The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, a… Read Full Bio ↴The Shirelles were an influential American girl group in the early 1960s, and they were the very first girl group to have a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100. The members of the quartet were Shirley Owens (who was the lead singer for the most part), Doris Coley, Beverly Lee, and Addie "Micki" Harris. The quartet formed in New Jersey in 1958, and went on to release a string of hits including "Baby It's You", "Mama Said", and the #1 Pop hits "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" and "Soldier Boy". Their "Sha La La" became an international hit when covered by the British group Manfred Mann, and "Boys" was covered by [artsit]the Beatles (Ringo Starr singing lead).The Beatles also covered "Baby It's You" on their "Please Please Me" album. Although they had no more charting hits after 1967, the Shirelles continued recording for a small but devoted audience well into the 1970s and continued to tour and perform into the early 1980s. In 1968, Coley left the group to remarry and raise her family, and the group continued as a trio. In 1975, she returned only to replace Owens who departed to begin a solo career. On June 10, 1982, after a live concert in Atlanta, Harris succumbed to a heart attack (age 42); she was replaced by Louie Bethune. Shortly, the group went into semi-retirement, though they did accept an invitation to record backup vocals for Dionne Warwick in the late 1980s. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. On February 4, 2000, Coley lost a battle with breast cancer (age 58). The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2002.

Boys
The Shirelles Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I been told when a boy kiss a girl
She takes a trip around the world, yeah-yeah
Hey-hey, hey-hey
Hey-hey
Hey, please say you do

Mama says, when you kiss my lips
I get a thrill through my fingertips, yeah-yeah (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)

Hey-hey, hey-hey (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)
Hey-hey (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)
Hey, please say you do (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)

Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Don't ya know I mean boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Don't ya know I mean boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Hey, what a bundle of joy (yeah-yeah, boys)

Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Don't ya know I mean boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Don't ya know I mean boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Hey, what a bundle of joy (yeah-yeah, boys)
Boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Ya know I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Well, boys (yeah-yeah, boys)

Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah)

Overall Meaning

The Shirelles’ song, “Boys,” is a playful ode to the excitement and thrill that comes with young love, specifically the phenomenon of a boy kissing a girl. The song begins with the romantic notion that when a boy kisses a girl, she takes a trip around the world, emphasizing the dizzying and exhilarating effect of romance on the teenage heart. This theme is echoed in the next verse, in which Mama says that when you kiss my lips, I get a thrill through my fingertips. The song then breaks into a catchy refrain, “Hey-hey, hey-hey, hey-hey, hey, please say you do,” expressing the desire for the object of one’s affection to reciprocate the feelings.

The rest of the song continues with various affirmations of the joy and excitement that comes with young love, with the repetition of “boys” in the chorus serving to reinforce the idea that boys themselves are the catalysts for these feelings. The song is pervaded with a joyful and upbeat energy, with the playful lyrics and catchy melody reflecting the carefree joy of youth and the thrill of falling in love for the first time.

Line by Line Meaning

I been told when a boy kiss a girl
They say that when a boy kisses a girl

She takes a trip around the world, yeah-yeah
It's said that she'll feel like she's traveled the world

Hey-hey, hey-hey

Hey-hey

Hey, please say you do
So please, say you'll do it with me

Mama says, when you kiss my lips
My mother says that when someone kisses her lips

I get a thrill through my fingertips, yeah-yeah (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)
She's overcome with excitement, as the hand movements suggest

Hey-hey, hey-hey (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)

Hey-hey (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)

Hey, please say you do (shap, shoo-bop, shap-shap, shoo-bop)
So please, say you'll do it with me (hand movements again)

Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
The topic of discussion is boys

Don't ya know I mean boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
And by boys, I mean boys

Hey, what a bundle of joy (yeah-yeah, boys)
They bring so much happiness

Boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Boys in general

Ya know I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
You know I mean boys

Well, boys (yeah-yeah, boys)

Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah, boys)
Yes, I'm still talking about boys

Well, I'm talkin' 'bout boys (yeah-yeah)
I can't stress enough, it's boys I'm talking about

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Luther Dixon, Wes Farrell

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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01Will You Love Me Tomorrow2:35

02Dedicated to the One I Love2:00

03What a Sweet Thing That Was

08Everybody Loves a Lover

09Don't Say Goodnight and Mean Goodbye2:38

10What Does a Girl Do?2:28

11Love Is a Swingin' Thing

PT2M10S

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@seoulfulmatt6155

1y↑19

"Eat dirt! Eat it!"
"Kick his ass!"
"Does it taste good? Huh?"
"Yeah, listen to your Meemaw! Kick his ass!"
"You're gonna cry? Huh? Do it! Cry!"
"George, do something! Break it up!"
"Hang on, she's winning"
"Missy! Missy Cooper! You stop beating up that boy!"
"Punch him in the nuts!"

All comments from YouTube:

@seoulfulmatt6155

1y↑19

@dhruvbarot1064

4y↑60

The biggest talent of The Beatles is that they make a song PERFECT!

@somethingsomething3974

4y↑456

Who else came here after watching missy in Young Sheldon beat that baseball boy😂😁

@mubashrasajid4093

4y↑14

MEEE!!!

@dennisholmes7485

4y↑6

yep :)

@marilynlipes3601

4y↑12

Yes!! Me too!! Great episode! Great song! Had to track it down.

@marekweremko8532

4y↑12

"KICK HIS ASS"

@carolinezanon1592

4y↑4

Yup, just type in the first line, works Everytime lol

87 More Replies...

@stevefox2295

6y↑29

This was a popular song with Liverpool bands. John used to sing it live with the Beatles and it was Ringo Starr’s featured vocal for Rory Storm & the Hurricanes.

@rudolphguarnacci197

2y↑1

Wow didn't know that.

@Mokkari77

8y↑206

Always wondered why Ringo was singing about boys and found it was a cover of a girl group song.

@georgiethumbs2438

8y↑73

Paul, John and George didn't want to sing the lead because they thought it would look queer "don't you know I need boys", but they liked the song so much they wanted to do it so they had Ringo sing it. Rumor has it that Paul did in fact sing it at the Cavern and Brian Epstein saw it and that he assumed they were a gay group which is why he became obsessive about them, they did look gay as well back then with the haircuts and all leather outfits. It was a lucky break for them because a straight manager would have never been as dedicated and they would have never got a record deal. Epstein using his own money would take the train all the way to London, which is a hell of a distance from Liverpool, and literally go to every possible record company pushing the Beatles using crappy audition tapes, and he did it over and over and over while running NEMS record store. There is NO way in hell a straight manager would have ever done that. The Beatles always seemed to have this unbelievable luck, 1st meeting each other, then getting the opportunity to play 12 hours a day in clubs for months on end in Hamburg, then coming across the Beatle haircuts through the German beatniks, meeting Epstein, and then George Martin and Norman Smith and Goeff Emerick who were these genius engineers who were recording with quality 20 years ahead of its time.

@mrmurph5046

7y↑9

And the idiot know-nothings speak.......

@mrmurph5046

7y↑8

Georgie Thumbs It's "Don't you know I MEAN boys". You write a meandering, bloviated book on the subject and your first premise isn't even accurate.

@mrmurph5046

7y↑2

Murquinho roubou meu boss You should know gay. You see one every time you look in the mirror!

@DumDumDurin

7y↑3

Tbh Idk if it's them themselves being gay per say, or rather the time and era that it was (yes yes it sounds like an excuse) but I mean, during those times, guys weren't all that afraid to get a little cosy or dress up a little bc it just made em look good for the girls, contrasting with todays society. I mean, if a new band popped up now and tried to the same things that The Beatles did, they'd probably get called names like "queer" and shit bc in today's standards, they're quite clean-cut however back then they were considered rebels. Idk man, think what ya want, that's just my ten cents on it :)

12 More Replies...

@PC4USE1

2y↑9

The addition of "My girl says when a boy kisses a girl" changed the whole meaning of the song and allowed it to be acceptable in the 1960s for Ringo to sing it. Gotta love the Shirelles.

@sensey07

48w↑5

That sax break (at 1:09) was smokin' ... the technical capability in 1960 was rather limited but it shines through

@LukeFor3ver

22w↑1

I was sent here by the beloved MISSY !!! My fav scene!!

@janiewallace4356

1y↑1

remember a dance demonstration 8th grade - kathy mc'donnough and I did jitterbug to this in front class - everything was fine till I fell down ! - Kathy picked me up in such a graceful way - class thought it was part of the act!!!

@kennnethtreistman1973

5y↑14

Ringo!

