Bonnie Pointer and June Pointer first formed a secular singing duo in the late '60s and began performing in clubs around the San Francisco Bay area; Anita Pointer and Ruth Pointer later joined them. The Pointer Sisters hooked up with David Rubinson who was a record producer affiliated with Bill Graham. They would perform onstage with the flamboyant Sylvester of The Cockettes, and they'd done some work as background singers on recordings by Elvin Bishop, Boz Scaggs, Cold Blood and other San Francisco Bay Area groups.
Their big breakthrough was a cover of an Allen Toussaint composition originally recorded in 1970 by Lee Dorsey, the song was "Yes We Can Can" released by The Pointer Sisters in March 1973. The girls' voices were added over funky backing tracks laid down with the help of Rubinson's contacts like Tower of Power guitarist Willie Fulton. They sang live around a single mic, with Anita handling lead, and upon release the record soon hit Number 11 on Billboard's pop chart and Number 12 on the R&B chart. In 1974 the group surprised white audiences when they broke the color barrier in at The Grand Ol' Opry when performing their Country Grammy award winning country song "Fairytale" in Nashville. "How Long (Betcha Got A Chick On The Side)" was a 1975 #1 R&B hit from their Steppin LP, with classic funky keys of Herbie Hancock on clavinet & wicked guitar stylings of Wah Wah Watson...
Bonnie Pointer left the group in 1977 for a solo career, and in 1978, the remaining sisters switched labels to Planet & production duties went to Richard Perry who modernized their sound away from a nostalgia based act into a more contemporary look & sound for the 1980's.
They produced the album Energy, with a classic country flavored updates of Sly Stone's "Everybody Is A Star", and a rendition of another Allen Toussaint song called "Happiness". The Perry streak included 1984's Break Out, which did exactly that going triple platinum and winning two Grammys for the singles Automatic and "Jump (for My Love)". This period in the early 80's ostensibly represents the group's commercial peak as a charting act. Their last big hit was Neutron Dance from the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack.
As the '80s wound down, June Pointer recorded two solo albums, and later left the trio by 2001. Anita also did some solo project work, and had a minor hit with a song called, "Overnight Success."
Anita and Ruth still perform concerts under the group's name. Ruth's daughter, Issa Pointer, is the trio's newest member. June suffered a stroke on February 27, 2006. While hospitalized, she was diagnosed with cancer, which had metastasized in her breast, colon, liver and bones. She died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California on April 11, 2006 at the age of 52.
How Long
The Pointer Sisters Lyrics
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Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
I know you want us both
(I know why you want her)
I can give you so much lovin'
But presents she can buy ya
(How much can money buy)
Last night you're in my arms
But tonight I'm all alone
How long (how long) will this game go on
How long (how long) oh oh how long
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
It's plain, plain enough to see
That you're not happy with me
I can't keep playing games
To keep my heart straight
I want to turn to walk away
But it's harder to do than it is to say
How long (how long) will this game go on
How long (how long) oh oh how long
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
(I bet you got another, yeah you got another lover)
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
(I caught you, I caught you with her twice)
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
(Can she love you, can she love you like me)
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
(Can she love you, can she set you free)
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
(You got another lover, you got another lover)
Betcha got a chick on the side
Show you another trick
I know you got a chick on the side
(I know you got another, another chick on the side)
It might hurt me for a while
But one thing I am sure
I'll get over you, yes I'll find someone new
Each time I open up my heart
It seems to just get torn apart
How long
Will this game go on
How long
Oh oh how long
The Pointer Sisters' song, "How Long," is a poignant track about a lover's betrayal. The lyrics demonstrate the singer's realization that her partner has another woman on the side and that she is not enough for him. Despite knowing his infidelity, she is unable to walk away from him; the chorus begs the question of how long this game can go on.
The lyrics touch on how material possessions and money can never replace the kind of love and intimacy a real relationship should embody. The singer knows that presents can make her partner happy, but she understands that she can offer so much more love and affection. Despite this understanding, she is unable to keep playing games that keep her heart in check. The chorus repeats how long this game will go on, suggesting that the singer is aware that her love life is a game to her now.
The lyrics also show how hurt and torn apart the singer is by her partner's betrayal. Although it might hurt her for a while, she knows that she will eventually get over him and find someone new. Each time she opens up her heart, it seems to get ripped apart, but this pain will not stop her from looking for love again.
Line by Line Meaning
Betcha got a chick on the side
I'm pretty sure you're seeing someone else behind my back.
Show you another trick
She must be showing you something special to keep you interested.
I know you got a chick on the side
Trust me, I'm positive you're cheating.
It's plain, plain enough to see
I can tell that you're unhappy with me.
That you're not happy with me
It's pretty obvious that something isn't working between us.
I can't keep playing games
I won't keep living a lie and pretending everything's fine.
To keep my heart straight
I need to be true to myself and follow my heart.
But it's harder to do than it is to say
It's tough to leave you even though it's the right thing to do.
It might hurt me for a while
Breaking up with you will be painful, but I'll recover eventually.
But one thing I am sure
I know that I'll find someone better for me.
I'll get over you, yes I'll find someone new
I'll move on and find happiness with someone else.
Each time I open up my heart
Every time I try to love someone, it ends in heartbreak.
It seems to just get torn apart
My heart keeps getting broken, and I can't take the pain anymore.
How long (how long) will this game go on
How much longer will you keep playing this game with me?
Oh oh how long
I need to move on and find someone who will treat me right.
(I bet you got another, yeah you got another lover)
I'm willing to bet that you're cheating on me with someone else.
(I caught you, I caught you with her twice)
I have proof that you've cheated on me with her at least twice.
(Can she love you, can she love you like me)
Can you really find someone who loves you as much as I do?
(Can she love you, can she set you free)
Will your new lover really be able to make you happy?
(You got another lover, you got another lover)
You're definitely seeing someone else besides me.
(I know you got another, another chick on the side)
I know for a fact that you're cheating on me with another woman.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENYON PHILLIPS, STEPHEN ROBERT PHILLIPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind