Song Lyric Sunday

For Song Lyric Sunday this week, Jim Adams has asked us to choose a song that mentions girls. The list of songs about girls is a LONG one! It was hard for me NOT to pick more than one. Here are a few you may know, and a few you may not.

Along Comes Mary – The Association

This was the first hit for The Association, who gained a following in Los Angeles, but had a hard time getting a record deal. They signed to a small label called Valiant Records, who were rewarded when this became a hit, and when their follow-up, “Cherish” went to #1.

This song was written by Tandyn Almer, who had some success as a songwriter in the ’60s and ’70s.

It was one of the first songs I ever played on the radio.

Every time I think that I’m the only one who’s lonely
Someone calls on me
And every now and then I spend my time in rhyme and verse
And curse those faults in me

And then along comes Mary
And does she want to give me kicks , and be my steady chick
And give me pick of memories
Or maybe rather gather tales of all the fails and tribulations
No one ever sees

When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch

When vague desire is the fire in the eyes of chicks
Whose sickness is the games they play
And when the masquerade is played and neighbor folks make jokes
As who is most to blame today

And then along comes Mary
And does she want to set them free, and let them see reality
From where she got her name
And will they struggle much when told that such a tender touch as hers
Will make them not the same

When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch

And when the morning of the warning’s passed, the gassed
And flaccid kids are flung across the stars
The psychodramas and the traumas gone
The songs are left unsung and hung upon the scars

And then along comes Mary
And does she want to see the stains, the dead remains of all the pains
She left the night before
Or will their waking eyes reflect the lies, and make them
Realize their urgent cry for sight no more

When we met I was sure out to lunch
Now my empty cup tastes as sweet as the punch

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Tandyn Almer

Along Comes Mary lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Susan – The Buckinghams

Jim Holvay, who was a friend of the band, wrote this song. Holvay played in another band in the Chicago area at the time, but broke out as a songwriter when he composed The Buckingham’s first hit, Kind of a Drag.

This was one of those songs I had no idea was edited for radio. On their greatest hits, the unedited version has this psychedelic instrumental part that doesn’t fit the song at all. I’m glad to have found the edit to share here.

Susan
Looks like I’m losin’
I’m losin’ my mind (losin’ my mind)
I’m wastin’ my time

Susan (Susan)
Do you have to be confusin’?
I ask myself why (sayin’)
You’re sayin’ goodbye (goodbye, goodbye to me)

No other girl could ever take the place of you
Though you’re hurtin’ me
You know I’ll always be thinkin’ of you
Girl, I love you

No other girl could ever take the place of you
Though you’re hurtin’ me
You know I’ll always be thinkin’ of you
Girl, I love you

Love, love
Love, love
Love, love, love, love
I love you, yes I do, I do
I love you, yes I do, I do
(Susan) I love you, yes I do, I do
(I love you) I love you, yes I do, I do
(Susan) I love you, yes I do, I do
(I love you) I love you, yes I do, I do
(Susan) I love you, yes I do, I do
(I love you) I love you, yes I do, I do
(Susan) I love you, yes I do, I do
(I love you) I love you, yes I do, I do
(Susan) I love you, yes I do, I do
(I love you) I love you, yes I do, I do
(Susan) I love you, yes I do, I do
(I love you) I love you, yes I do, I do

Writer/s: Gary Beisbier, James Holvay, James William Guercio
Publisher: Spirit Music Group
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Corrine, Corrina – Big Joe Turner

I have always preferred the Big Joe Turner version of this song over all the others. It was originally intended as a blues song, and I think Joe gets that here.

The song was written by Armenter Chatmon (Bo Carter), J. Mayo Williams, and Mitchell Parish. “Corrine, Corrina” may have traditional roots, however, earlier songs are different musically and lyrically. One of the earliest is the commercial sheet music song “Has Anybody Seen My Corrine?” published in 1918.

It’s been recorded as a jazz song, a Western Swing song, and even as a folk song. This one is the best hands down.

