"YOUNG GIRL"
"WOMAN WOMAN"
"LADY WILLPOWER"
"OVER YOU"
"THIS GIRL IS A WOMAN NOW"
"KEEP THE CUSTOMER SATISFIED"
"DON'T GIVE IN TO HIM"
"HOME"
GARY PUCKETT has performed on more than thirty network television shows and prime time specials during his career, even adding a command performance for the President and Prince Charles at the White House. The Union Gap disbanded in the seventies. In 1974, "Young Girl" was reissued in England where it received a silver record award for attaining a top five position on the pop charts, several years after its initial release.
Gary continues to tour nationally & internationally, has a new album out now, "GARY PUCKETT - LIVE", and has recently released his first ever Chrismas CD, entitled "At Christmas".
Daylight Stranger
Gary Puckett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If we meet by chance today, pretend that you don't see me
I love you, but if she knew I know she'd never free me
Long as I am tied to her we care not for the danger
So be discreet & meet me later, daylight stranger
She believes that I go out on real important business
She's so right 'cause every night I taste your tender kisses
So be discreet & meet me later, daylight stranger
For a while just be my lover
With the darkness as our cover
So that she may not discover you
(Ah ah ah, ah ah ah)
Soon enough she'll realize that we were both mistaken
Walk & talk 'cause in my hand, one day I'll soon awaken
Turn the sunlight in your eyes without the thrill of danger
So be discreet & meet me later, daylight stranger
(backing, repeat & fade):
Meet me later, daylight stranger
The lyrics to Gary Puckett's song "Daylight Stranger" convey a message of a man who is torn between his love for two women - his wife and his mistress. He implores his mistress to pretend not to know him if they meet in public, because he fears that if his wife were to discover their affair, she would never forgive him. He goes on to explain that his wife believes he is out on important business when he is actually spending his nights with his mistress. He begs for his mistress's discretion as they continue their affair, hoping to keep it hidden in the darkness.
Despite being committed to his wife and tied to her, the singer is drawn to his mistress for comfort and affection which he is lacking in his own home. The lyrics speak to the complexity of human relationships, particularly when emotions and desires are at odds. The use of the phrase "daylight stranger" in the chorus is a particularly effective metaphor for the idea that the lover must remain hidden in plain sight to avoid discovery, choosing to meet only when the sun sets.
Overall, the song suggests a sense of conflict between love and obligation, the desire for passion and the reality of commitment. Through its poignant lyrics, "Daylight Stranger" captures the complexity of human emotions, particularly those that arise in relationships of desire and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
If we meet by chance today, pretend that you don't see me
If we cross paths today, let's act as if we don't know each other to avoid suspicion from my partner.
I love you, but if she knew I know she'd never free me
I have feelings for you, but if my partner found out, she would never let me go.
Long as I am tied to her we care not for the danger
As long as I am in a relationship with my partner, we don't care about the risks of having this affair.
So be discreet & meet me later, daylight stranger
Let's keep this secret and meet later, unknown to each other in broad daylight.
She believes that I go out on real important business
My partner thinks I am out on meaningful work, but in reality, I'm out with you.
She's so right 'cause every night I taste your tender kisses
My partner is correct because every night I am with you, and we share passionate moments.
That's what happens when a home is filled with pain & anger
Our affair is a result of living in a home where pain and anger consume us every day.
For a while just be my lover
Stay with me and be my secret love interest for a while.
With the darkness as our cover
The darkness of night will conceal us while we're together.
So that she may not discover you
We must keep our relationship secret so that my partner won't find out about you.
Soon enough she'll realize that we were both mistaken
My partner will eventually realize that we both made a mistake by getting involved in this affair.
Walk & talk 'cause in my hand, one day I'll soon awaken
Let's walk and talk, so I can hold your hand and dream of a future where we can finally be together.
Turn the sunlight in your eyes without the thrill of danger
Our love can survive without the excitement of any danger, and we can look to the future with hope.
Meet me later, daylight stranger
Let's meet again later, while pretending to be strangers in daylight.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JERRY FULLER, GARY DALE PUCKETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
beatleman69
One of the obscure songs by the Union Gap, but a good one at that!
Russ Grunert
Flip side of Lady Willpower
The David Bowers
I've always loved this track and got to meet Gary while I was at WSNY (Schenectady NY - now 'dark') "Lady.." was big and asked him about this. He was kind of surprised that I knew the song (I've always been a B-side addict!) and that I knew he co-wrote it (with prolific songwriter-producer Jerry Fuller)!
John in Poughkeepsie
Great story. I saw the band in the 60's and they were great musicians. Other forgotten UG songs: No One Really Knows and Could I. Love that 45 record sleeve picture in front of the Psycho house at Universal. I have it somewhere.
Rita M. Buda
This song is the B side of Lady Willpower on the 45 rpm I used to own.
sukie584
B side of Lady Willpower and I guess I was 8 or 9 when I heard it... I always loved it...
Roger Crowder
My favorite song by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap - B side of Lady Will Power - Thanks - Roger in Burnet, Tx.
Yonah Music Emporium
Is this b-side on any of his CDs?
Emily Kelley
Yes of lady willpower
TheCheezhead15
@jinkies4 Agreed