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Oh Pretty Woman
Roy Orbison Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pretty woman, walkin' down the street
Pretty woman the kind I like to meet
Pretty woman I don't believe you, you're not the truth
No one could look as good as you, mercy

Pretty woman won't you pardon me
Pretty woman I couldn't help but see
Pretty woman that you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me

Pretty woman stop awhile
Pretty woman talk awhile
Pretty woman give your smile to me
Pretty woman yeah, yeah, yeah
Pretty woman look my way
Pretty woman say you'll stay with me
'Cause I need you, I'll treat you right
Come with me baby, be mine tonight

Pretty woman don't walk on by
Pretty woman don't make me cry
Pretty woman don't walk away, hey, OK
If that's the way it must be, OK
I guess I'll go on home, it's late
There'll be tomorrow night, but wait
What do I see?
Is she walkin' back to me?
Yeah, she's walkin' back to me
Oh, oh, pretty woman.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roy Orbison's "Oh Pretty Woman" are focused on the beauty of a woman who crosses the singer's path. From the very beginning, the singer is mesmerized by the woman and the kind of person she is. He sings about her walking down the street, in a way that makes her stand out from the rest. He goes on to praise her looks and goes as far as to say that no one could look as good as her. The singer then proceeds to ask her to stop for a while, talk to him, and give him a smile.


As the song progresses, the singer's plea to the woman becomes more desperate, and he asks her not to walk away from him. He tries to make her stay with him, promising to treat her right. The song ends with the woman walking back to the singer, indicating that the singer's wish has been fulfilled.


At its core, "Oh Pretty Woman" is an ode to a woman's beauty and the impact it has on the singer. The songwriter has managed to capture the essence of a man's infatuation with a woman's looks, and how it can make him go to great lengths to win her over.


Line by Line Meaning

Pretty woman, walkin' down the street
Beautiful lady strolling along the roadway


Pretty woman the kind I like to meet
Attractive lady that fits my ideal type


Pretty woman I don't believe you, you're not the truth
Doubting the reality of her beauty, no one could be that stunning, it's extraordinary


No one could look as good as you, mercy
It's unbelievable to think that anyone could look as beautiful as her, a remarkable sight to behold


Pretty woman won't you pardon me
Excuse me beautiful lady


Pretty woman I couldn't help but see
I had to take notice of your stunning appearance


Pretty woman that you look lovely as can be
You appear delightful and charming


Are you lonely just like me
Do you also feel the need for companionship?


Pretty woman stop awhile
Pause for a moment, beautiful lady


Pretty woman talk awhile
Engage in conversation with me, lovely lady


Pretty woman give your smile to me
Share your beautiful smile with me


Pretty woman yeah, yeah, yeah
Beautiful woman, enthusiastic affirmation


Pretty woman look my way
Gaze in my direction, beautiful lady


Pretty woman say you'll stay with me
Please tell me you'll spend time with me, lovely lady


'Cause I need you, I'll treat you right
I require your companionship and promise to treat you well


Come with me baby, be mine tonight
Join me and be my companion for the evening


Pretty woman don't walk on by
Beautiful lady, don't continue walking past me


Pretty woman don't make me cry
Gorgeous lady, please don't cause me to weep


Pretty woman don't walk away, hey, OK
Attractive woman, please don't leave me, okay?


If that's the way it must be, OK
If you must go, I understand


I guess I'll go on home, it's late
I suppose I'll head home now, it's getting late


There'll be tomorrow night, but wait
There's always tomorrow night, but hold on


What do I see?
What is that I perceive?


Is she walkin' back to me?
Is the lovely lady returning to me?


Yeah, she's walkin' back to me
Indeed, she's coming back to me


Oh, oh, pretty woman.
Oh, oh, beautiful woman




Lyrics © Orbi-Lee Music, Barbara Orbison Music Company, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, R-Key Darkus
Written by: Bill Dees, Roy Orbison

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@shirleyduran6358

There’s no one like Roy Obison. He has such a clear voice and hits every note with such accuracy.

@gilsonsantos2587

Com certeza meu irmão, cada ser humano que nasce, é único.

@christerhermansson1916

Agree from sweden, very special

@granbololin

I´m 74 now and I watch this video once in a month or so. Tremendous band "ad hoc".I wish new generations would listen RO often ad admire his voice and performance

@radiomanze1296

This generation can not comprehend the talent on this stage. Nor do I think they can really appreciate the guitar riffs

@SwingFi

My goodness,
Imagine turning up to a Roy Orbison concert, blessed already to get a ticket to see the Big O, and the backing band includes Bruce Springsteen! Tom Waits! Elvis Costello! Bonnie Raitt! KD Lang! Jackson Browne! And many more. That must have been the best concert ever.

@Inigo_The_Son

@SwingFi I have watched this video dozens of times. My eyes are not what they once were, but I don't see any women on stage. Where did Bonnie Raitt and KD Lang appear?

@dwc4343

@@Inigo_The_Son This is just one song; you have to watch the entire Black and White concert to see them all. Not just this one song. By the way, she's only a backup singer. I don't recall the women singing with him, but I might be wrong on that. Been years since I watched the entire concert myself.

@HonestlyYours516

I love the part when all these well-known guitar players are playing their guitars for an extended period of time. It looks like they are all enjoying themselves immensely and there is absolutely no clash of egos there.

@juliaescalante3049

Yeeees

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