Corrine, Corrina, where you been so long
Corrine, Corrina, where you been so long
I ain’t had no lovin’ since you’ve been gone

Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
I love you so

I love Corrina, tell the world I do
I love Corrina, tell the world I do
I pray every night she learns to love me too

Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
I love you so

I left Corrina, way across the sea
I left Corrina, way across the sea
If you see my baby, send her home to me

Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
I love you so

Corrine, Corrina, why don’t you come on home
Corrine, Corrina, why don’t you come on home
I’m mighty tired, bein’ all alone

Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
Corrine, Corrina
I love you so

Oh, Marie – Dean Martin

The Nostalgic Italian has to feature an Italian song … and this one is fantastic. For Oh, Marie the music was originally written by Eduardo Di Capua with lyrics by Vincenzo Russo. Louis Prima and Dean Martin both recorded it with a swing sound.

I couldn’t find much more about the song online, but it is a favorite of mine. I love the way he mixes the English and Italian in the lyrics.

We` Marie, we` Marie
Quanto sonno agiu perso per te
Famme` durmi, una notte abbraciata see you te
We` Marie, we` Marie

Quanto sonno agiu perse per te
Famme` durmi, we` Marie, we` Marie
We` Marie, we` Marie
You were all in this world to me

Here by the window
The sweet melody I sing to thee
Oh Marie, we` Marie
All the stars in the sky shine for thee

Please listen to me
Oh marie, we` Marie

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Eduardo Di Capua / Ferdinando Russo / Harold Barlow

Oh Marie lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc, Wise Music Group

Bernadette – The Four Tops

Finally, one from my hometown heroes.

Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs delivers a passionate vocal on this song, urging his girl to stick with him and ignore the advances of other men. The song was written by the legendary Motown team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Holland-Dozier-Holland). They wrote a lot of songs for the Tops.

So was there really a “Bernadette”? Yes, and more than one. Dozier explained to Hits magazine in 2003: “There were three Bernadettes, and they were all different girls. We sorta kept that to ourselves that we all had our own Bernadette. We always said, we’d never bring a girlfriend’s name into the songs. We had this hidden thing when the name came up, so we didn’t say anything. So at least two of us were thinking about the Bernadettes we knew.”

In Dozier’s case, “Bernadette” was inspired by his unrequited love for a girl when he was 12; a “beautiful Italian girl with eyes for somebody else.”

Bernadette, people are searching for (ah)
The kind of love that we possessed (Bernadette)
Some go on searching their whole life through (ah)
And never find the love I’ve found in you (ah)

And when I speak of you, I see envy in other men’s eyes (ah)
And I’m well aware of what’s on their minds (ah, don’t you know?)
They pretend to be my friend, when all the time (sweet Bernadette)
They long to persuade you from my side (sweet Bernadette)
They’d give the world and all they own
For just one moment we have known

Bernadette, they want you because (ah)
Of the pride that it gives
But Bernadette, I want you because (ah)
I need you to live (ah)

But while I live only to hold you (ah)
Some other men, they long to control you (ah, don’t you know?)
But how can they control you, Bernadette? (Sweet Bernadette)
When they can not control themselves, Bernadette? (Sweet Bernadette)
From wanting you, needing you

But darling, you belong to me (Bernadette)
I’ll tell the world, you belong to me (ah)
I’ll tell the world, you’re the soul of me (Bernadette)
I’ll tell the world, you’re a part of me (ah)
Bernadette

In your arms, I find the kind of peace of mind
The world is searching for
But you, you give me the joy this heart of mine
Has always been longing for

In you, I have what other men long for (ah)
All men need someone to worship and adore (ah, don’t you know?)
That’s why I treasure you and place you high above (sweet Bernadette)
For the only joy in life is to be loved (sweet Bernadette)
So whatever you do, Bernadette

Keep on loving me (Bernadette)
Bernadette, keep on needing me (ah)
Bernadette (ah)

Bernadette (Bernadette)
You’re the soul of me (ah)
More than a dream, you’re a plan to me (ah)
And Bernadette, you mean more to me (ah)
Than a woman was ever meant to be (ah)
Bernadette, my darling Bernadette

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Lamont Dozier / Brian Holland / Edward Jr. Holland

Song info from songfacts.com/Wiki

Lyrics sources listed above.

Thanks again to Jim for hosting a this fun feature!