Right Hand Man by Joan Osborne

Album: Relish (1996)

License This Song

Songfacts®:

The music is based on a Captain Beefheart song called "Clear Spot." Osborne is a Beefheart fan, and played the song for Rob Hyman, Eric Bazilian and Rick Chertoff, who were working on the album with her. They played around with the beat and put it in 7/8 time to create an unusual rhythm. Beefheart got a composer credit on this.
Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian are founding members of The Hooters, and along with producer Rich Chertoff, they worked on Cyndi Lauper's album She's So Unusual. After Hyman saw Osborne perform, he brought her to Chertoff's attention, who helped her get a record deal. On this album, they wrote most of the songs with Osborne, although Bazilian wrote her hit "One Of Us" on his own. For this song, Osborne came up with the title and wrote most of the lyrics.

Comments: 5

Your Cousin Lou from Down In VirginiaJoan Osborne did do a song about masturbation. But it's Match Struck Twice; find it on her Early Recordings album. This awesome, hard-rocking song, though, is just about screwing enthusiastically, happily, and unashamedly all night. Starting on the guy's floor, til she really needs chair. On a chair til she needs the sofa, and on the sofa til she's saying, where's your bedroom? He's good with his hand as well... at keeping the proceedings going. End of the night she hasn't slept, is wired and tired, and heads home on a supposed walk of shame about which she is not ashamed.
Randy from Seattle, WaIt occurs to me as this song is about an unplanned overnight stay. And waking up and feeling all is well in the world after a good night of sex.
Mel from Riverbank, CaI could see this being about masturbation, that was my thought. I have liked everything I've heard by Ms Orborne. She is so yummy.
Dominick from New York, NyI believe that the album "Relish" was released in 1995.
Iris from El Paso, TxHey, this song is about masturbation. I read it in Spin magazine. I love this song. I think it's great when women talk about masturbation. It shows that we are really comfortable with our sexuality.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

You're BeautifulJames Blunt

The James Blunt song "You're Beautiful" is not romantic: it's a about a creepy subway encounter with an ex.

Island GirlElton John

Elton John's #1 hit "Island Girl" is about a prostitute.

Eternal FlameBangles

The Bangles song "Eternal Flame" was inspired by a display at Graceland that honored Elvis Presley.

Fight SongRachel Platten

Rachel Platten refused to talk politics when her "Fight Song" became the anthem for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, a decision she came to regret.