At #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 is British singer-songwriter Raye with ‘Where is My Husband!,’ her best performing single so far in the United States. This song, the lead single from her sophomore album This Music May Contain Hope, peaked at #11 on the Hot 100 and gave Raye her second #1 hit in the UK.
The song is an absolutely blast, with frenetic horns and a pulsating rhythm track scoring a very modern take on a soulful girl group effort. It’s propulsive, funny, and viscerally satisfying. I’m actually surprised it hasn’t been a bigger hit stateside.
One fun element comes in the final verse, when Raye quotes her grandmother and includes a recording of her saying “your husband is coming.” Given Raye’s talent and beauty, you gotta figure the old lady is right.
Baby (Woo-hoo), where the hell is my husband? (Woo-hoo)
What is takin’ him so long to find me? (Woo-hoo)
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? (Woo-hoo, yeah)
Tell him if you see him, baby (Baby), if you see him, tell him (Tell him)
He should holler
[Verse 1]
Why is this beautiful man waiting for me to get old?
Why he already testing my patience?
I only fear he taking time with other women that ain’t me
While I’ve been reviewin’ applications
Wait till I get my hands on him, I’ma tell him off too
For how long he kept me waitin’, anticipatin’
Prayin’ to the Lord to givе him to my lovin’ arms
And despite my frustrations
[Pre-Chorus]
And he must need mе (He must need me)
Completely (Completely)
How my heart yearns for him
Is he far away? (Is he far away?)
Is he okay? (Is he okay?)
This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh
Help me, help me, help me, Lord
I need you to tell me
[Chorus]
Baby (Woo-hoo), where the hell is my husband? (Woo-hoo)
What is taking him so long to find me? (Woo-hoo)
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? (Woo-hoo, yeah)
Tell him if you see him, baby (Baby), if you see him, tell him (Tell him)
He should holler
[Verse 2]
I’m doing lonely acrobatics, unzipping my dress at 2 a.m.
And I’m tired of living like this
He must be out there getting ready, tryna fix up his tie
Uh, huh-huh, uh, hello? This where your wife is
Wait till I get your heart goin’, I’ma turn it up too
For how much I’m ’bout to love ya, no one above ya
Prayin’ to the Lord to hurry, hurry you along
Baby, I intend to rush ya
[Pre-Chorus]
And he must need me (He must need me)
Completely (Completely)
How my heart yearns for him
Is he far away? (Is he far away?)
Is he okay? (Is he okay?)
This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh (Help me)
Help me, help me, help me, Lord
I need you to tell me
[Chorus]
Baby (Woo-hoo), where the hell is my husband? (Woo-hoo)
What is taking him so long to find me? (Woo-hoo)
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? (Woo-hoo, yeah)
Tell him if you see him, baby (Baby), if you see him, tell him (Tell him)
He should holler
[Bridge]
Tuh, tuh, tuh, tuh
Tell him I’m mm, tell him I’m mm with the mm-mm-mm
Tell him I’m kind, tell him I’m 5’5″
Tell him I’ve got brown eyes and a growing fear
That if he doesn’t find me now
I’m gonna die alone, so can he
Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh (Hurry up here, sir)
Uh-uh, uh-uh-uh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh
I want it, want it, want it, want it, want it
I would like a ring, I would like a ring
I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger
I would like a big and shiny diamond that I can wave around
And talk, and talk about it
And when the day is here, forgive me God, that I could ever doubt it
Until death, I do, I do, I do, I
Is he about it, ’bout it, ’bout it?
[Pre-Chorus]
This man is testing me, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh
Help me, help me, help me, Lord
I need you to tell me
[Chorus]
Baby (Woo-hoo), where the hell is my husband? (Woo-hoo)
What is taking him so long to find me? (Woo-hoo)
Oh, baby, where the hell is my lover?
Getting down with another? (Woo-hoo, yeah)
Tell him that my grandma said it, tell him grandma said it
“Your husband is coming”
[Outro]
I would like a ring, I would like a ring
I would like a diamond ring on my wedding finger
I would like a big and shiny (Woo)
Diamond (Yes), diamond (Yes), diamond (Yes), diamond (Yes), diamond (Yes), oh (Oh)
Where is my husband? (Ah)
Meet Me In Montauk 