Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (initially credited as The Union Gap featuring… Read Full Bio ↴Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (initially credited as The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett) was an American pop rock group operating in the late 1960s. Their biggest hits were "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl," and "Lady Willpower." Singer Gary Puckett (born October 17, 1942, Hibbing, Minnesota) grew up in Yakima, Washington - close to the city of Union Gap - and Twin Falls, Idaho. He began playing guitar in his teens, and graduated from Twin Falls High School before attending college in San Diego, California. There, he quit college and played in several local bands before joining the Outcasts, a local hard rock group comprising bassist Kerry Chater (born August 7, 1945, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada),[1] keyboardist Gary 'Mutha' Withem (born August 22, 1946, San Diego), tenor saxophonist Dwight Bement (born December 28, 1945, San Diego), and drummer Paul Wheatbread (born February 8, 1946, San Diego).
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.
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.
Honey
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
See the tree, how big it's grown, but friend it hasn't been too long
It wasn't big
I laughed at her and she got mad the first day that she planted it was just a twig
Then the first snow came and she ran out to brush the snow away
So it wouldn't die
Came running in all excited
Slipped and almost hurt herself
And I laughed till I cried
She was always young at heart
Kinda dumb, but kinda smart
And I loved her so
And I surprised her with a puppy
Kept me up all Christmas Eve
Two years ago
And it would sure embarrass her when I came in from working late
Cause I would know
That she'd been sittin there and crying
Over some sad and silly
Late, late show
And Honey, I miss you
And I'm being good
And I'd love to be with you
If only I could
She wrecked the car and she was sad and so afraid that I'd be mad
But what the heck?
Though I pretended hard to be guess you could say she saw through me
And hugged my neck
I came home unexpectedly and caught her crying needlessly
In the middle of the day
And it was in the early spring when flowers bloom and robins sing
She went away
And Honey, I miss you
And I'm being good
And I'd love to be with you
If only I could
One day while I was not at home while she was there and all alone
The angels came
Now all I have are memories of Honey and I wake up nights
And call her name
Now my life's an empty stage where Honey lived and Honey played
And love grew up
And a small cloud passes over head and cries down on the flower bed
That Honey loved
And see the tree, how big it's grown
But friend it hasn't been too long
It wasn't big
I laughed at her and she got mad the first day that she planted it, was just a twig
Then the first snow came and she ran out to brush the snow away
So it wouldn't die
Came running in
It wasn't big
I laughed at her and she got mad the first day that she planted it was just a twig
Then the first snow came and she ran out to brush the snow away
So it wouldn't die
Came running in all excited
Slipped and almost hurt herself
She was always young at heart
Kinda dumb, but kinda smart
And I loved her so
And I surprised her with a puppy
Kept me up all Christmas Eve
Two years ago
And it would sure embarrass her when I came in from working late
Cause I would know
That she'd been sittin there and crying
Over some sad and silly
Late, late show
And Honey, I miss you
And I'm being good
And I'd love to be with you
If only I could
She wrecked the car and she was sad and so afraid that I'd be mad
But what the heck?
Though I pretended hard to be guess you could say she saw through me
And hugged my neck
I came home unexpectedly and caught her crying needlessly
In the middle of the day
And it was in the early spring when flowers bloom and robins sing
She went away
And Honey, I miss you
And I'm being good
And I'd love to be with you
If only I could
One day while I was not at home while she was there and all alone
The angels came
Now all I have are memories of Honey and I wake up nights
And call her name
Now my life's an empty stage where Honey lived and Honey played
And love grew up
And a small cloud passes over head and cries down on the flower bed
That Honey loved
And see the tree, how big it's grown
But friend it hasn't been too long
It wasn't big
I laughed at her and she got mad the first day that she planted it, was just a twig
Then the first snow came and she ran out to brush the snow away
So it wouldn't die
Came running in
all excited
Slipped and almost hurt herself
And I laughed till I cried
The song "Honey" by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap is a poignant and nostalgic ballad about lost love and the memories that remain long after the person is gone. The opening lines refer to a tree that the singer's former partner had planted and tended to, showcasing the theme of growth and change over time. Despite the tree's growth, the singer remembers the small beginning and the laughter that ensued when his partner first planted it.
Throughout the song, the singer reminisces about moments shared with his former partner, particularly highlighting her childlike curiosity and tendency to cry over sad movies. Despite her "dumb" moments, the singer loves her deeply, surprising her with a puppy and comforting her after a car accident. However, the song takes a melancholy turn as the singer reveals that his partner has passed away, leaving him with nothing but memories and the empty stage that was once their home.
The chorus, "And Honey, I miss you, and I'm being good, and I'd love to be with you, if only I could," is a heartbreaking plea to a lost love, expressing the desire to have them back in their life once again. Overall, "Honey" is a bittersweet reminder of the power of love and the lasting impact it has even after it's gone.
Contributed by Riley G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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@johnbuschmann2134
I am now a Senior Citizen who has enjoyed Gary since I met he and the band in.Wisconsin in 1969.
I have never regretted being an
intensely devoted fan of this
wonderfully gifted
Musician. His melodies just
continue to serve me in my
advancing years with extreme listening pleasure for which I
SAY.THANK YOU MR. GARY PUCKETT AND BAND MEMBERS.
JOHN B.
@johnbuschmann2134
I am now a Senior Citizen who has enjoyed Gary since I met he and the band in.Wisconsin in 1969.
I have never regretted being an
intensely devoted fan of this
wonderfully gifted
Musician. His melodies just
continue to serve me in my
advancing years with extreme listening pleasure for which I
SAY.THANK YOU MR. GARY PUCKETT AND BAND MEMBERS.
JOHN B.
@greta9599
One of the best voices ever. Just amazing.
@orlandohernandez2852
Gary Puckett es una de las voces más poderosas del Rock. Uff que nostalgia Dios.
@carolsofie199
We have seen Gary Puckett so many times, and he always pays tribute to the veterans. We will be seeing him in a few weeks at the Happy Together tour. I see there are some thumbs down for this song, and these are the same dirt bags who would kneel for the anthem. So sad.
@josepholiver5713
Saw the Happy Together tour a few years back at the WoodStock Fair in CT--my favorite concert. And he paid so much tribute to the vets and was so gracious to the audience.
@shashakeeleh5468
What a wonderful rendition of this love song. Puckett was so under-rated.
@mikevallen999
The warm honey laden quality of Gary Puckett's singing voice just fits perfectly for this song .
@brianocallaghan7172
nicely said
@diden3527
he;s pretty good aint he...
@AS-zk6hz
Beautiful song I like his version the best