"Good Lovin' " is a song written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick that was … Read Full Bio ↴"Good Lovin' " is a song written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick that was a number one hit single for The Young Rascals in 1966.

The song was first recorded in 1965 by R&B/novelty artists The Olympics, but was only a minor hit at best, reaching number 81 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. The tale is told that Rascal Felix Cavaliere heard it on a New York City radio station and the group added it to their concert repertoire. Co-producer Tom Dowd captured this live feel on the recording, even though the group did not think the performance held together well.

"Good Lovin'" is one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, and was ranked number 325 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. Writer Dave Marsh placed it at number 108 in his 1989 book The Heart of Rock and Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made, saying it is "the greatest example ever of a remake surpassing the quality of an original without changing a thing about the arrangement," and that "'Good Lovin'' all by itself is enough to dispel the idiotic notion that rock and roll is nothing more than white boys stealing from blacks."

Good Lovin'
The Olympics Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I was feelin' so bad
So I asked my family doctor 'bout what I had
I said now doc (doctor)
Mister MD (doctor)
Oh can you tell me (doctor)
What's ailing in me (doctor)

Chorus

He said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
All you need
All you really need
Is good lovin'
Gotta have lovin'
Good lovin'
Everybody gotta have lovin'
Good lovin'
Gimme, gimme some lovin'
Good lovin'

So come on baby, well squeeze me tight
Don't you want your daddy to feel alright
Well I said now baby (baby)
Well it's for sure (baby)
I got the fever (baby)
And you got the cure (baby)

[chorus]

Overall Meaning

The Olympics's hit single "Good Lovin'" is a classic tune that talks about the importance of love in one's life. It begins with the singer feeling down and out, so much so that he visits his family doctor to find out what's wrong with him. He asks the doctor about his condition, hoping to get some sort of diagnosis. However, the physician's unexpected response comes in the form of a suggestion. The doctor advises the singer that all he really needs is good lovin'. Throughout the chorus, the singer repeats this sentiment, emphasizing that everyone needs love and that it's the solution to all their problems.

The second verse sees the singer trying to convince his partner to give him the love he desperately needs. He asks her to squeeze him tightly and make him feel alright. He tells her that he's got a fever and she's the cure. The chorus repeats and the song ends on a high note, with the singer urging everyone to give and receive love.

"Good Lovin'" was originally written by Rudy Clark and Arthur Resnick in 1965. The song has become a popular classic thanks to The Olympics' cover, as well as covers by other artists such as The Rascals and Grateful Dead. Interestingly, The Olympics were not the first to record the song, but their version ended up being the most successful.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I was feelin' so bad
I was in a really bad emotional state

So I asked my family doctor 'bout what I had
Asking for help, seeking advice

I said now doc (doctor)
Respecting the doctor's authority

Mister MD (doctor)
Addressing the doctor by his professional title

Oh can you tell me (doctor)
Requesting for information and assistance

What's ailing in me (doctor)
Describing one's physical or emotional ailment

He said yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
The doctor communicates assurance and positivity

All you need
The solution to one's problem is simple

All you really need
The statement is reinforced to assert the certainty of the solution

Is good lovin'
The simple solution that's been alluded to is love

Gotta have lovin'
To veer towards positivity, one needs love

Good lovin'
The positive solution to one's problems

Everybody gotta have lovin'
Everyone needs love

Gimme, gimme some lovin'
A request for love

So come on baby, well squeeze me tight
Asking for love in a physical form

Don't you want your daddy to feel alright
The artist is yearning for acceptance and comfort

Well I said now baby (baby)
The artist is addressing the person they're speaking to with endearment

Well it's for sure (baby)
There is no doubt about the singer's emotional state

I got the fever (baby)
Expressing emotional turmoil through metaphors

And you got the cure (baby)
A request for love as a healing method

[Chorus]
Re-emphasizing the positivity and simplicity of the solution to the artist's problem

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Cloud9
Written by: Arthur Resnick, Rudolph Clark

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Good Lovin'2:32

PT2M32S

The Olympics

02Olympic Shuffle1:55

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Comments from YouTube:

Tom Perry

1y↑10

I’m here because I just read Dino Danelli of the Rascals passed away, and the obituary mentioned that Danelli heard the original version of Good Lovin’ by the Olympics in a record shop and brought it to the Rascals. So I had to find the Olympics’ recording. I’m glad I did. Great song and I love their singing.

