Baty was at University of California Berkeley studying mathematics when he formed the band with Rick Estrin (born 1949). The band's music relies chiefy on electric urban blues of the Chicago variety, but mixed in with other compatible styles, including early rock and roll, soul, surf music, swing, jump blues, and western swing. The band issued their debut album, All the Way Crazy, in 1987, including the songs "Poor Tarzan", "Suicide Blues" and "When Girls Do It". The following album Disturbing the Peace (1988), included "That's My Girl", "My Money's Green", "She's Talking" and "Nervous". The records help established them on the blues festival and club circuits, and they began touring the country extensively, playing a number of international venues. They have played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1980 and 1982, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the San Diego, California Street Scene and Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival plus the Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival in 2002.
Their 1993 album, Night Vision was produced and played on by Joe Louis Walker. It featured "My Next Ex-Wife," a witty blues-rocker that won Estrin a W.C. Handy Award for 'Song of the Year', highlighting his steadily growing reputation for songwriting prowess. Original drummer Dobie Strange left in 1996, after 20 years with the group, and his spot was taken by June Core.
In early 2008, Baty announced he was entering "soft" retirement, no longer tours with the band, except for possible reunion tours/shows in Europe and select North American festivals. Baty performed with JW-Jones at Mont Tremblant Blues Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and Piazza Blues in Bellinzona, Switzerland in July 2009. Estrin continued with the band re-billed as Rick Estrin & the Nightcats. Baty was replaced on guitar by Chris 'Kid' Andersen (born 1980), originally from Telemark, Norway. Andersen had played backing Charlie Musselwhite as well as fronting his own band.
Baty's most recent blues recording was as a guest on JW-Jones, Bluelisted (2008), an album which marked the first time in his career that he documented his harmonica playing on a recording, and the first time he and another West Coast blues musician, Junior Watson, had recorded together on the same tracks.
The band dissolved in 2008, with three members going on to form Rick Estrin & the Nightcats.
That's My Girl
Little Charlie & The Nightcats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She ain't got no sense.
She ain't got no money.
She can't pay her rent.
A-my baby ain't a teacher.
But she can educate.
A-my woman ain't a doctor-a.
But she can operate.
Yes, that's my girl.
Don't say nothin' bad about her, boy, 'cause.
'Cause that's my girl.
(Instrumental & guitar solo)
Yeah, and that's my girl.
Hey, that's my girl.
Don't you say nothin' bad about her, boy, 'cause.
'Cause that's my girl.
My baby got a freezer.
Sure will keep you cool.
And my baby got a oven.
Will make you act a fool.
My baby got a pistol.
Ooo! my baby got a knife-a.
A-my baby got a eye out.
Good God, for my wife.
Hey, but that's my girl.
Yes, that's my girl.
Don't you say nothin' bad about her, man, 'cause.
'Cause that's my girl.
The song "That's My Girl" by Little Charlie & The Nightcats is a celebration of a woman who may have her share of troubles, but is still loved and cherished by her partner. The opening lines establish that the woman in question is not without her flaws - she has no sense and no money, and struggles to pay her rent. However, the singer of the song is quick to defend her, pointing out that she may not be a traditional success story, but she has other strengths. He compares her to a teacher and a doctor, suggesting that she may not have those professions' qualifications, but she has a talent for educating and even operating on others.
Later in the song, the singer lists other attributes of his girlfriend that show her to be a formidable presence in his life. She has a freezer that "will keep you cool" and an oven that "will make you act a fool" - both references to her cooking skills, perhaps. She also has a pistol and a knife, which suggest that she is not to be underestimated or trifled with. Despite all of this, the song ends on a positive note, emphasizing that this woman is still loved and valued. In fact, the final lines demand that anyone who dares to speak ill of her should watch their tongue, because "that's my girl."
Overall, "That's My Girl" is a tribute to a woman who may not fit into the mold of what society considers a successful or admirable person, but is loved nonetheless. The song hints at the idea that there is more to a person than their outward appearance or qualifications, and that sometimes the best things about a person are the quirks that make them unique.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby got troubles.
My partner is facing difficulties in life.
She ain't got no sense.
My partner may lack common sense.
She ain't got no money.
My partner is currently financially unstable.
She can't pay her rent.
My partner may struggle to pay for her living expenses.
A-my baby ain't a teacher.
My partner is not a teacher by profession.
But she can educate.
Despite not being a teacher, my partner has the ability to educate others in various ways.
A-my woman ain't a doctor-a.
My partner is not a doctor by profession.
But she can operate.
Despite not being a doctor, my partner has the ability to operate in various situations.
And that's my girl.
However, despite her shortcomings, my partner is still valuable to me.
Yes, that's my girl.
I am proud to call her my partner.
Don't say nothin' bad about her, boy, 'cause.
I will not tolerate anyone speaking negatively about my partner.
'Cause that's my girl.
My emotional connection with my partner is strong.
(Instrumental & guitar solo)
No lyrics are sung during this portion of the song.
Yeah, and that's my girl.
Again, my partner is valuable to me despite her flaws.
Hey, that's my girl.
I am proud to be with her.
Don't you say nothin' bad about her, boy, 'cause.
I will not tolerate anyone speaking negatively about my partner.
'Cause that's my girl.
My emotional bond with my partner is undeniable.
My baby got a freezer.
My partner owns a freezer.
Sure will keep you cool.
The freezer is capable of keeping things cool.
And my baby got a oven.
My partner also owns an oven.
Will make you act a fool.
The food my partner makes in the oven is so good that it may cause an individual to act foolishly.
My baby got a pistol.
My partner possesses a firearm.
Ooo! my baby got a knife-a.
My partner also owns a knife.
A-my baby got a eye out.
My partner is watchful and observant.
Good God, for my wife.
My partner is so valuable to me that I thank God for her.
Hey, but that's my girl.
Despite her possession of potentially dangerous items, she is still an important person in my life.
Yes, that's my girl.
Again, I am proud to call her my partner.
Don't you say nothin' bad about her, man, 'cause.
I will not tolerate anyone speaking negatively about my partner, regardless of gender.
'Cause that's my girl.
My bond with my partner remains strong.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARBARA TOBIAS, RAY ELLINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind