The band evolved out of "Chad Allan and the Expressions" (often shortened to The Expressions), which was a pop rock group with a British Invasion feel fronted by Chad Allan and featuring guitarist Randy Bachman. Both of them had great potential as singer-songwriters. After their cover of "Shakin' All Over" sold well as a single, their record label released the band's album with "Guess Who?" written on the cover, hoping to mislead unsuspecting buyers into thinking it was a British group. The name stuck, however, and from then on they were 'The Guess Who'. The Who musician Pete Townshend later jokingly said that he allowed the Canadian group to take both their style and name, calling himself a fan.
Singer and keyboardist Burton Cummings joined upon Allan's departure in 1966, and the band's classic line-up was born. The guys mixed some jazz-inspired sounds such as flute and electric piano playing into their sound, and they scored hits in Canada with tracks such as "These Eyes", "Undun", and "Laughing". Yet it was when they turned to psychedelic-influenced rock and rock with 'American Woman' (the third album with the Bachman/Cummings line-up) that they broke through in the U.S. The anti-war title cut (a song ironically embraced by some Americans as a patriotic anthem despite the cynical lyrics, though the band didn't complain as the record royalties came in) has received airplay on classic rock radio for years and years now. The Guess Who's success after that album came out proved to be hit and miss, however, and they would have members go in and out.
After the release of 'Share the Land', their second album of 1970, Bachman left to form Bachman-Turner Overdrive, leaving Cummings as the band's leader and main songwriter. Though Bachman and his band-mates had achieved huge commercial success, the singer-songwriter felt like he wanted to go off into a whole other muscial direction. Afterwards, the Guess Who experimented in various styles through the 70s, including blues, down-home bluegrass, jazz fusion, and Cummings's trademark piano-based rock ballads. The novelty pop single "Clap for the Wolfman", a 1974 track made for the popular DJ Wolfman Jack that the band members were fans of, ended up being the Guess Who's last chart appearance.
Various combinations of former members of the band have reunited at various times since their breakup in 1975. The Guess Who's classic songs remain radio staples, even into the new millennium. Various greatest hits and multi-artist collections featuring their music have also been released.
See Guess Who for the Romanian rapper Laurentiu Mocanu.
Women
The Guess Who Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bolder women seem to tire of me
Older women put desire in me
But without â??em to hold, where would this poor man be?
Crazy women make a fool of me
Ruthless women seem so cruel to me
And painted women actin' cool with me
I want to tell you what I know
I ain't sayin' it's a lot,
But I hope it's enough to teach you
To try to hang on to what you got, I want to say
I'm only sayin' what I mean
And I'm backin' it up, cause I've already been there, son...
I know that colder women light a fire in me,
Bolder women seem to tire of me,
And older women put desire in me,
But without â??em to hold, where would this poor man be?
Sometimes you can't live with â??em,
But you can't live without â??em,
W-O-M-E-N.
In The Guess Who's song "Women," the lyrics explore the singer's musings and experiences on the various types of women he has encountered in his life. He notes that colder women "light a fire" in him, implying that the challenge of winning them over is exciting and invigorating for him. Bolder women, however, seem to "tire" of him, indicating that perhaps he struggles to keep up with their confidence and assertiveness. Older women, on the other hand, "put desire" in him, suggesting that he is attracted to their experience and maturity.
The second half of each verse flips the focus to the impact these women have on the singer's life. He laments that crazy women make a "fool" of him, implying that perhaps he has been taken advantage of by those who don't have his best interests at heart. Ruthless women seem "cruel" to him, perhaps indicating that he has been hurt or felt mistreated by those who are more cutthroat. Painted women, or those who may wear a lot of makeup or try to present themselves as cool and aloof, "act" with him, suggesting a certain level of disingenuousness. Despite all of these challenges, the singer acknowledges that he can't live without women, hinting that he ultimately values their presence in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Colder women light a fire in me
I find myself attracted to women who are emotionally distant or less invested in the relationship, and it makes me feel more passionate.
Bolder women seem to tire of me
I tend to wear out my welcome with women who are confident and assertive, and they end up losing interest in me.
Older women put desire in me
I am sexually attracted to older women and find that they fulfill my desires more than younger women.
But without â??em to hold, where would this poor man be?
I feel lost and incomplete without a woman in my life to love and hold me.
Crazy women make a fool of me
I am gullible and easily manipulated by women who are unstable and unpredictable, and it often leads to embarrassing situations for me.
Ruthless women seem so cruel to me
I find it difficult to deal with women who are harsh or unforgiving, and they can be emotionally hurtful to me.
And painted women actin' cool with me
I am often fooled by women who put on a facade of indifference or detachment, and it can leave me feeling confused and insecure.
But without â??em to hold, where would this poor man be?
I depend on women to give me comfort and support, and I feel lost without someone to hold me and make me feel loved.
I want to tell you what I know
I have some wisdom and experience to share, and I want to pass it on to others.
I ain't sayin' it's a lot,
I don't have all the answers, and my knowledge may be limited.
But I hope it's enough to teach you
I hope that my words can help someone else navigate the complexities of relationships and life.
To try to hang on to what you got, I want to say
I encourage others to appreciate and cherish the things they have in life rather than always seeking more or better things.
I'm only sayin' what I mean
My words are sincere and honest, and I am speaking from my heart.
And I'm backin' it up, cause I've already been there, son...
I have learned from my own experiences and made mistakes, so I have some credibility in what I am saying.
Sometimes you can't live with â??em,
Women can be difficult to understand and challenging to be in a relationship with at times.
But you can't live without â??em,
Despite the challenges, relationships with women bring joy, love, and fulfillment to a man's life.
W-O-M-E-N.
Women are a complex and essential part of a man's life, and they deserve respect and admiration.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BURTON CUMMINGS, DOMENIC TROIANO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind