I was born on a levy A little bit south of Montgomery Mama worked in the big house And daddy he worked for the County I never had no learnin' Until I turned 16 When Joe Henry come up the river, yonder Law, made a woman out of me Lord, he made a woman outta me I used to tease Joe Henry Guess it served me right Wasn't long till he left me Crying out in the night Joe Henry had his say He wouldn't set me free I fear to tell everybody That the man made a woman outta me Lord, he made a woman outta me When I think back to that day So long ago I get a little feelin' on my mind Although it hurt me There's one thing I know When he left, he left him a woman behind When I meet another young man Wantin' to love and run My mind goes back to Joe Henry James And a heck of a job he done Ain't no other man let me down You see I been set free Ever since way back yonder When Joe made a woman outta me Lord, he made a woman outta me Lord, he made a woman outta me Joe made a woman outta me Lord, he made a woman outta me Joe made a woman outta me Lord, he made a woman outta me