@user-xz2ul4in9k

4y↑1

@69Applekrate

11y↑18

This record is smoking hot! This is among the best Shirelles' songs!

@a4.5.k

Game on. New 7077 DNA

@georgewolkoff1349

3y↑3

i was in boot camp in san diego when i first heard this and loved it.good ole memeries.

@user-lf9mi1sx5c

16w

Me I remember this song. Damn 😅❤

@marknorthwest93

10y↑32

I never knew that this Shirelles B side recording influenced the early Beatles. The boys were intrigued by American R&B and their early albums also featured Tamla/Motown covers. Ringo Starr really delivered the goods when he performed this on the 50th anniversary Beatles television tribute, probably his best ever performance of this song. That said, The Shirelles original version is a classic one as well!

@ririhope2672

marknorthwest93 LOL, who do you think some of their biggest influences came from? Elvis was influence primary by American RnB.. duh

@mrmurph5046

+ RiRi Hope Stop being a pedantic nitwit.

@mrmurph5046

7y↑1

+ marknorthwest93 Both are great records!

@64JBran

5y↑1

Not only this one, but "Baby It's You" also.

@carlosarturosousagarridole9361

Don’t forget “Baby It’s You”,..

@user-fd8ic4lj9w

17w

You are so amazing

@speedoj69

9y↑45

Good as the Beatles version is,Its missing the great sax solo from the amazing King Curtis

@mrmurph5046

It wouldn't have fit the Beatles' version. It works perfectly here.

@64JBran

...... a whole lot of rhythm and Shirley Alston Reeves' fabulous voice.

@dinodeluca6210

King Curtis always sounded awesome!

@alisamisayn8349

5y↑3

It hurts so much, both this and The Beatles' take.

@kenwalker8494

6y↑10

This was the flip side of a single think it was "Will you love me tomorrow"

@beckywaytoomuch

Got it on 45 💙💚💙💚

@stephencollins1438

Boy could these babies sing !!

@its.R.

1y↑2

"Eat it! Eat itt!! "

@anewbugmusic

Listen to that guitar picking in the background… so good.

@69Applekrate

9y↑6

this song I outstanding and far better than the redo a few years later. just love it

@SteveRes

11y↑5

stunning record

@aemonsevker8556

8y↑17

i think this version is much better, really gives you that fifties feel, where the beatles just popped it up a bit, thats probably why it's a more popular pick

@jeffwilliams196

8y↑4

+Aemon Sevker
I used to think I liked them equally. But this just blows the Beatles away.

@ktcarl

3y↑2

The Beatles rocked it up. Gave it more of an edge.

@littlemissblackdress7587

3y↑2

Nope

@hunterking1869

3y↑5

Anybody else here after watching the episode of Young Sheldon when Missy beats up that boy in baseball?

@BooTwoBoo

Yes

@rotemkaspi2621

4y↑3

I like ringo's taste in music

@lhcarter

Ringo said he heard this recording by the Shirelles on the Alan Freed show from Radio Luxembourg, when he decided to do it with the Beatles. They also did the Shirelles’ “Baby, It’s You”, both of them live and on a album. John sang lead on that one.

@skullpipe

4y↑2

All right george

@MarkTitus420

12y↑31

Strangely enough without any gay overtones this sounds more fitting with the Beatles doing it and especially so with Ringo on drums and vocals - they made it a rock and roll jam.

@ronaldcammarata3422

5y↑2

And ruined a great r&b song, like they did with all their r&b covers.

@idge_haq

4y↑3

we got some tea here folks

@fshoaps

3y↑2

@Ronald Cammarata The Beatles ruined "Baby It's You" & "You've Really Got a Hold On Me" ?

@n_m_gohil

3y↑2

Missy brought me here 😉

@kanyeeast1115

1y↑1

great song, i think Duffy might've been inspired by this for "Mercy".

@SylentEcho

11y↑105

I like The Beatles version better, but I can see how they liked this back then. It sounds so fresh for the early 60's.

@ronaldcammarata3422

5y↑9

All those great r&b songs, done by honest to goodness r&b groups, were better than later, white bread versions.

@raedoren6721

3y↑5

Whoa I love the Beatles but this original version is SO much better

@thomasmelchiorre4860

@Ronald Cammarata So true

@wandilemtambo9962

2y↑4

@Ronald Cammarata But the Beatles Version was a lot more raw and energetic, hardly what I'd describe as White Bread.

