My Girl
The Mamas The Papas Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
And when it's cold outside
I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl
I'm talkin' 'bout my girl

I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song
Than the birds in the trees
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl
I'm talkin' 'bout my girl

I don't need no money, fortune or fame
I've got all the riches baby
That one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I've got a sweeter song

Than the birds in the trees
Don't need no fortune, no money or fame

Overall Meaning

The Mamas & the Papas's song My Girl is a declaration of love by the singer for his significant other. He insists that regardless of the weather conditions or the challenges that life throws at him, she always brings sunshine and joy into his life. The imagery created throughout the song is used to emphasize how much the singer loves their partner.

The opening lines capture the essence of the song, "I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day, and when it’s cold outside, I’ve got the month of May." This is a metaphor for how the singer feels when their partner is around. They bring warmth and joy even during difficult times. The second verse talks about the singer's material wealth being insignificant when compared to the love he has for his partner. "I don't need no money, fortune or fame, I've got all the riches baby, That one man can claim".

The chorus "My girl (my girl, my girl), talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)", is a repetitive way of reiterating his love for the woman in his life. The use of repetition in the chorus reinforces the depth of his feelings for her. The song as a whole is a testament to the power of love, and how it can bring joy and happiness even in difficult circumstances.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
Even when things are tough, my girl brings light into my life.

And when it's cold outside
Even when the world is dreary, my girl warms my heart.

I've got the month of May
With my love, every day feels like springtime.

I guess you'd say
I suppose you could call it,

What can make me feel this way
What could possibly make me so happy?

My girl
Well, it's all thanks to my girl.

I'm talkin' 'bout my girl
I mean, I can't stop talking about her - can you blame me?

I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I am so lucky in love that it's almost unfair.

I've got a sweeter song
My love's effect on me is like music to my ears.

Than the birds in the trees
My girl's love outshines even the sweetest melodies of nature.

Don't need no fortune, no money or fame
I don't need wealth, success, or popularity to feel satisfied with life.

I've got all the riches, baby
With my girl by my side, I already have everything I need.

That one man can claim
In terms of love and companionship, I have all that any one person could hope for.

My girl (my girl, my girl)
It all comes back to her.

Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I just can't help myself - I have to tell the world about her.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ronald White, William Robinson Jr.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01My Girl3:00

PT3M

The Mamas The Papas

02Dream A Little Dream Of Me

03California Dreamin

04For the love of ivy

05Dream A Little Dream Of Me The Mamas The Papas

06California Dreamin'

07Go Where You Wanna Go

08Monday Monday

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Comments from YouTube:

Eric Springer

10y↑78

The Mama's and The Papa's can do no wrong in my eyes....they are great at ALL they sing

Mick Wilbury

10y↑8

Eric, totally agree with you

Eric Springer

10y↑7

thanks

Oshy

8y↑6

+Mick Wilbury i will agree as well

Todd Martin

8y↑22

I love Michelle's soprano from 1:47 to 2:16. It's piercing so that when the other voices surround it, it still rings pure.

Rosemary Blake

3y↑8

What a great version of a classic from a brilliant group.

FozzieatDetour BillNye

10y↑46

Michelle may be the only one still on this earth, but not the only one left. They're music well always keep them alive.

Nate

4y↑29

This group was way before my time, but I grew up around this music. Some of these songs are better than today's music.

aran125

4y↑4

Blue Nation
💯 %. Beautiful tunes, different times. Peace, love, sex, rock and roll 🎸 ✌️

Gary G

3y↑3

@Blue Nation Some of these songs? Song's of the 60's blow away of today's so called music any day of the week.

thomsboys77

@Gary G OK Boomer 😂

Jack Applegarth

3y↑7

Undoubtedly the greatest harmony group ever , they have given me such joy over the years their clever vocals are unbelievable.

The CCP is a parasite

Better than the Beach Boys? The Eagles? .... the Mamas and the Papas are really good. I'll go no further.

