Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
Little Girl
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tear drops fill her eyes
As once again she hears the sound of shouting
turns to the window pane
Funny there`s rain again
Inside her head she hears the sound of shouting
They are fighting again
She don`t know whose side to take
Mother`s or Father`s
She can`t know that soon they`ll part
That they broke each other`s heart
They are breaking up, but she don`t understand it
She leaves the room in fright
Each time they start to fight
She runs up to her bed
But there`s no sleeping
Clings to her teddy bear
But even teddy bear can`t stop her weeping
Little girl dry your eyes
Your Ma and Pa one day will put you wise
Little girl don`t you cry
You`ll understand what happened by and by
verse 2
The Hollies’s song Little Girl is a poignant reflection on the impact of marital conflict on a child. The lyrics describe the experience of a young girl who is caught in the crossfire of her parents’ frequent fights. The song opens with a vivid image of the little girl looking from side to side as the tears fill her eyes. She is overwhelmed by the sound of shouting, which has become a regular feature of her home life. The rainy weather outside serves as a metaphor for the sadness and turmoil inside her head.
The chorus reassures the little girl that things will eventually become clear to her. She will one day understand why her parents couldn’t make their marriage work. Until then, she must try to be brave and not give in to tears. The verse then goes on to describe the little girl’s attempts to escape the conflict. She leaves the room whenever her parents start to fight and runs up to her bed. But even there, she cannot find peace, and the tears keep falling. The only comfort she has is her teddy bear, but even that cannot stop her from crying.
Line by Line Meaning
She looks from side to side
The little girl gazes around, trying to find a way out of the argument happening around her.
The tear drops fill her eyes
The little girl's eyes begin to water as she feels deep sadness in her heart.
As once again she hears the sound of shouting
The noise of her parents' fighting fills the air, echoing through her ears.
turns to the window pane
The little girl moves to face the window, looking for some sort of escape from her parents' fighting.
Funny there's rain again
It's curious that it's always raining when her parents have a heated argument.
Inside her head she hears the sound of shouting
Even when the shouting stops, the little girl can still hear it in her thoughts, haunting her.
They are fighting again
The little girl's parents are once again engaging in a conflict.
All she feels is cold and pain
The little girl feels numb and hurt by the constant fighting in her household.
She don't know whose side to take
The little girl is unable to pick sides in her parents' argument because she loves and needs them both.
Mother's or Father's
The little girl can't decide which parent she should support during their arguments.
She can't know that soon they'll part
The little girl is unaware that her parents will soon separate and break her heart.
That they broke each other's heart
The parents have hurt each other deeply, and it will eventually lead to the end of their relationship.
They are breaking up, but she don't understand it
The little girl doesn't fully comprehend that her parents are breaking up, which makes the situation even more painful for her.
She leaves the room in fright
The little girl is scared by the fighting and runs out of the room in fear.
Each time they start to fight
Every time the little girl's parents begin to argue, she feels scared and overwhelmed.
She runs up to her bed
The little girl seeks refuge and safety in her bed.
But there's no sleeping
Despite being in bed, the little girl is unable to rest due to the emotional turmoil caused by her parents' fighting.
Clings to her teddy bear
The little girl holds onto her teddy bear as a source of comfort and security during the difficult times.
But even teddy bear can't stop her weeping
Although her teddy bear provides some solace, the little girl is still crying and unable to fully cope with the strife in her home.
Little girl dry your eyes
Someone is comforting the little girl, urging her to stop crying.
Your Ma and Pa one day will put you wise
The adults in the situation promise that someday, the little girl will understand what is happening and why.
Little girl don't you cry
The little girl is being comforted and reassured that everything will be okay in the end.
You'll understand what happened by and by
The little girl will eventually comprehend the reasons behind her parents' fighting and the breakup of their relationship.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TONY HICKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
WORLD WEB INFO
I am surprised how few viewers on this not only very beautiful song, but the very IMPORTANT message it carries, and people - parents esp. - should contemplate......what an insight Tony has into a child's mind. Impressing!!!
carrieanne1967
Tony Hicks is an amazing songwriter - This is just one of his many masterpieces - Amazing song - Very clever video Ivette - Thank You !!!
Divina Joana
É simplesmente linda demais amooooo
TonyHickschick
I am sooo glad Tony wrote this :)
Lloyd Holzheimer
I was born 57 how blessed are we hollies fans the name is still performing around the world 63/ present thank you Elliot/Hicks God bless you all
onlinelondon
If we only could comprehend children, and stop forgetting our own childhood - they would not suffer that much... ed A beautiful song; even so very sad ed Performance and arrangement is great!!
Skuxxpen Miistaa
And still an amazing song! Go Tony!! BB NZ
Ex B.R. Buckeye Man
Never ever heard this one. Thanks for listing.
José Luis Blanco
little girl, little ivette, very nice song!
Олег Кашлаков
A song from the album 'Confessions of a Mind' 1970