Hyman began singing professionally in 1971 as part of the group The New Direction. She was also a member of Miami groups All The People and The Hondo Beat before forming Phyllis Hyman & the P/H Factor in 1974 and touring for two years before relocating to New York.
She became a featured vocalist on Norman Connors' album, You Are My Starship (1976) performing "Betcha By Golly Wow" and the duet "We Both Need Each Other" with Michael Henderson.
Hyman released her debut album on Buddah Records with Phyllis Hyman (1977), followed by Sing a Song (1979). After the second album, she signed with Arista, delivering: Somewhere in My Lifetime (1979); You Know How to Love Me (1979); Can't We Fall in Love Again (1981); and Goddess of Love (1983). She then joined Gamble & Huff at Philadelphia International for Living All Alone (1987); Prime of My Life (1991); and I Refuse to Be Lonely (1995), which was released posthumously.
Hyman's first solo Top Ten hit came in 1981 with "Can't We Fall In Love Again", a duet with Michael Henderson. The song was recorded while she was performing in the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies (1981), a tribute to Duke Ellington. She performed in the role for almost two years, receiving a Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer and a Tony Awards nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. In 1992 she was voted 'Number One Best Female Vocalist' in the United Kingdom by Blues & Soul magazine readers. She has also been honored with a bronze plaque along the Philadelphia Walk of Fame, a tribute to the city's native and immigrant musical legends.
In addition to duets with Henderson, Hyman lent vocals to projects with Grover Washington Jr., Pharoah Sanders, McCoy Tyner, Joe Sample, Lonnie Liston Smith, Jon Lucien, The Fatback Band, Chuck Mangione, The Whispers and The Four Tops. Some of these collaborations appear on One on One (1998).
She can be heard in movie soundtracks: for Too Scared to Scream ("I'll Be There"); The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh ("Magic Mona"); and School Daze ("Be One"). The latter two titles are included on In Between the Heartaches (2004), a compilation that also contains guest appearances and previously unreleased material.
On the afternoon of June 30, 1995, Hyman committed suicide, leaving a note to her fans, family and friends that read in part: "I'm tired. I'm tired. Those of you that I love know who you are. May God bless you." She was buried on what would have been her 46th birthday. For her stage presence and fashion sense, Hyman was often known as "The Sophisticated Lady".
At the coda of a particularly pretty and memorable tune from McCoy Tyner's "Looking Out" called "In Search of My Heart", Phyllis soulfully sings "Remember me!"
Betcha by Golly Wow
Phyllis Hyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a spark of magic in your eyes
Candyland appears each time you smile
Never thought that fairytales came true
But they come true, when I'm near you
You're a genie in disguise
Full of wonder and surprise
And, Betcha by golly Wow!
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
Forever will my love for you keep growing strong, keep growing strong
If I could I'd catch a falling star to shine on you so I'd know where you are
All the rainbows in your favorite shade to show I love you thinking of you.
Write your name across the sky
Anything you have to try
Betcha by golly Wow!
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
Forever will my love for you keep growing strong, keep growing strong
OOOOOh….Write your name across the sky
Anything you have to try
Cause…Betcha by golly Wow!
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
Forever will my love for you keep growing strong, keep growing strong
Keep growing strong (moving on and growing……ad lib to end)
The lyrics to "Betcha by Golly Wow" by Phyllis Hyman speaks to the magic of love and the power of being with the right person. The singer describes the person she loves as having a spark of magic in their eyes, with each smile bringing forth visions of Candyland- a magical, wonderland-like place. The singer confesses to never believing in fairytales coming true, but in the presence of this person, they do. The person, to the singer, is a genie in disguise, full of wonder and surprise- always keeping the singer on their toes and filled with anticipation.
The chorus of the song declares the singer's undying love for the person, stating that they are the one they have been searching for forever. The love the singer feels for this person keeps growing stronger and stronger. To emphasize the depth of her love, the singer goes on to say that if she could catch a falling star, she would shine it on the person to always know where they are. She would also show her love by painting rainbows in their "favorite shade." The song ends with the singer proclaiming that anything she has to do to show her love, she will, because she knows that the person she loves is the one she has been waiting for.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a spark of magic in your eyes
You have something special that shines through your eyes
Candyland appears each time you smile
Your smile makes everything seem magical and sweet
Never thought that fairytales came true
I didn't believe in happy endings until I met you
But they come true, when I'm near you
Being close to you makes me feel like a fairytale is happening
You're a genie in disguise
You possess magical qualities that are hidden from plain sight
Full of wonder and surprise
You never cease to amaze me with your dazzling qualities
And, Betcha by golly Wow!
I know for certain, without any doubt
You're the one that I've been waiting for forever
You're the person I have been waiting for my whole life
Forever will my love for you keep growing strong, keep growing strong
My love for you will never falter, it will only keep getting stronger
If I could I'd catch a falling star to shine on you so I'd know where you are
I would go to great lengths to ensure that you're always by my side
All the rainbows in your favorite shade to show I love you thinking of you.
I would show my love for you in every way possible, like a rainbow in your favorite color
Write your name across the sky
I want the world to know how much you mean to me
Anything you have to try
I'll do anything to make you happy
OOOOOh….Write your name across the sky
I really want everyone to know how much you mean to me
Cause…Betcha by golly Wow!
Because I'm absolutely certain
Keep growing strong (moving on and growing……ad lib to end)
We'll keep going strong and growing together, forever
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Linda Creed, Thomas Bell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hollywoodtownes2827
It’s a crying shame that the youth of today didn’t keep up with this form of singing. I really miss real music.. So Sad. 😢
@AnastasiaBeaverhousn
I ALWAYS said when I got married I wanted this song to be my first dance song!! ❤️ Lights low with smoke and our name bouncing off the walls in shadows.. 😭🤣🤣🤣
@theresahenderson3534
Me too.
@OhSoCarmen
I don't know how anyone can not love this song. It's eternal.
@michaelvaughn9020
Phyllis Hyman was a once in a lifetime artist. Beautiful and sensual in heart and mind. Vocals never to be replicated. Pure elegance and style.
@omarbain6927
I'm about to kill myself now thank you Phyllis
@farrahbluestone2455
Toni Redd sounds just like Phyllis hyman. Check out her version of Betcha by Golly wow with Bob Baldwin.
@mikekinney9830
I remember the day Phyllis passed, crying and being depressed! And she truly wrote her name across the sky! Love you forever Phyllis!!!!
@veronicaalleyne
I saw her last performance at the Blue note in Greenwich village in NYC she was scheduled to perform the next night at the Apollo theater in Harlem but, went back to the hotel & checked out permanently instead
@user-js7cw3yd4l
❤