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.
My Son
Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His mother died
I alone was there
To hear him cry
This way my only child
My son
Sarah chose his name
My son
Red was his hair
And green his eyes
Looking up at dad
Three times his size
First day of grade school
I walked him there
Looking through the tears
Of pride, I stare at my son
I was his father
His closest friend
Now our house was blessed
With two grown men
At twenty he told me
That he could see
How I tried to be
A family
For my son
Oh, how I miss him
Here with me
Reminiscing how it used to be
Here in my hand
They ave to me
Medals my boy won
For bravery
My son
Oh, oh, ho, he's gone
The lyrics to Gary Puckett & The Union Gap's song My Son, poignantly narrate the life journey of a father and his son. The opening lines of the song "And with his first breath, his mother died, I alone was there to hear him cry" establish the underlying melancholy of the song. From the outset, the lyrics express the father's utter devotion and commitment to his son, as he chooses to be present at his son's birth despite his wife's death. The father then goes on to talk about his son's childhood - his son's red hair and green eyes, looking up to his dad three times his size. The lyrics further delve into his son's life, his first day of school, and how he recalls walking him to school, filled with tears of pride, while watching him take his first steps into the world. The song also highlights the close relationship that the father shared with his son, him being his son's closest friend.
As the song progresses, the lyrics portray a transition in their relationship, as both the father and his son become grown men. The father witnesses his son's growth- "At twenty, he told me, that he could see, how I tried to be, a family, for my son." The father takes pride in his son's achievements as he reminisces fondly about the moments they shared. The song takes on an emotional tone as the father holds on to the medals won by his brave son who is now gone, and he misses him deeply.
In summary, the lyrics of the song 'My Son' by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap captures the love and dedication between a father and his son. The song accurately depicts a father's involvement in his son's life as he witnesses his growth and transformation into a grown man.
Line by Line Meaning
And with his first breath
From the moment he was born
His mother died
His mother passed away
I alone was there
No one else was present
To hear him cry
Except for me, who heard him crying
This way my only child
He was my only son
My son
The focus of my life
Sarah chose his name
His mother had picked out his name
Twas Benjamin
The name chosen for him was Benjamin
My son
The most important person in my life
Red was his hair
He had red hair
And green his eyes
His eyes were green
Looking up at dad
When he looked at me
Three times his size
I was much taller than him
First day of grade school
When he first began elementary school
I walked him there
I accompanied him to school
Looking through the tears
Through tears in my eyes
Of pride, I stare at my son
I looked at him with admiration and pride
I was his father
I was not only his dad, but also his close friend
His closest friend
Someone he could confide in and trust
Now our house was blessed
Our home was lucky enough to have two adult men who deeply cared for each other
With two grown men
Us, his father and him as an adult
At twenty he told me
When he turned 20 years old
That he could see
He became aware of
How I tried to be
My attempts to act as a parent
A family
Not just one individual, but us as a whole
For my son
For the sake of my son, To have a family
Oh, how I miss him
I miss him deeply, now that he's gone
Here with me
By my side, in this moment
Reminiscing how it used to be
Thinking about how things were in the past
Here in my hand
What I am holding right now
They gave to me
What he had been awarded
Medals my boy won
Recognitions and medals that he had earned
For bravery
For showing courage and bravery in his life
My son
The center of my life around which everything revolved
Oh, oh, ho, he's gone
My son is not with me anymore
Contributed by Lillian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Cheryl Schurlknight
on No One Really Knows
What are the lyrics to Gary’s song... no one really knows?
Louise Reiter
on I'm Just a Man
Get out and stretch your legs...