Critically acclaimed though perceived as commercially disappointing, their debut contained tracks such as a spirited version of the Bobby Troup chestnut "The Girl Can't Help It", and it brought them a cult following. Their second album, 1970's 'Flamingo', revealed a musical approach that continued to draw upon 50s rock and roll as well as upon the more tuneful work of The Beatles and the The Rolling Stones. 'Flamingo' is also notable as well as the only album by the group to feature an apostrophe after "Flamin" (all the others are credited to "The Flamin Groovies"). It also was the first of their two albums for the label Kama Sutra.
Their next album, and last with musician Roy Loney, was the 1971 classic 'Teenage Head'. Continuing their streak of critical praise, this album appears in the famous book '1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'. Mick Jagger praised the work as an excellent album with parallels to the Stones' work at the time which, like 'Teenage Head', revisited both 50s music and roots rock. 'Teenage Head' is also considered to be a classic in the proto-punk music canon.
Still, Roy Loney left the Flamin' Groovies, and he was replaced by singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Wilson, who, along with Jordan, began to move the group in a more overtly power pop direction. Between 1971 and 1976, very little was heard of the band except their 1972 anti-drug song "Slow Death". In 1976, they teamed up with British producer and famous retro rock artist Dave Edmunds, and recorded an album entitled 'Shake Some Action'.
With Cyril Jordan and George Alexander the lone holdouts in the band after their line-up changes, their sound found them fully embracing melodic 60s British invasion music and putting on a suit and tie public image reminiscent of those groups. The album even breaking into the Billboard 200 chart, reaching the #142 slot, it picked-up massive critical acclaim. Title track "Shake Some Action" became somewhat of a 'signature song' for the group, and the album has been viewed as a landmark release of the Anglo-American power pop movement.
The following effort, 1978's 'Now', continued to be a good example of their self-conscious attempt to revive the sound of classic 60s rock. As Cyril Jordan told an interviewer, "The time that we were personifying had died in America years before. We were trying to put it into a capsule." The Groovies continued in the same style until somewhere early in the 80s, almost folding entirely and shifting into a sporadic, on-again/off-again existence as the American music scene changed into a more new wave and alternative rock based direction.
In retrospect, the band has been praised by critics as being "one of America's greatest, most influential, and legendary cult bands", in the words of Allmusic. Their siren song of a last album, 1993's 'Rock Juice', has also attracted attention as a great underground release. As time goes by, many punk and powerpop leaning bands have took inspiration from the Groovies.
She Said Yeah
Flamin' Groovies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, dom, diddl-e-dom-dom
Little girl where did you come from ?
Driving my boy crazy
C'mon baby I don't mean maybe
Said : 'yeah', she said : 'yeah'
She said : 'yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'
Nobody but you.
You know I will buy you a diamond ring
I'll buy most anything
I love you, no one above you
C'mon honey, let me love to you
Said : 'yeah', she said : 'yeah'
Said : 'yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'
C'mon baby I wanna make love to you
Nobody but you.
She said : 'yeah!'
You know I will buy you a diamond ring
I'll buy most anything
I love you, no one above you
C'mon honey, just let me love you
Said : 'yeah', she said : 'yeah'
She said : 'yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'
C'mon baby I want to wrap my arm around you
That's what I said baby.
You know I'll buy you a diamond ring
Buy you most anything
I love you, no one above you
C'mon, c'mon let me love you
Said : 'yeah', she said : 'yeah'
She said : 'yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'
C'mon baby, I wanna make love to you
Yeah one more time, babe.
Well, dom, diddl-e-dom-dom
Little girl where did you come from ?
Driving my boy crazy
C'mon baby I don't mean maybe
Said : 'yeah', she said : 'yeah'
She said : 'yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'
C'mon baby, I wanna make love to you
Nobody but you.
The Flamin' Groovies' song "She Said Yeah" is about a man who is infatuated with a girl and wants to make love to her. The song is a classic example of rock and roll in the 1960s, with its driving beat and catchy lyrics. The lyrics are simple and repetitive, but the energy and enthusiasm in the delivery make up for it. The singer is desperate to express his love for the girl, promising to buy her anything she wants, including a diamond ring. He believes she is the only one for him and wants to be with her forever.
The song is filled with excitement and anticipation, and the repetition of "she said yeah" creates a sense of urgency and desire. The singer can't contain his enthusiasm as he implores the girl to be with him. The song captures the essence of youthful romance and the thrill of falling in love.
Overall, "She Said Yeah" is a classic pop song from the 1960s that captures the excitement and passion of young love. Its catchy lyrics and driving beat make it a timeless classic that continues to be enjoyed by music lovers to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, dom, diddl-e-dom-dom
Starting the song with a nonsensical phrase to grab attention
Little girl where did you come from ?
Asking the girl where she's been all his life
Driving my boy crazy
The girl has captured the singer's friend's heart
C'mon baby I don't mean maybe
Urging the girl to make a decision and not lead him on
Said : 'yeah', she said : 'yeah'
They're on the same page, and she agrees to be with him
She said : 'yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah'
Repeating her enthusiastic consent to be with him
C'mon baby, I wanna make love to you.
Expressing his desire to be intimate with her
Nobody but you.
He only wants to be with her
You know I will buy you a diamond ring
Promising to shower her with material gifts
I'll buy most anything
Continuing to promise lavish gifts
I love you, no one above you
Declaring his love for her and putting her above everyone else
C'mon honey, let me love to you
Asking her to allow him to express his love for her physically
C'mon baby I want to wrap my arm around you
Expressing a desire for physical intimacy and closeness
That's what I said baby.
Reiterating his desire for intimacy in a playful way
Yeah one more time, babe.
Asking for enthusiastic consent one more time before proceeding
Contributed by William B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.