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"When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge is a powerful 1966 Southern soul ballad about obsessive, all-consuming devotion and heartbreak. Song Overview and History Released in April 1966, the track became Percy Sledge's debut single and an international smash hit. It reached number one on both the US Billboard Hot 100 and R&B singles charts. Recorded at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama, the song features a famous descending bassline and a raw, trembling vocal delivery. Legend says Sledge improvised the soulful crying vocals on stage after a painful breakup before recording it.Lyrical Meaning and ThemesMost users on Reddit agree that despite being a wedding classic, the lyrics describe a desperate, blind devotion where a man sacrifices his friends, money, and comfort for a woman who might exploit him. The words portray a universal confession about losing your pride and identity completely for someone you love.