His mother played songs by Frank Sinatra to him as a child, and he later became a fan of Motown and other R&B/soul music. He took piano lessons as a child, but he did not like them. He would skip the lessons and ride his bicycle across the bridge from his grandfather's farm over to the heart of the black "Chicken Hill" ghetto, where he could just listen and absorb the music.
In the 1960s, Hall attended Temple University, but did not graduate, preferring instead to spend his time singing on the street corners and play with various musicians and groups. At that time, Daryl Hohl (as he was called then) sang backup for different bands. He eventually changed his last name to Hall. Daryl Hall idolized the Temptations and began to perform session work as a singer. He first met John Oates at a band competition.
After John transferred to a different school, Daryl joined the band Gulliver, which released one eponymous album in 1969 before being dropped from their label.
Daryl is the host of the wildly popular online show entitled "Live From Daryl's House", where Daryl and the band collaborate with artists from various musical genres on the 15th of each month. The first episode aired in 2007, and it's still going strong. Best of all, it's free to watch.
Maneater
Daryl Hall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lean and hungry type
Nothing is new, I've seen her here before
Watching and waiting
So many have paid to see
What you think you're gettin' for free
The woman is wild, a she-cat tamed by the purr of a jaguar
Money's the matter
If you're in it for love, you ain't gonna get too far
Oh oh, here she comes
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
Oh oh, here she comes
She's a maneater
Oh oh, here she comes
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
Oh oh, here she comes
She's a maneater
I wouldn't if I were you
I know what she can do
She's deadly, man, she could really rip your world apart
Mind over matter
Ooh, the beauty is there but a beast is in the heart
Oh oh, here she comes
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
Oh oh, here she comes
She's a maneater
Oh oh, here she comes
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
Oh oh, here she comes
She's a maneater
Oh oh, here she comes
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
Oh oh, here she comes, watch out
She's a maneater
Oh oh, here she comes, she's a maneater
Ooh, she'll chew you up
Oh oh, here she comes
Here she comes, she's a maneater
Oh oh, here she comes, watch out
She'll only come out at night, woo
Oh oh, here she comes
Here she comes, she's a maneater
Oh oh, here she comes, she's a maneater
The woman is wild woo
Oh oh, here she comes
Here she comes, watch out boy, watch out boy
Oh oh, here she comes
Oh, watch out, watch out, watch out, watch out
Oh oh, here she comes, watch out
Maneater
Oh oh, here she comes, she's a maneater
She's watching and waiting
Oh oh, here she comes
Oh, she's a maneater
The lyrics of Daryl Hall's "Maneater" tells the story of a dangerous woman who only comes out at night. The singer warns a man to be careful of her, as she is a predator who can destroy him. Through the lyrics, we understand that this woman is beautiful, but ruthless. She is a maneater, a wild woman whom men pay to see, but who is only interested in money. She's also described as a she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar, indicating her wild nature has been subdued by something equally powerful but dangerous.
The lyrics convey that this woman is not to be trifled with. The singer knows from experience that she can rip a man's world apart if she chooses, that behind her beauty lies a beast. The lyrics evoke the image of a woman prowling and hunting. The chorus warns the listener, "Watch out boy, she'll chew you up."
Overall, the lyrics of "Maneater" portray a dangerous, powerful woman who is also incredibly attractive. The music video for the song reinforces this image by showcasing a woman in a black dress performing a seductive dance in a dark and haunting world.
Line by Line Meaning
She'll only come out at nights
The woman in question only appears in the night-time.
The lean and hungry type
She is slender and looks very hungry.
Nothing is new, I've seen her here before
It is not the first time the singer has seen her.
Watching and waiting
She is patiently observing everything around her.
Ooh, she's sitting with you but her eyes are on the door
She may be sitting next to you, but she is not paying any attention to you.
So many have paid to see
A lot of people have tried to get to know her.
What you think you're getting for free
You may think you're getting her attention for free, but it is not the case.
The woman is wild, a she-cat tamed by the purr of a Jaguar
She may seem helpless, but in reality, she's fierce as a jaguar
Money's the matter
Money is everything in her eyes.
If you're in it for love
If you hope to find true love with her.
You ain't gonna get too far
You are not likely to succeed in your endeavors.
(Oh, here she comes)
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
(Oh, here she comes)
She's a maneater
Be careful, she may hurt you, she devours anything in sight.
I wouldn't if I were you
If it were me, I wouldn't bother with her.
I know what she can do
I know her true nature, watch out.
She's deadly man, she could really rip your world apart
She's dangerous, she could destroy you entirely.
Mind over matter
You need to use your reasoning to make a sound judgment.
Ooh, the beauty is there but a beast is in the heart
She may look attractive, but there is something sinister about her.
(Oh, here she comes)
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
(Oh, here she comes)
She's a maneater
Be very vigilant; she could consume you.
Ooh
Oh, here she comes
Here she comes
Watch out boy she'll chew you up
Oh, here she comes
(Watch out)
She's a maneater
Oh, here she comes
(She's a maneater)
Ooh, she'll chew you up
(Oh, here she comes)
Here she comes, she's a maneater
(Oh, here she comes)
(Watch out)
She'll only come out at night, ooh
(Oh, here she comes)
Here she comes
She's a maneater
(Oh, here she comes)
(She's a maneater)
The woman is wild, ooh
(Oh, here she comes)
Here she comes
Watch out boy, watch out boy
(Oh, here she comes)
Oh, watch out, watch out, watch out, watch out
(Oh, here she's comes)
Yeah, yeah she's a maneater
(Oh, here she comes)
(She's a maneater)
She's watching and waiting, ooh
(Oh, here she comes)
Oh, she's a maneater
The refrain repeats the warning of her dangerous character and predatory nature.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Harold Chernofsky
on Rich Girl - Remastered 2003
amazing group