@ClassicTVMan1981X

2y↑3

Ringo Starr turned in his first lead vocal there, too.

@UltraLlama

8y↑18

11.22.63 :)

@anewbugmusic

3y↑3

Original is always best!

@angel-xw1sj

10y↑4

Shirelles all the way! :)

@auletjohnast03638

5y↑5

I like Pete Best and his group 'The Pete Best Combo'' version better in 1965.

@downtoearth13

Brill Building Shirelles the best!!

@HoldenMckinney-zx4io

38w

I love the beginning

@darthvader9249

ringo was the perfect voice for this cover. could i see paul or john singing it? sure. but ringo just feels right

@ronaldcammarata3422

3y↑1

This is real R&B, not an imitation.

@user-ic6cx1st2j

34w↑2

Much better than The Beatles' version.

@user-kj1pq6zh3x

24w

Of course it is, cause it's an original, originals are always better

@user-ic6cx1st2j

24w↑1

@@user-kj1pq6zh3x I thought the same.

@PC4USE1

Although this a great song and great performance,Ringo made it his own.

@marioriospinot

9y↑1

Nice.

@SuperDfinch

11y↑2

How much better the Beatles wold have been with a driving sax player like this one.

@ronaldcammarata3422

Or with real r&b singers.

@lunarman29

11y↑2

Then to drive the point in, he dangled the nearest one he could find out an open window with a smile on his face.

@diogo_barros

4y↑8

Better than Beatles' version. 😄

@MrIke97

4y↑11

I prefer the beatles version

@diogo_barros

3y↑1

😆👍

@wayneelliott7011

43w

By a Million Miles.

@carlosarturosousagarridole9361

Esta versión original es mucho mejor que aquella que los Beatles grabaron con Ringo en la voz principal para su álbum debut, el Please, Please Me...

@bennyjazzful

11y↑1

I agree 100%

@bummblebeesinacanwow4769

9y↑11

The Beatles made everything they touch better.

@jeffmyers2792

9y↑1

+Joel Barr Isn't it interesting how they were able to do that? It's only because they were G.R.E.A.T.

@mrmurph5046

7y↑3

"Please Mister Postman", "Chains", all the Larry Williams' songs.....the Beatles made them their own.

@jizznwank4506

Sounded shitty when they touched house of the rising sun

@ronaldcammarata3422

5y↑2

The original r&b songs, this one, Anna, Please Mr Postman, etc, were definitely better by the original r&b groups. Much more soul, much less white bread. But white people prefered white singers for some reason.

@dollydaydreamful

Ugh I don't thinks so..Stateside bands were better than brit bands and I am a brit but they just couldn't compare with american bands and groups Except the stones who are still rockin

3 More Replies...

@thisisaspa

look who came making a cover

@1populist

12y↑7

This version is superior to the Beatles

@sylvainpaquette6485

6y↑1

Hahahaha

@dollydaydreamful

I second that.. The beatles ugh couldn't stand them at all...Stones were better!!

@elitespeak1364

5y↑1

Diane Lusk Haha I feel bad for you, The Beatles were and always will be great, the Rolling Stones aren't comparable to the Beatles, you're comparing Chalk and Cheese

@wayneelliott7011

43w

@@dollydaydreamful And The Kinks were even better.

@regionvoices6607

Longshoreman brought 45s over from the US This is where the kids from England learned about Rock & Roll Motown and others Buddy Holly The Beatles did Boys and Money along with Baby it's you and Smoky Robinsons hit You really got a hold on me They just bluesed it up and Viola

@blazearatorvideoclips

2y↑3

Young Sheldon

@rporta

3y↑1

interesting that the Beatles added the "bam bam shubap" singing in the chorus

@soulsmischief2626

5y↑5

how can this only be a b side?

@Moody__Mango

4y↑2

Which british Invasion band covered a song by the shirelles?

That one friends episode, season 10 episode 6

@kirikiri1859

4y↑17

everybody is here because of the Beatles and I'm here because of young sheldon

@solderist

bop chuwap, bop bop chuwap

@robertocordova2110

MERSEYBEAT is the name for a whitey-english-guitar version to Black "Girl Group" Beat from USA . At the same way like 50s Rock n Roll music only was a different name for Jump Blues/R&B.

