live. That's what that song is saying, and that song is true."

'Twas ever thus. The same can be said of a woman loving a man, so I think the song is, overall, a universal love truism.

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
Tryin' 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 a woman
I gave you everything I had
Tryin' 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
Lovin' 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


When a man loves a woman.....