About The Song “Hard Headed Woman”
Elvis Presley’s song “Hard Headed Woman” humorously draws parallels between famous biblical figures and the challenges men face with strong-willed women. In the song, Elvis mentions Adam and Samson as examples of men who had to assert themselves with their respective partners, Eve and Delilah. However, he suggests that Jezebel led the more lenient King Ahab astray, implying that sometimes, a softer approach may be more effective.
It’s essential to note that Elvis’s lyrics are tongue-in-cheek, and he always had respect and appreciation for the women in his life.
“Hard Headed Woman” was recorded on the RCA label, paired with “Don’t Ask Me Why,” and written by Claude Demetrius, a black songwriter. Although it became one of Demetrius’s biggest hits, Elvis Presley continued to achieve even greater success.
Claude Demetrius also co-wrote a similarly themed song by Fats Domino called “Ain’t That Just Like A Woman” and another hit for Elvis, “I Was The One.”
This short song, lasting less than 2 minutes, reached #1 on the charts in the United States but faced a ban from airplay in the UK by the BBC in 1958 due to its content. The BBC’s strict stance on such matters earned it the moniker “Auntie.”
Deep Purple fans might recognize that this era’s songs, including “Hard Headed Woman,” were alluded to in their song “Speed King.”
Songwriters Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas drew inspiration from “Hard Headed Woman” but reversed the genders for Dolly Parton’s 1989 hit single “Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That.” The line, “I’m a softhearted woman, he’s a hardheaded man,” is an inversion of the original line, “Well a hard headed woman, a soft-hearted man.”
Interestingly, like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” this song drops the hyphen from its compound adjective (it should be “Hard-Headed Woman”). You can explore other songs with similar grammatical quirks in their titles.
In 1970, Cat Stevens released a different song titled “Hard Headed Woman,” where he expresses a desire for a hard-headed woman, believing that’s what he needs in his life.
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Lyrics
Well a hard headed woman,
a soft hearted man
been the cause of trouble
ever since the world began.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
a hard headed woman been
a thorn in the side of man.Now Adam told to Eve,
“Listen here to me,
don’t you let me catch you
messin’ round that apple tree.”
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
a hard headed woman been
a thorn in the side of man.Now Samson told Delilah
loud and clear,
“Keep your cotton pickin’ fingers
out my curly hair.”
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
a hard headed woman been
a thorn in the side of man.I heard about a king
who was doin’ swell
till he started playing
with that evil Jezebel.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
a hard headed woman been a thorn in the side of man.I got a woman,
a head like a rock.
If she ever went away
I’d cry around the clock.
Oh yeah, ever since the world began
a hard headed woman been
a thorn in the side of man.