The song starts with a few bars of nonsense:
duh-duda-duh-duda-duh-duda-duh-duh-duba
followed by the lead vocal;
Oh-ho-ho-ho gee,my oh-oh gee-hee, well oh-ho gee, why I love that girl.
then the group:
Love that girl!
The vocals are infectiously upbeat with wonderful harmonies and use of nonsense syllables, sounding like enthusiastic street-corner singing. The modified jump blues instrumental backup, with its infectious melody and Charlie Christian- like guitar solo, is the perfect accompaniment.
The Crows formed in 1951 as a typical street corner doo-wop group and were discovered at Apollo Theater's Wednesday night talent show by talent agent Cliff Martinez, and brought to independent producer George Goldner who had just set up tiny new independent Rama Records label.
The Crows were the first group signed and the first to record. The first songs they recorded were as back-up to singer and pianist Viola Watkins. The song "Gee" was the third song recorded during the first recording session, on February 10, 1953. It was put together in a few minutes by group member, William Davis, with Viola Watkins also being credited as co-writer. Watkins also played piano on and co-arranged the song. It has been suggested that the guitar break, based on the traditional Scottish tune "The Campbells Are Coming", may have been played by session guitarist Lloyd "Tiny" Grimes.
The song was first released as the B-side of a ballad, "I Love You So". However, radio stations began turning it over and playing "Gee", first in Philadelphia and later in New York and Los Angeles. By January 1954 it had sold 100,000 copies, and by April entered the national R&B and pop charts, rising to # 2 R&B and # 14 pop. Although the song became a huge hit in early 1954, a year after it was recorded, the Crows were a one-hit wonder, as none of the follow-up records released had any chart success. The group broke up a few months after "Gee" dropped off the Hit Parade.
The Crows were one of the first doo wop groups and one of the first "bird" groups. "Gee" was one of the first rock and roll hit records. It has also been called the first rock and roll record because it was an original composition and had a quick dance beat.
Although the Orioles' song "Crying in the Chapel" is frequently called the first R&B record to crossover to a big white audience, it is actually a cover of a country song. "Gee" and its b-side "I Love You So" are considered seminal, as it is an original song by an all but amateur group. It encapsulated all that has been written later about neighborhood kids singing on corners, and retains that wonderfully amateurish feel.
According to Bruce Eder at Allmusic:
"Gee" by the Crows walked in on in the spring and summer of that year, 1953, and the music world was never the same. There would be better records than "Gee," even from Goldner's labels, but it was recognized as the first R&B single to get a significant part of its sales and chart success from purchases by white teenagers - the first rock & roll single.
Jan and Dean released the song in 1960 on their album, The Jan & Dean Sound.
The Hollywood Flames released a version of the song as a single in 1961 that reached #26 on the US R&B chart.
The Beach Boys recorded a brief, idiosyncratic adaptation of the song as part of the unfinished concept album Smile. It was included on Brian Wilson's 2004 solo recording of the album in medley with "Our Prayer" as the introductory piece to "Heroes and Villains".
Frank Zappa's The Mothers of Invention played the song some times during their first European Tour (September–October 1967). A live recording can be found on Frank Zappa's official bootleg live album 'Tis the Season to Be Jelly included in the first volume of the collection of bootleg recordings entitled Beat the Boots released in July 1991.
The Crows' recording features in the film American Graffiti (1973).
The Crows' recording features in the film Cry-Baby (1990).
Gee
The Crows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do do-do do, do-do do, do-do do-do-do
Do do-do do, do-do do, do-do do-do-do do
Love that girl
O-o-o-o-o Gee, my o-o Gee, well o-o Gee
Why I love that girl, love that girl
O-o-o-o-o please, listen to me, hear-hear-hear my plea
Why I love that girl
Hold me, Baby, squeeze me
Never let me go
I'm not takin' chances
Because I love her, I love her so-o
O-o-o Gee, yes I love her, Yes I need her
Why I love that girl, love that girl
Musical Bridge
Hold me, Baby, squeeze me
Never let me go
I'm not takin' chances
Because I love her, I love her so-o
My-my o Gee, well o Gee, my-eye o Gee
Why I love that girl, love that girl
O-o-o-o-o please, listen to me, hear-ear my plea
Why I love that girl, love that girl
Why I love that girl
The Crows' song "Gee" is a classic doo-wop love ballad that expresses the singer's deep affection for his significant other. The song opens with a simple, repetitive melody that sets a lighthearted mood. With the chorus, the singer begins to profess his devotion to his girl, using the catchphrase "O-o-o Gee" to express his amazement and admiration. He pleads with the listener to "listen to [him]" and understand why he loves this girl so much. The singer sings of the pleasures of physical intimacy, urging his girl to "hold me, Baby, squeeze me [] never let me go." The lyrics convey a sense of joy and excitement as the singer revels in the delights of being in love.
Beyond the lyrics, the song is notable for its place in the history of doo-wop music. "Gee" was the first commercially successful doo-wop song, reaching #14 on the Billboard R&B chart and #14 on the Billboard pop chart in 1954. Doo-wop groups like The Crows were a key component of the early rock and roll scene, blending tight harmonies and rhythmic vocalizations with upbeat melodies and catchy hooks. "Gee" helped establish this style as a popular genre and paved the way for future doo-wop artists. To this day, "Gee" remains a beloved classic of the doo-wop era and a cherished part of American music history.
Line by Line Meaning
Do do-do do, do-do do, do-do do-do-do
The repetitive melody emphasizes the singer's infatuation with a girl.
Love that girl
The singer expresses their affection for the girl in question.
O-o-o-o-o Gee, my o-o Gee, well o-o Gee
The singer exclaims their love and admiration for the girl in question.
Why I love that girl, love that girl
The artist reiterates their love for the girl and seeks to explain why they feel this way.
O-o-o-o-o please, listen to me, hear-hear-hear my plea
The artist implores the listener to pay attention to their declaration of love for the girl and hear their reasoning behind it.
Hold me, Baby, squeeze me
The singer desires physical affection from the girl, wanting to be held and squeezed.
Never let me go
The singer fears losing the girl's love and wants reassurance that she will always stay with them.
I'm not takin' chances
The artist is unwilling to risk losing the girl and is committed to making their relationship work.
Because I love her, I love her so-o
The artist reiterates their love for the girl and how deeply they feel it.
O-o-o Gee, yes I love her, Yes I need her
The artist once again proclaims their love for the girl and emphasizes how much they rely on her and her love.
My-my o Gee, well o Gee, my-eye o Gee
The singer uses exclamations to convey their intense emotions and love for the girl.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: William Davis, Morris Levy, Sonny Norton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind