Wives and Lovers
Julie London Lyrics


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Hey, little girl, comb your hair, fix your makeup --

Em7 A7 G/B A7
Soon he will open the door.

F#m7 B7 F#m7 B7
Don't think because you've a ring on your finger
F#m7 B7 F#m7 B7
You needn't try anymore,

Bm7-5 E7 Bm7-5 E7
For wives should always be lovers, too;

C#m7-5 F#7 C#m7-5 F#7
Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you,

Bm7-5 FM7 E7 E7 alt G/B A7
I'm warn - ing you...



Em7 A7 G/B A7
Day after day, there are girls at the office,

Em7 A7 G/B A7
And men will always be men;

F#m7 B7 F#m7 B7
Don't send him off with your hair still in curlers --

F#m7 B7 F#m7 B7
You may not see him again.




Bm7-5 E7 Bm7-5 E7
For wives should always be lovers, too,

C#m7-5 F#7 C#m7-5 F#7
Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you;

Bm7-5 FM7 E7 E7 alt G/B A7
He's al - most here.



Em7 A7 G/B A7
Hey, little girl, better wear something pretty,

Em7 A7 G/B A7
Something you'd wear to go to the city,

F#m7 B7 F#m7 B7
And dim all the lights, pour the wine, start the music,

Em7 A7 D D6
Time to get ready for love,

Em7 A7 F#m7 B7
Time to get ready, time to get ready,

Em7 A7 D D alt - D6
Time to get ready for love.

Overall Meaning

The song "Wives and Lovers" by Julie London was a popular hit when it was released in the early 1960s. The song is addressed to a young woman who is married and is being given advice on how to keep her husband happy. The lyrics suggest that in order to keep her husband's love, she needs to always be ready and attractive for him. The song reinforces the traditional gender roles of the time, where it was the woman's responsibility to keep the man happy and satisfied. The singer tells the woman that it doesn't matter that she has a wedding ring on her finger, she still needs to try to keep her man's interest. The song also warns the woman of the competition she faces from other women, particularly those at her husband's office.


The song's lyrics can be interpreted as sexist and outdated by today's standards, but they do provide insight into the gender roles that were prevalent at the time the song was written. The song also highlights the pressure that women felt to maintain their appearance and attractiveness for their husbands, and it can be seen as a commentary on the societal expectations that women faced.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey, little girl, comb your hair, fix your makeup --
Prepare yourself, as your husband is about to arrive home.


Soon he will open the door.
Your husband will be arriving home shortly.


Don't think because you've a ring on your finger
Just because you're already married, it doesn't mean you can stop trying.


You needn't try anymore,
You still need to put in the effort to maintain your relationship.


For wives should always be lovers, too;
Women should not forget to keep the romance alive in their marriage.


Run to his arms the moment he comes home to you,
As soon as your husband arrives home, you should show him love and affection.


I'm warn - ing you...
This is a warning for married women to not forget to be romantic.


Day after day, there are girls at the office,
Every day, your husband will interact with other women at his job.


And men will always be men;
Men will always be attracted to women.


Don't send him off with your hair still in curlers --
Don't let your husband leave when you're not at your best.


You may not see him again.
You never know what could happen, so always make the most of your time together.


Hey, little girl, better wear something pretty,
Get dressed up to show your husband that you care about your appearance for him.


Something you'd wear to go to the city,
Dress up as if you're going out for a special night on the town.


And dim all the lights, pour the wine, start the music,
Set a romantic ambiance to prepare for an intimate evening with your husband.


Time to get ready for love,
It's time to prepare for a romantic evening with your husband.


Time to get ready, time to get ready,
Don't waste any time and start getting ready for a romantic evening right away.


Time to get ready for love.
Get ready for a loving and romantic night with your partner.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BURT BACHARACH, HAL DAVID

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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