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 learning' until I turned 16 When Joe Henry came up the river, y'all Lord, he made a woman out of me I used to tease Joe Henry I guess it served me right It wasn't long till he left me Cryin' out in the night Joe Henry had his say He wouldn't set me free Well, I'm here to tell everybody That man made a woman out of me Lord, he made a woman out of me When I think back to that day so long ago I got a little feel in' on my mind Although it hurt me, there's one thing I know When he left, he left a woman behind When I met a mother young man Wantin' to love and run My mind goes back to Joe Henry James And the heck of a job he done Ain't no other man let me down You see, I've been set free Ever since way back yonder When Joe made a woman out of me Lord, he made a woman out of me Lord, he made a woman out of me