I've never really understood this:

"I used to be cruel to my woman
I beat her and kept her apart from the things that she loved
Man I was mean but I'm changing my scene
And I'm doing the best that I can"

But

"I have to admit it's getting better, it's getting better
Since you've been mine"

So who is this being sung too? Is it the "woman" he used to be cruel to? Is the "my woman" a generic term to reference past girlfriends and he's changed his ways with a new one? Or is it possibly a reference to another 3rd party, perhaps a child he had with his "woman"?

What do y'all think?