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
Sad Sad Girl And Boy
The Impressions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(You must be a sad, sad girl)
If you have no one to love
'Cause I'm a sad, sad boy
(Yes he's a sad, sad boy)
Simply 'cause I have no one to love
A sad, sad girl and boy
And I feel like crying
(You know he feels like crying)
Because I have no one to love
Little girl stop your crying
(Little girl stop your crying)
Just because you have no one to love
This happens every day (yes it does)
Maybe love will come my way
To a sad, sad girl and boy
Oh yeah
This happens every day (yes it does)
Maybe love will come my way
To a sad, sad girl and boy
To a sad, sad girl and boy
To a sad, sad girl and boy
The Impressions’ song Sad Sad Girl and Boy is a classic soul ballad that speaks to the pain of loneliness and the hope for love. The lyrics express a mutual understanding between a boy and a girl, both of whom are sad because they lack the love and companionship they desire. The repetition of the phrase “sad, sad girl and boy” emphasizes the shared experience of their loneliness.
The singer acknowledges that the girl must be feeling the same sadness he does if she also lacks someone to love. There is a sense of empathy between the two, as if they are each other’s potential soulmates, who, if they were to find each other, could finally overcome their loneliness. The line “little girl stop your crying” seems almost paternalistic in nature, suggesting that the boy wants to comfort the girl and alleviate her pain.
However, the song also acknowledges that the two characters’ loneliness is a common occurrence. The line “this happens every day” suggests that the pain of loneliness is universal, and both the girl and boy are just two examples of people suffering in the same way. The hope for love is present too, with the lyric “maybe love will come my way” offering a glimmer of optimism.
Overall, Sad Sad Girl and Boy is a heartbreaking yet relatable song that captures the yearning for love and companionship. The shared experience of loneliness between the characters in the song makes it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
You must be a sad, sad girl
The singer is addressing a girl and stating that she appears to be very sad
If you have no one to love
The cause of the girl's sadness is her lack of a romantic partner
'Cause I'm a sad, sad boy
The singer switches to talking about himself and confirms that he is also very sad
Simply 'cause I have no one to love
The cause of the boy's sadness is also his lack of a romantic partner
You know we're two of a kind
The artist acknowledges that the girl and the boy are similar in their sadness and circumstances
And I feel like crying
The boy admits that he feels like expressing his sadness through crying
Because I have no one to love
The boy clarifies that the reason for his sadness is his loneliness and lack of a romantic partner
Little girl stop your crying
The artist addresses the girl again and tells her to stop crying
Just because you have no one to love
The artist reminds the girl that her sadness is caused by her loneliness
This happens every day (yes it does)
The artist points out that this is a common occurrence and not an isolated incident
Maybe love will come my way
Despite their current sadness, the singer expresses hope that love may come into their lives in the future
To a sad, sad girl and boy
The artist repeats that the two of them are feeling sad and lonely without a romantic partner
Oh yeah
An expression of agreement or enthusiasm for the possibility of finding love
To a sad, sad girl and boy
The singer repeats the final line, emphasizing the theme of loneliness and the desire for love
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Keith Fuqua
on People Get Ready
Amen brothers. Get ready people