Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: show-tunes
Song Meaning of “An Occasional Man” by Chita Rivera
An Occasional Man paints a picture of a woman who is searching for meaningful relationships, but is repeatedly hurt by men who are only able or interested in offering her companionship as an ‘occasional man’. As the song progresses, the woman becomes aware of her own loneliness, which is magnified in her loneliness on the dance floor and in the bar. In the end, she realises that she’ll never find the lasting and special relationship she has been searching for.
This song is a heartbreaking examination of the difficulties of finding and maintaining meaningful human connection. It shows the loneliness we can experience when our relationships are shallow and transient. The woman in the song has already given too much of her time to men who don’t care for her, and it appears that she may no longer try to find anything more lasting. She resigns herself to being an ‘occasional man’ to these men, as it’s the only thing they have ever been able to give her.
The song serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing those special relationships in our life, and avoids settling for something less. It encourages us to strive for connection that is deeper and more meaningful, not just something that will only be available ‘occasionally’.