Sorry She's Mine
Small Faces Lyrics

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listen boy I'm telling you
leave that girl you're talking to
you may take her hand
I think you're doing fine
.....
I'm sorry she's mine

I know that she looks real good

and you'd leave her if you could
she may go around
and dance all the time
but hold down fella
I'm sorry she's mine

she may go away from me
for a little time
but she runs back home to me
just to prove she's mine

don't you try to wear my shoes
try it with her and you'll lose
find another girl
and stop wasting my time

and don't find .....
I'm sorry she's mine

Overall Meaning

In Small Faces's song "Sorry She's Mine," the singer warns a boy to leave the girl he's talking to alone because he is already with her. Despite acknowledging that the girl looks good and enjoys dancing, the singer insists that the boy should not waste his time because he is in love with her. The chorus repeats the line "I'm sorry she's mine," which conveys the sense that the singer feels almost apologetic that the boy cannot have the girl he desires.

The lyrics of "Sorry She's Mine" showcase the insecurity and possessiveness that can come with being in love. The singer is constantly worried that someone will come along and try to steal his girlfriend. He also seems to lack confidence in his own charm, as he assumes that anyone who tries to woo his girlfriend would be unsuccessful. These fears are common in relationships, especially in high school where the competition for partners can be intense. The song is a cautionary tale about the risks of getting involved with someone who is already taken and the emotions that can get tangled up in such a situation.

Line by Line Meaning

listen boy I'm telling you
Pay attention to what I'm about to say

leave that girl you're talking to
Break up with the girl you're with

you may take her hand
You might have a connection with her

I think you're doing fine
I don't think you're doing anything wrong

...
This part is unclear and could not be reworded

I'm sorry she's mine
I'm possessive of her

I know that she looks real good
I acknowledge she's attractive

and you'd leave her if you could
You would pursue her if she wasn't with me

she may go around
She might socialize with others

and dance all the time
She enjoys dancing frequently

but hold down fella
Stop what you're thinking about doing

I'm sorry she's mine
I am protective/possessive of her

she may go away from me
She might leave me temporarily

for a little time
For a brief period

but she runs back home to me
But she always comes back to me

just to prove she's mine
To show me that she chooses me

don't you try to wear my shoes
Don't try to be in my position

try it with her and you'll lose
You will not succeed with her

find another girl
Look for someone else to pursue

and stop wasting my time
Stop trying to pursue her and leave me alone

and don't find ...
This line ends abruptly and could not be reworded

I'm sorry she's mine
I am protective/possessive of her

Contributed by Elizabeth H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Small Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan (who replaced original organist Jimmy Winston). The Small Faces were all genuine East End mods . They were signed to Decca records initially and enjoyed major success across Europe between 1965 and 1967 with classic singles like "All or Nothing" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" before moving to a new label.

By late 1967 Read Full BioSmall Faces were an influential British mod/psychedelic band of the 1960s, led by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane with Kenney Jones and Ian McLagan (who replaced original organist Jimmy Winston). The Small Faces were all genuine East End mods . They were signed to Decca records initially and enjoyed major success across Europe between 1965 and 1967 with classic singles like "All or Nothing" and "Sha-La-La-La-Lee" before moving to a new label.

By late 1967, the band had felt constricted financially & creatively by manager Don Arden (father of Sharon Osbourne), and were lured by Rolling Stones' publicist Andrew Loog Oldham into signing with his new Immediate label. They soon recorded more expansive psychedelic sounding material including hit pop tunes like "Lazy Sunday" which was included with their UK number one classic concept album Ogdens Nut Gone Flake and "Itchycoo Park" which was their only stateside charting single.

The demise of the Small Faces arrived on New Years Eve 1968, when Steve Marriott walked off stage at The Alexandra Palace in London. Marriott felt that despite the success of the group, he was still not being taken seriously as a musician. He went on to achieve major status in the U.S.A with Peter Frampton in Humble Pie. The others continued as the Faces, opting to drop the "Small" after one LP as new recruits Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood towered above their new band mates. Drummer Kenney Jones later joined The Who after the death of their drummer Keith Moon. As years went on, Marriott kept recording various lineups as Humble Pie but became somewhat of a caricature and casualty of rock excess. Tragically, Steve Marriott died in a house fire in 1991 and Ronnie Lane followed him in 1997 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Keyboardist Ian McLagan has continued to tour and record with his own band as well as with artists like Billy Bragg, The New Barbarians ( a group composed of Ian, Ron Wood, Keith Richards, Stanley Clarke, and Billy Cobham), and The Rolling Stones. According to announcements at the shows on the New Barbarians tour, the proceeds of the live gigs were going to pay Ronnie Lane's medical expenses associated with Ronnie's struggle with Multiple Sclerosis.

The Small Faces remain one of British rock's most important legacy acts, with their membership having links to so many other acts. Amongst the many bands they influenced were The Jam, Ramones, Oasis and X.

There are a number of locations around London linked to the Small Faces, many to be found in the East End where they grew up.

The J60 Music bar in Manor Park, an instrument shop where Steve Marriott first met Ronnie Lane
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4012.php

Little Ilford park, also located in Manor Park, inspired the track Itchycoo Park, Steve and other kids in the East End used to play in this park when they grew up.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4002.php

In 1968 the Small Faces recorded a video for their track Lazy Sunday, Steve sings in his native East end accent and the video was shot in the East End using Kenney Jones parents' flat in Havering Street. The video ends with a shot of the nearby Thames.
http://www.musicpilgrimages.com/articl/4014.php