He was born Delecta Clark in Blytheville, Arkansas, and moved to Chicago in 1941. His mother, Essie Mae Clark, was a gospel singer and encouraged her son to pursue his love of music. Clark made his first recording in 1952 as a member of the Hambone Kids, who enjoyed some success with a recording of "Hambone" on the OKeh label. In 1953, he joined an R&B group called the Goldentones, who later became the Kool Gents and were discovered by Chicago radio DJ Herb Kent upon winning a talent competition. Kent had the Kool Gents signed to Vee-Jay label's subsidiary Falcon/Abner. The group recorded for Falcon/Abner in 1956, and also recorded a novelty record as "The Delegates".
Clark embarked on a solo career in 1957, initially following the styles of Clyde McPhatter and Little Richard. When Little Richard temporarily abandoned his music career to study the Bible, Clark fulfilled Richard's remaining live dates and also recorded with his backing band, the Upsetters. Over the next four years he landed several moderate hits, two of which ("Just Keep It Up" and "Hey Little Girl") reached the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100). His records for Abner and Vee-Jay were orchestrated by Riley Hampton. His biggest single, "Raindrops," a power ballad augmented by heavy rain and thunder sound effects and Clark's swooping falsetto, was released in the spring of 1961 and became his biggest hit, soaring to number two on the pop chart and number three on the R&B charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. "Raindrops" was also an international success, reaching number one in New Zealand and reaching the top ten in South Africa and Belgium, and selling well in Japan. "Raindrops" remains a staple on oldies and adult standards radio station playlists to this day, and has also been covered by several other artists in the years since, including David Cassidy, Tony Orlando and Dawn, and most notably Narvel Felts, who took the song to number 30 on the country chart in 1974. Clark himself recorded an updated version of "Raindrops" in 1973.
However, Clark's biggest hit was also his last. The follow-up to "Raindrops," "Don't Walk Away From Me," was a flop, and he made the pop charts in America only twice more, with "I'm Going Back to School" (1962) and "Crossfire Time" (1963). By the time "Crossfire Time" came out, Clark had moved from Vee-Jay to the Constellation label. Though he continued to record for Constellation through 1966, none of his records charted nationally. He had considerable local success in Chicago with such standout recordings as "Come Closer" (1964), the double-sided hit of "Warm Summer Breezes" and "Heartbreak" (1964), and "TCB" (1965). He later recorded for the Columbia, Wand, Liberty and Rocky labels, without success. Clark had a brief revival in 1975 when his song "Ride a Wild Horse" became a surprise Top 30 hit in the UK Singles Chart, becoming his first chart hit in the UK since "Just Keep It Up."
Afterwards, Clark performed mostly on the oldies circuit. By the late 1980s, he was in dire straits financially, living in a welfare hotel in Toccoa, Georgia. Despite suffering a stroke in 1987 that left him partially paralyzed and with a mild speech impediment, he continued to perform until his death on December 7, 1990, in Smyrna, Georgia, from a heart attack at the age of 52. His last concert was with the Jimmy Gilstrap Band at the Portman Lounge in Anderson, South Carolina.
Oh! Little Girl
Dee Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gee, but I'd like to know you better
Just a-swingin' your books and chewin' gum
Lookin' just like a juicy plum
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, little girl
Hey, little girl in the black silk stockings
Gee, but you got my heart rockin'
And that crazy Ivy League shirt
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, little girl
Hey, little girl, can I come along?
Carry your books, and a-hold your arm?
I'm hopin' that you'll tell me yes,
Because you're the girl that I love best
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey, mm-mm
Hey, little girl in the high school sweater
Gee, I hope you're feelin' better
Not just like the time before,
'Member when you closed that door?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, little girl
Hey, little girl
Hey, hey, hey, little girl
The song Hey Little Girl by Dee Clark is a classic example of teenage infatuation and the desire for companionship. The lyrics describe a high school boy's admiration for a girl who he watches swinging her books and chewing gum in a cute high school sweater. He is drawn to her and expresses his desire to know her better. He contrasts the high school sweater with black silk stockings and a tight skirt she wears which excites him more. The boy craves to be with her and attempts to impress her by offering to carry her books and hold her arm. He hopes she will accept his offer because he considers her as the "girl that he loves best." However, the last verse shows that the boy has had previous interactions with the girl, which haven't gone well as she had shut him out before.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, little girl in the high school sweater
Addressing a young girl wearing a sweater that belongs to the high school they both attend
Gee, but I'd like to know you better
Expressing interest in getting to know the girl at a deeper level
Just a-swingin' your books and chewin' gum
Watching the girl nonchalantly swing her books and chewing gum
Lookin' just like a juicy plum
Comparing the girl's appearance to that of a ripe and juicy fruit
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, little girl
Repeatedly calling out to the girl trying to catch her attention
Hey, little girl in the black silk stockings
Admiring a young girl wearing black silk stockings
Gee, but you got my heart rockin'
Impressed with how attractive and desirable the girl is
A-wearin' that crazy skin-tight skirt
Noticing the girl in a tight skirt which accentuates her curves
And that crazy Ivy League shirt
Commenting on the girl's choice of shirt that is associated with Ivy League colleges
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, little girl
Repeatedly calling out to the girl trying to catch her attention
Hey, little girl, can I come along?
Asking the girl to allow him to walk with her
Carry your books, and a-hold your arm?
Offering to carry her books and hold her arm as they walk together
I'm hopin' that you'll tell me yes,
Expressing hope that the girl will agree to his proposal
Because you're the girl that I love best
Confessing his love for her and hoping that she reciprocates his feelings
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Repeatedly trying to convince the girl to say yes to his proposal
Hey, hey, hey, mm-mm
Continuing to persist in his request to walk with her
Hey, little girl in the high school sweater
Reiterating his earlier address to the girl
Gee, I hope you're feelin' better
Expressing concern for the girl's well-being and hoping that she is okay
Not just like the time before,
Recalling that something negative occurred between them during their previous interaction
'Member when you closed that door?
Remembering the girl slamming the door on him during their past interaction
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, little girl
Concluding his song by repeatedly addressing the girl in hopes of a positive response from her
Hey, little girl
Final plea to the girl for her attention
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: OTIS BLACKWELL, ROBERT STEVENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Richard Reese
Dee really does nail down the Little Richard sound but doesn't go screaming out of control. And this is MUCH better than "HEY Little Girl". Thanks for sharing!
lovestheclassics69
He really nailed that Little Richard sound and the music kinda has that "Lucille" feel to it. Killer Track.
cammoguy2
I'm sure I thought this was Little Richard whenever I heard it.
Steve
cammoguy2 I know. Even the flip side is an unsuccessful Little Richard song..."Wonderin".
Steve
Click for his very next record...a solid hit every boomer knows.... https://youtu.be/KH3BSN0gNcw