Gary Goldie

3y↑5

My most favorite version! Loved the Olympics!

sauquoit13456

7y↑5

On this day in 1965 {April 24th} the Olympics performed "Good Lovin'" on the Los Angeles-based syndicated television program 'Shivaree'...
The very next day, April 25th, the song entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #91; three weeks later it would peak at #81 {for 2 weeks} and it spent 5 weeks on the Top 100...
Between 1958 and 1966 the Olympics had fourteen Top 100 record; with one reaching the Top 10, "Western Movies", it peaked at #8 {for 1 week} on September 15th, 1958...
And on April 24th, 1966, exactly one year later to day the Olympics appeared on 'Shivaree", the Young Rascals covered version of "Good Lovin'" peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on the Top 100...

jjrwass

thanks

bouzoukiman5000

I wonder if they made any money😮

SoulLegendsRadio

11y↑7

each to their own but this has depth and soul and the best imo

Titanic Discussions

12y↑5

AWESOME!!! THANKS SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!!!

trfesok

10y↑9

Actually, this is the 2nd version. The first was by a guy who called himself "Lemme B. Good". It came out just before this one. I have these 2, the Rascals, & 3 by the Grateful Dead in my Rascals playlist. Thanks for the upload!

DEFCON 4

1y↑1

Great info; thanks.

calleaeste junior

6y↑4

Combine the Olympics vocals with the Rascals instrumental backing and you'd have a killer classic.

Eddie Harper

3y↑13

I never understand why comparisons cause divisiveness. Olympics vs Rascals. Dionne vs Luther (A HOUSE IS NOT A HOME). Whitney vs Dolly (I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU). Why not just enjoy their efforts and move forward?

DEFCON 4

Great comment. Every great violinist has played the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, or the Beethoven Concerto. I think it's a tribute to the writers of a great song to have so many like and play it.

bouzoukiman5000

Yes! It's the musician who gets the most joy out of playing someone's song and they want the listener to feel the same

Steveo Musicman

8y↑4

awesome version and chart By Dr. Garry(foot doctor) Sherman!

belisario guerra

9y↑2

Original: Lemme B. Good ( U.S. ) - Good lovin' ( Rudy Clark - Arthur Resnick ) ( 3/1965 ). Covers: The Olympics ( U.S. ) - Good lovin' ( 4/1965 ). The Young Rascals ( U.S. ) - Good lovin' ( recorded: 1/2/1966, released: 21/2/1966 ). The Ventures ( U.S.. ) - Good lovin' ( 6/1966 ). Los Yaki ( México ) - Tú y yo ( 1966 ). Los Ovnis ( México ) - Tú y yo ( 1966 ). Los Sparks ( México ) - Necesito amor ( 196? ). Los Drag's ( Perú ) - Good loving ( ¿ 1966 o 1967 ? ). Los Yetis ( Colombia ) -. Good loving ( 1968 ). Grateful Dead ( U.S. ) - Good lovin' ( 1977 ).

frankie hunter

belisario guerra Thanks for so many facts.

belisario guerra

+frankie hunter Thank you very much !. You are welcome !

Mike M.

+belisario guerra Grateful Dead 1977

belisario guerra

Thanks a lot Mike M. !

deadbass36

@Mike M. Grateful Dead's first official release of the song was on 1978's Shakedown Street, sung by Bob Weir. Pigpen sang it originally, until his death, and there are live recordings of him singing it going as far back as May 1966

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joe mcmillan

9y↑6

Like with anything and everything else, it's ok to enjoy without having to pick favorites.

GL AnnapolisTeam

8y↑1

Amen Joe! Both versions are quite good! I even saw Ima Sumac sing this on TV one time. Insane version!!

