The group was founded as The Roosters by Chattanooga, Tennessee natives Sam Gooden, Richard Brooks, and Arthur Brooks, who moved to Chicago, Illinois and added Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield to their lineup to become Jerry Butler & the Impressions. By 1962, Butler and the Brookses had departed, and after switching to ABC-Paramount Records, Mayfield, Gooden, and new Impression Fred Cash collectively became a top-selling soul act. Mayfield left the group for a solo career in 1970; Leroy Hutson, Ralph Johnson, Reggie Torian, and Nate Evans were among the replacements who joined Gooden and Cash before the group's demise in 1983.
Inductees into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, The Impressions are best known for their 1960s string of hits, many of which were heavily influenced by gospel music and served as inspirational anthems for the Civil Rights Movement.
Personnel:
Jerry Butler (1958 - 1960)
Curtis Mayfield (1958 - 1970)
Sam Gooden (1958 - 1983)
Arthur Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Richard Brooks (1958 - 1962)
Fred Cash (1960 - 1983)
Leroy Hutson (1970 - 1973)
Ralph Johnson (1973 - 1976)
Nate Evans (1976 - 1979)
Reggie Torian (1973 - 1983)
Discography
Albums
1963: The Impressions
1964: Keep on Pushing
1964: The Never Ending Impressions
1965: One by One
1965: People Get Ready
1966: Ridin' High
1967: The Fabulous Impressions
1968: We're a Winner
1968: This Is My Country
1969: The Young Mods' Forgotten Story
1969: The Versatile Impressions
1969: Amen
1970: Check out Your Mind!
1972: Times Have Changed
1973: Preacher Man
1974: Finally Got Myself Together
1974: Three the Hard Way
1975: First Impressions
1975: Sooner or Later
1976: It's About Time
1976: Originals
1976: Loving Power
1979: Come to My Party
1981: Fan the Fire
Little Girl
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little girl, come, home to me
Each and every hour longer
There's a pain and tortuous hunger
Troubles are now in the past
My little, little darling, c'mon a home
My little darling I, love you so
Darling I just can't, go on like this
I don't want to dream nor reminisce
All that I long is your tender loving kiss
My little, little darling, c'mon a home
C'mon home
C'mon a home
C'mon home girl
C'mon a home
C'mon home
C'mon a home
The Impressions' song "Little Girl" is a passionate plea from a man to his love interest to come back home to him. The song's emotional power is conveyed through its vivid imagery and the expressive singing style of the lead vocalist, Curtis Mayfield. The opening lines, "Little girl, come, home to me" are repeated multiple times, underscoring the urgency of the man's desire to be reunited with his beloved. The lyrics also use a series of metaphors to describe the pain and longing that the man is experiencing, such as "there's a pain and tortuous hunger." The use of such vivid imagery highlights the emotional intensity of the song.
The refrain of the song, "C'mon home," repeated throughout, provides a sense of hope and longing. This is reinforced by the line "troubles are now in the past," which suggests that the man is willing to put aside any past issues and start anew. The repeated use of the phrase "my little, little darling" also adds a sense of tenderness towards the subject of the song. Overall, the song is a powerful portrayal of the intense emotions that can be involved in a romantic relationship and the need for love and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
Little girl, come, home to me
The singer is pleading with the little girl to come back home
Each and every hour longer
As time goes on, the singer's pain and hunger for the little girl grows stronger
Troubles are now in the past
The singer wants to move on from any past issues or problems in the relationship
My little, little darling, c'mon a home
The artist repeats his plea for the little girl to come home
Little girl, this, you must know
The artist is trying to communicate a message to the little girl
My little darling I, love you so
The singer shares his deep love for the little girl
Darling I just can't, go on like this
The singer is struggling to continue on without the little girl
I don't want to dream nor reminisce
The artist wants to live in the present and be with the little girl, rather than just dream about it or reminisce about past moments
All that I long is your tender loving kiss
The artist longs for the little girl's affection and love
C'mon home girl
The artist is calling for the little girl to come home
Contributed by Hannah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keith Fuqua
on People Get Ready
Amen brothers. Get ready people