The story behind
Billie Holiday sings I Must Have That Man!, a song that feels like a whispered confession, full of desire and frustration. Holiday's voice carries a story of a complicated love, where desire mixes with dependence. The song is not just about a man, but about the control one person can have over another, even when that ends in pain. The melody is simple but intense, as if the song was written to be sung in a moment of vulnerability. The duration is short, three minutes and six seconds, but in that time, a whole life feels to be lived. The song appears on the album Lady Sings the Blues, a film that portrays Holiday's life, from her days in Harlem to her fame and personal struggles. The song is not just a musical fragment, it is part of a story that feels real, as if Holiday's voice was telling something we have all felt at some point. ↓ Skip to chordsVerse 1
Em G C Bm Bb C D
G D
G D
G F#
F E
Em C
Cm Am
C D Bm Bb Am D
Verse 2
G F# Bbaug G D
G F# F
E
C Cm
C Ebdim D G Em
Verse 3
F#
F#
B
Verse 4
B
Bm E
Bm E C F# D G Bm D
G Bm Bbaug G F# F E C
Cm C D G Em
F# C#dim F# B D#m B
Bm E Bm E C
Cm D
Verse 5
G D A#aug
G D
G F# E# E
C G C Cm
C C
Outro 1
D G D
From the album
Lady Sings the Blues
Billie Holiday · 1956 · Track 9