@richardmohr9428

1y↑1

Anyone remember the Beatles covering this on their Vee-Jay album?

@richardmohr9428

I see now that some did.

@decembrss

4y↑2

0:06

@zapdunga12

B side of Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow

@PerStavnsbo

Must be the yeah yeahs 😂

@ObviousToday

6y↑1

Which girl singing main part?

@samadams5299

11y

You sir are hilarious!!!

@pickletickler1026

5y↑1

Whomst

@JamesTKirkCobain

11y↑9

Michael Jackson sang this but he added "little" in front of "boys"

@diogo_barros

Huahuahuahua 😂

@adrianyupanqui4182

Alguien viene por radio beatles

@nunzio1747

10y↑12

Beatles made it their song

@griffin324

6y↑3

am i the only one thinks this kind of sounds like what'd i say?

@dollydaydreamful

It does sound a bit like What I'd say lol

@dang2443

Well tell us what you'd say and we will let you know

@trukeesey8715

2y↑1

Many songs sound that way, you've just never heard of them. Try singin "Boys" along with this (except repeat the beginnin twice) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvsYRAc-BWA

@clintonffthanos

Hey, where's Ringo?

@derrickvanier9194

11y↑1

ur funny

@CHERYLRGAY

4y↑2

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2020.. WHEN MISSY COOPER WAS BEATING UP THAT BOY😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃

@BooTwoBoo

Missy cooper you stop beating up that boy

@SeanGirvan320

1y↑1

Anyone else here from young sheldon? 🤣

@Vinyl_guy

who came here from the 1 chapter challenge in beatles rockband

@SeanGirvan320

1y↑1

I'm here from young sheldon

@vernonchristianmarquez5664

5y↑5

The Beatles is the best

@PaulJoseph

Beatles cop the same basic arrangement but the only significant difference is that the Beatles sound more black!

@winyguy

9y↑2

The Shirelles Version Of "Boys" Did Not Hit The Billboard Hot 100 Chart.

@ebf1957

+Raymond Malcuit Jr. I like it. Has a jazzy feel to it.

@oluwasolaifasade6701

+Raymond Malcuit Jr. That's because it wasn't promoted. It was the B side of another recording. But it was played heavily at parties in the Hood.

@drbryant23

It was the B-Side of "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", one of the greatest songs of that era.

@winyguy

I Did Not Know That, Thanks For The Information.

@mechanic9166

Right! It took a while to realise this when selecting tunes on the jukebox back in the '60s. Once we realised, this side often got the most plays!

2 More Replies...

@donaldrocks101103

10y↑14

The Beatles version Is way better!

@omepeet2006

7y↑1

Apples are way better than oranges!

@ronaldcammarata3422

@omepeet2006 Nothing (nothing) beats the original r&b versions.

@96billy96

12y↑2

The beatles is the best

@dusiolek6

5y↑2

Christ, what has happened to black musicians over the years...

@CCDaDon15

4y↑1

Excuse you?

@joebob2572

It’s called a drum machine or now today it’s a protool program.

@littlemissblackdress7587

3y↑1

The Beatles are far superior.

@zakbailey580

9y↑9

The Beatles do it so much better. This version sucks.

@mrmurph5046

7y↑14

Grow up. This hardly "sucks". This leans more R & B than R & R - and both succeed beautifully.
Stop being such a dimwitted twerp.

@ronaldcammarata3422

5y↑2

@Mr Murph For some reason, most white people just don't get real r&b, so they prefer the later white covers. Too bad. These original versions had much more soul.

@dollydaydreamful

5y↑1

you need a hearing aid bud, Shirelles were way better

@wayneelliott7011

43w

@zakbailey580 Your comment sucks.

@mrxmry9443

11y↑1

NEVER!! The Beatles improved it and stopped it from sounding girly.

@ronaldcammarata3422

5y↑4

So you agree, they ruined a great song.

@dollydaydreamful

5y↑4

The Beatles yuk version..Best one is Shirelles

@CCDaDon15

Imagine thinking a song about liking men sounding "girly" is a bad thing.

@jstrawse

It is a girly song Dude Ringo should of sang "GIRLS"

@AllBobsAllTheTime

7y↑4

The Beatles kind of butchered this one ...

@sylvainpaquette6485

6y↑3

fuck off

@dollydaydreamful

yep they sure did..total crap

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