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Oh Girl
The Chi-Lites Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, girl
I'd be in trouble if you left me now
'Cause I don't know where to look for love
I just don't know how

Oh, girl
How I depend on you
To give me love when I need it
Right on time you would always be

All my friends call me a fool
They say, "Let the woman take care of you"
So I, I try to be hip and think like the crowd
But even the crowd can't help me now, ohh

Oh, girl
Tell me what am I gonna do
I know I've got a guilty face
Girl, I feel so out of place, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah

Don't know where to go and who to see, yeah
Ohh

Oh, girl
I guess I better go
I can save myself a lot of useless tears
Girl, I've gotta get away from here

Oh, girl
Pain will double if you leave me now
'Cause I don't know where to look for love
And I don't, I don't know how

Oh, oh
Oh, girl
Why do I love you so? Yeah
Better be on my way, I can't stay, yeah
Oh, yeah
Uh-huh
Have you ever seen such a helpless man? Oh no
Oh

Overall Meaning

Girl by The Chi-Lites is a romantic ballad about a man who depends on his woman for love and feels lost without her. The song expresses the vulnerability and anxiety he feels about losing the love of his life. The first verse depicts the fear and desperation of the man as he pleads with his woman not to leave him because he is helpless and has no clue how to find love on his own. He recognizes that he cannot survive without her and is lost without her guidance. The second verse shows how much he relies on her for emotional support and comfort. He feels like he is out of place and alone without her by his side, and he does not know how to navigate the world alone. The chorus repeats his sentiments, emphasizing the pain and confusion he feels about the situation. The final verse shows him coming to terms with the reality that she may leave him and that he must move on without her.


The song Oh Girl was written by Eugene Record and produced by Record and Richard Tufo in 1971. The Chi-Lites recorded the song at Brunswick Recording Studio in Chicago, Illinois. The single was released in April 1972, and it peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number fourteen on the UK Singles Chart. The song was their biggest hit and became a classic of the soul genre. Oh Girl was covered by many artists, including Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, and Paul Young. The song has been used in various films, TV shows, and commercials, and it remains a popular love song.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, girl
The Chi-Lites start the song by addressing the girl they love.


I'd be in trouble if you left me now
The Chi-Lites express how much they depend on the girl and how much they fear losing her.


'Cause I don't know where to look for love
The Chi-Lites confess that they have no idea where to find love if the girl were to leave them.


I just don't know how
The Chi-Lites also admit the difficulty they face in learning how to acquire love.


How I depend on you
The Chi-Lites emphasize their dependence on the girl for love and support.


To give me love when I need it
The Chi-Lites state that they expect the girl to provide them with love when they need it.


Right on time you would always be
The Chi-Lites praise the girl for always coming through for them when they needed her the most.


All my friends call me a fool
The Chi-Lites admit that their friends often ridicule them for their dependence on the girl.


They say, 'Let the woman take care of you'
The Chi-Lites convey the advice their friends give them, which is to let the woman take care of them.


So I, I try to be hip and think like the crowd
The Chi-Lites say that they attempt to be cool like everyone else, despite being reliant on the girl, just to avoid being teased by their friends.


But even the crowd can't help me now, ohh
The Chi-Lites realize that the crowd won't be able to assist them through their love struggles.


Tell me what am I gonna do
The Chi-Lites express their confusion and desperation as to how to handle their love situation.


I know I've got a guilty face
The Chi-Lites admit that they feel ashamed for their reliance on the girl and for being unable to find love on their own.


Girl, I feel so out of place, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
The Chi-Lites feel like they don't belong due to their inability to find love without the girl's assistance.


Don't know where to go and who to see, yeah
The Chi-Lites are lost and uncertain about where they can find love without the girl's help.


I guess I better go
The Chi-Lites admit that leaving and distancing themselves from the girl might be the best solution for them.


I can save myself a lot of useless tears
The Chi-Lites believe that avoiding the girl will save them from future heartache and tears.


Pain will double if you leave me now
The Chi-Lites state that their pain will be doubled if the girl leaves them.


And I don't, I don't know how
The Chi-Lites admit once again that they have no clue how to handle love by themselves.


Why do I love you so? Yeah
The Chi-Lites wonder why they love the girl so much despite feeling helpless and lost without her.


Better be on my way, I can't stay, yeah
The Chi-Lites decide that leaving and moving on from the girl is their best option.


Uh-huh
An expression of agreement or confirmation.


Have you ever seen such a helpless man? Oh no
The Chi-Lites acknowledge how hopeless they feel without the girl and express their despair.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eugene Record

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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