All Town aren’t we

3y↑4

This version is impossible to beat..greetings from 🇬🇧

Anthony Hornby

11y↑12

I really love this version of the brilliant classic, even love it more than the Temptations version

Alex Delarge

3y↑3

I love how they all sing that harmony on the last "I guess you'd say, 'what can make me feel this way'". One of the best moments in their whole catalog.

vIPR

I like the straight shooter and Spanish harlem harmonies....

Laureen Narfason

4y↑6

Love the Mamas and Papas and Love this song. So GREAT to hear it on the Blacklist!!

Matt Reese

11y↑10

I, too, was 16 when "Deliver" came out & I remember picking it up & rushing home to the album. Can you believe stuff like this used to come out on a regular basis? Their version of "My Girl" was certainly one of the highlights--a reworking of a prior hit, just like "Dedicated."

StevieB1362

12y↑13

Wow. What memories! Loved singing along with this whole album on my Longine's hi-fi phonograph (with the diamond stylus) I got for $19.95 when I joined the Columbia Record Club...after bugging & begging mom ALOT ! ! It truly made my life complete & me extra cool. Thanks again mom. & thanks for posting this.

Pat Downs

5y↑11

John was a master at arranging songs.

The Surf & Hot Rod Scene

3y↑2

Brilliant group and recordings. Normally only Hal Blaine, Joe Osborn and Larry Knechtel backing them up and fantastic producer Lou Adler !

Ron SEVENTIESMUSIC

11y↑5

Great song and fantastic photos!!!

Sophie Terrell

8y↑13

I adore Denny he is awesome

StickyFish45

3y↑2

I wish more kids these days knew this music

Mick Wilbury

11y↑7

Vanillasnowflakes, both versions are fantastic, this particular arrangement developed by John Phillips is simply unbelievable... Thank you for your comment

Thomas Bielefeld

11y↑3

Another quality Mick Wilbury´s production.Great sound & slides.

Tammy Donley

8y↑14

Love it...

Matt Reese

11y↑7

Not sure I could say it betters the Temptations original, but it certainly equals it. Wonderful use of male/female harmonizing, particularly in the final verse. Also love the lengthy guitar riff about 2/3 of the way through. Probably my favourite non-hit cut on their somewhat disappointing 3rd album.

VirginSuicide77

9y↑42

Love this version even more than The Temps' original!

Groovy Hannah

5y↑4

My personal favourite by them. But I like all of theirs actually

Gary Drew

6y↑11

What a great voice Denny had and so handsome

Francisca pereira lima

11y↑12

what to say about those wonderbul people? I simply love them.... forever .

Mick Wilbury

12y↑4

StevieB1362, thank you for sharing your memories, I was 16 when the album Deliver was released. Their version of "Dedicated to the one I love" was the "love theme" for me and my first "serious" girlfriend. Funny, it was back in 1967, and after all these years, she still a good friend. Again, thank you Stevie for your comment.

Marina ampò

quanti ricordi, belli e purtroppo anche brutti, ma amo ancora questa canzone

coolsweetgroovy

8y↑12

The Mamas & The Papas rule

Anthony Hornby

11y↑3

Hi Mick I agree that its hard to choose between them but my personal choice of the Mamas & Papas version just has the edge, but maybe I am being biased as I have been a lifelong fan of the Mamas& Papas

STEPHEN CHRISTIAN

4y↑4

amazing all the mamas & p's ive heard & owned i've never heard this damn YT just is insane! How many things I hear & learn

Mick Wilbury

11y↑1

Tony, I feel the same way, I've been a lifelong fan of the Mamas & Papas. You will find a couple of other M&Ps slideshows in my channel. Again, thank you for your comment.

Andrea Masini Luccetti

Una cover ricca di strumentazione e cori intensi rispetto all'originale dei Temptations ....

Andrea Masini Luccetti

Conoscevo molto bene California Dreamin perchè era molto gettonata nei jukebox quando in Italia erano presenti nei locali all'aperto durante l'estate....😊...questa versione invece è una novità.