U.J, Kamar

10y↑2

To be fair, please watch the Olympics' performance of this on "Shindig" (featuring Billy Preston). I think this is the version that the Rascals patterned theirs after. Other good covers of this song are by The Elgins and by Gilberto Cruz y su Sextet, who really bring out the Latin elements of the song. I have to hand it to the Rascals though - their energy, their ferver and their performance are top notch, though I like them all! (This version could have done without the Tujuana Brass though!)

hwgray

4y↑1

"This version could have done without the Tujuana Brass though!" Really? Why?

densely

The guitar break in the version by Bryan Poole and the Tremoloes is taken straight from "La Bamba". There's a Grateful Dead version of "Good Lovin'" on YouTube in which Jerry Garcia sings several verses of La Bamba. And then David Lindley and El Rayo X played "Twist and Shout" set to the music of "La Bamba", but that's another story...

Steveo Musicman

8y↑1

awesome version and chart By Dr. Garry(foot doctor) Sherman! published by Bobby Darin

youthones

10y↑4

Have to say for me this is head and shoulders above The Rascals version; just because the Rascals' version has a faster tempo doesn't make it spicier. This has a nice Latin feel to it, a solid rhythm and nicer arrangement. Then again, music is very personal; I shouldn't say "better" or "worse" - just different. I remember buying this in April, 1965, exactly a year before The Rascals' version came out.

JoggingOnTheMoon

10y↑2

in general, i'm actually a huge rascals fan, but i completely agree with you. and despite it's popularity, i always found the rascals' version of 'good lovin' to be one of their weakest recordings (especially when you stack it against something like 'i ain't gonna eat out my heart anymore' - that's the side of the rascals i like to hear.) it's not a bad version by any means - it's certainly energetic, but it definitely always felt like it lacked something that this version seems to have in spades. can't quite put my finger on what it is, but this dude's singing straight from the gut - and i dig it.

Sid Arthur

Awesome!

George Rigberg

41w

When the Grateful Dead started covering this tune folks said, they're covering a Rascals song. They were quick to correct that it was an Olympics song!

Samson

10y↑1

Both version are great. The rascals just spiced it up

Glicksman1

5y↑1

Very good,, but they adopted the Rascals' beat and feel later on after the Rascals had a #1 with it.

MIKECNW

9y↑2

Definitely like this version better than The Rascals.

Wonder if The Gratefull Dead had this version in mind when they did their own version?

BobbyDelRiv

10y↑4

Better version

Ricky Morrell

5y↑1

The Who's version I personally think pips this and the Rascals, Daltrey at his best

Jeff318

5y↑1

Must find The Who!

densely

4y↑1

The Rascals win for their amazing intensity.

Kirsten Noel Vaccaro

9y↑4

I Love The Rascals Version Better!

Jeff318

Both are good. Rascals have more energy.

411Rocco

10y↑3

This original version pre-dated the Rascals version by about 2 years. The Rascals copied this.

MrLee

The Rascals covered it. They did not as you say "copied" it.

MrLee

5y↑1

Also this is not the original version.

Larry Nash

2y↑1

Like the Young Rascals version better

Kirsten Noel Vaccaro

3y↑3

I Like The Rascals Version Better!

Richard Smith

8y↑4

much better than the Rascals

David mas

7y↑4

Yeah, I like it better than the Rascals and I was nuts over their version. It seems whenever whites do a cover of an original, it fails! And I'm white!

Carl Contrera

In this case, you're right, and like you, I Iove the Rascals version as well. But I'll take The Beatle's version of You Really Got a Hold on Me or Rod Stewart's take on Twistin' the Night Away over the respective originals any day..but that's just me..and i'm white, too

luis grant

7y↑1

Have to disagree with you on this one The remake by The Diamonds Little Darlin' was way superior to the original

luis grant

forgot to name the original by The Gladiolas

Rabbi Ingber

this wasn't really a cover record-came out a year before the rascals. they have changed the definition of "cover". a true cover was pat boone releasing "aint it a shame" just after fats domino,RIP, let loose with his classic.

dojmike

The Olympics were not bad; however, Felix from the Rascals used a Hammond B-3 Organ which makes any song light years better! The Rascals made this song the number one anthem for high energy Rock 'N Roll for all of history.

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