In 1966, the band toured the Pacific Northwest without Wheatbread, who was recruited as the house drummer on the television series, Where the Action Is; he later rejoined the line-up. Under manager Dick Badger, the band were renamed The Union Gap in early 1967, and fitted themselves out with Union Army-style Civil War uniforms as a visual gimmick. They then recorded a demo, which was heard by CBS record producer and songwriter Jerry Fuller. Impressed by Puckett's baritone voice and the band's soft rock leanings, Fuller signed them to a recording contract with Columbia Records.
The band recorded their first single, "Woman Woman", a song written by Jim Glaser and Jimmy Payne, in August 1967. It became their first hit, reaching #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and being certified as a gold disc. This was followed during the next two years by "Young Girl" (#2), "Lady Willpower" (#2), "Over You" (#7), and "Don't Give In To Him" (#15). All were produced by Fuller, who also wrote "Young Girl," "Lady Willpower," and "Over You". Although the band never had a #1 record in the United States, "Young Girl" reached #1 on the UK singles chart, and #6 when it was reissued in the UK six years later. Controversial at the time and later for its risqué lyrical references to underage romance, Allmusic labeled the groups lyrics "bizarrely pedophilic". "Young Girl" was the second million selling disc for the band, which it reached less than two months after issue; "Lady Willpower" and "Over You" also won gold discs. The band headlined at a White House reception for Prince Charles and at Disneyland in 1968, and were nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1969, losing out to José Feliciano.
The band, however, wanted to write and produce its own material, and Puckett resented singing the power ballads written by Fuller. In 1969 Fuller prepared a 40-piece studio orchestra to record a new song he had written, but Puckett and the group refused to record it, the session was canceled, and Fuller never again worked with the group. The band returned to the charts with "This Girl Is a Woman Now," produced by Dick Glasser, but later releases failed to make the Billboard Top 40. Chater and Withem left the band; Bement took over on bass guitar and keyboardist, Barry McCoy, and horn player, Richard Gabriel, were added. In 1970 Puckett began recording as a solo act, but with limited success; the Union Gap remained his live backing band until they were dismissed following an appearance at the 1971 Orange County Fair. Puckett's recording contract was terminated one year later.
In 2009, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She'll be rising
She'll find that note
I left hanging on her door
And she'll laugh when she reads the part
That says, "I'm leaving"
Cause I've left that girl so many times before
By the time I make Albuquerque
She'll be working
She'll probably stop at lunch and to give me a call
But she'll hear that phone keep on ringing
Off the wall
That's all
By the time I make Oklahoma
She'll be sleeping
She'll turn softly in her sleep and call my name out low
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
Though time and time I've tried to tell her so
She just didn't know
I would really go
The lyrics of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap are a poignant tale of a man leaving a woman whom he has left many times before, despite the fact that she doesn't want him to go. The song starts with the man saying that by the time he reaches Phoenix, the woman he loves will be rising and find a note that he left behind on her door. The note informs her that he is leaving her once again, something that he has done many times before. He knows that she's going to laugh when she reads the note because she's seen it so many times before, but he is still determined to leave.
As the song continues, he sings about how he'll be in Albuquerque and she'll be at work, but she'll take a break to call him. However, she won't be able to reach him because he has left his phone off the hook. When he makes it to Oklahoma, he knows that she'll be sleeping and will softly call his name out in her sleep. He knows that she would be devastated if he actually left her, despite the fact that he's told her many times before that he was going to go. The woman just didn't know that he would really go.
The lyrics of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" are a powerful reminder of the pain that relationships can cause when one person wants to leave and the other person doesn't want them to go. Despite the fact that the man is leaving the woman, it's clear that he still loves her deeply and that the decision to leave wasn't an easy one for him.
Line by Line Meaning
By the time I get to Phoenix
After a long journey to Phoenix
She'll be rising
The sun will be rising in Phoenix
She'll find that note
She will discover the note I left for her
I left hanging on her door
Which was hanging on her door when I left
And she'll laugh when she reads the part
She will chuckle when she reads a certain section
That says, "I'm leaving"
Which says that I'm departing
Cause I've left that girl so many times before
Because I have done this multiple times in the past
By the time I make Albuquerque
After I have traveled to Albuquerque
She'll be working
She will be employed and working when I arrive
She'll probably stop at lunch and to give me a call
She will likely take a break from work to call me
But she'll hear that phone keep on ringing
However, she will hear the phone ringing constantly
Off the wall
Without pause or interruption
That's all
That's the only news I have for her
By the time I make Oklahoma
Once I arrive in Oklahoma
She'll be sleeping
She will be sleeping deeply
She'll turn softly in her sleep and call my name out low
She will murmur my name softly in her sleep
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
She will weep at the mere thought of me departing
Though time and time I've tried to tell her so
Despite my repeated attempts to inform her
She just didn't know
It seems she was simply unaware
I would really go
That I would truly choose to leave once again
Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@talkingdogmusic4349
What a phenomenal voice! The range, the smoothness, and delivery are awesome.
@laurapieper1744
He's one of my favorites. Great voice. Love this by him.
@peglenga2665
Gary, as always, for YEARS, you KILL me - to die for! - I can't tell you how much your music did for me- absolutely gorgeous! - you are the best!
@mikeevans5810
an underappreciated singer who had a great voice
@joanie1847
Absolutely love ❤️ his version; even better than the recording he did... he always seemed to perform better live, which is very difficult! Amazing talent; so glad he’s still performing! 🥰
@NotAzoo
The only one that can sing it besides Glen Campbell and do the song justice. One of the best voices of this century. The one and only Gary Puckett.
@borbetomagus
Maybe give Ray Price's version a chance....
@jacquelinemcgowan8164
This guys voice is just the best, i thought Elvis was the best but he sure is a very very close second, his songs are just superb, Lady willpower, woman woman and young girl and could I. and he was well good looking and seems such a great guy. so gald i ahve found him again i cannot stop playing his songs
@WhyteRaven88
Oh my word. I think this may be only the second time I heard a cover that was better than the original. This was freaking amazing. This is gonna get played to death.
@georgehernandez9044
Wow! What a vocalist/artist...a fan 4.ever!