Russell

6y↑5

sublime

Paulino Padilla Ramirez

La mejor interpretación de My Girl https://youtu.be/NKgnoyxa7kA

Oshy

8y↑9

Michelle Phillips is still alive

TimeRider762

5y↑2

Cass couldn't take off the weight no matter how hard she tried, this is by her own admition. But she still, IMO. Had a pretty face.

Pub60

What a group...there’s 2 great voices and 2 that can get a pass....however the 2 pass voices brought a lot too the table that compensated for not being strong vocalists, having said that...they were not untalented singers.
Perhaps the most real group of the times in the true sense of the hippie lifestyle, coupled with the songwriting, harmonies, solo vocals and production with a new sound for the times they carved a new scene.
On a personal level they fucked up, perhaps Denny should have married Cass, Michelle maybe shouldn’t have had an affair with Denny, John Phillips was a deviant by all reports so that ruins this band for me.
Mamma Cass Elliot, what a woman....what a vocalist!

Sebastien Rogie

2y↑2

That intro

dianne

seriously

Mick Wilbury

11y

Tony, it's very hard to choose between them, thank you for your comment

Jazmin Pulli

💖🎧🥰🎧💖

Mick Wilbury

11y↑2

Thank you Ron !

Colleen Stack

5y↑2

Cass Elliot was the TALENT in this group......

Glenn Mills

And Denny. Sublime Tenor singing lead on
most of their hits.

Barz McNeil

8y↑18

Denny shoulda said yes when cass proposed

PC No

+Barz McNeil A ton of fun.

Awake 7

6y↑3

And maybe she will still alive :(

dianne

that intro … takes me away

Raven Baa

24w

My fav part the begining

aizawabass

10y↑7

LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maria Falcone

Stupenda bellissima my gerl, mi piace di più la loro versione. Cmq nn o ancora capito di chi è my gerl io lo sentita cantare anche da quel comlesso di musicisti di colore e la loro o dei the Mamas The papas? Cmq sia è più bella questa grazie per averla inserita

Oshy

8y↑6

kinda like the song from the Temptations

Billy Angus

8y↑5

Actually, both versions are very good. ^_^

PastorMatthew

8y↑1

Uh, Billy, he never said this was bad.

Oshy

8y↑1

Fun song

Muni Math by Peter Felton

Yep! Same song, slightly different versions. :)

SunsetSix

11y↑3

Who is playing guitar on this piece? Anyone know?

Muni Math by Peter Felton

Either the Wrecking Crew who performed on many of The Mamas And The Papas' studio recordings (and those of other '60s groups as well), or John Phillips himself who played guitar.

justinl458

4y↑2

The blacklist season 4 episode 15 brought me here.

Serena H

10y↑11

great band but how messed up were they??

Groovy Hannah

5y↑4

Serena H as the typical 1960’s band, they did marijuana and smoked tobacco, and just as normal people, they had their troubles (between themselves and others). I don’t know much else, but they have great music.

sim27

5y↑6

@Groovy Hannah Michelle was married to John but was in love with Denny who Cass was also in love with and Denny had an affair with Michelle. I think..

Laureen Narfason

4y↑2

No more messed than many musical groups back then and through the decades.

arlene iardella

3y↑2

Not anywhere near as "messed" up as most groups theses days!!!!!

tom kielty

11y↑2

thank you

Jeffescantube

4y↑1

blacklist?

Mick Wilbury

11y↑2

tom kielty, you're welcome !

SYMPHORIO TK

4y↑4

"Blacklist" anyone???

Tamàs Szabó

4y↑1

Yes when they recognised that Kate is alive.👍🏻🙈

Tamàs Szabó

4y↑1

Yes when Red and Dembe recognised that Kate is alive.

Tamàs Szabó

4y↑1

Greg Francis

7y↑3

TALKIN' ABOUT

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