The group gained some notoriety when a single from its first album, Blood and Roses, was included on the soundtrack for and as the theme song of the 1986 Albert Pyun movie Dangerously Close and the video got some moderately heavy rotation on MTV. The group spent some time in its initial semi-celebrity phase defending itself in Rolling Stone against thinly-veiled accusations of sounding too much like The Byrds and The Beatles, pointing out that its Marshall Amplifier-heavy live sound was closer to heavy metal than it was to The Beatles.
Along with a basic Eastern-coast roots-rock sound that owed much to the inspirations of DiNizio, including Buddy Holly, The Who, The Clash, Elvis Costello, and Nick Lowe, the Smithereens deployed a uniquely retro obsession with Mod, the late British Invasion pop of John's Children and The Move, and other artifacts of fifties and sixties culture that lent its music substance and style. The highest position a Smithereens album attained on the Billboard pop charts was in 1990, when 11 peaked at #41 on the strength of the single A Girl Like You (which hit #38). The group is still active and tours frequently, but went for seven years without releasing a new studio album, following God Save the Smithereens in 1999.
In January 2007, the band released a cover of the album Meet the Beatles titled Meet the Smithereens. Bassist Mike Mesaros does not appear on the album, replaced by Severo "The Thrilla" Jornacion . An album of original material was promised for later in the year, but Christmas with The Smithereens, released in October 2007, included only three original songs along with nine covers of Christmas songs.
Girl Like You
The Smithereens Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I never found the nerve to try and walk up to you
But now I am a man and I know that there's no time to waste
There's too much to lose
Girl, you say anything at all, and you know that you can call
And I'll be right there for you
First love, heartbreak, tough luck, big mistake
What else can you do
I'll say anything you want to hear
I'll see everything through
I'll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you
People talk and people stare, tell them I don't really care
This is the place I should be
And if they think it's really strange for a girl like you
To be in love with someone like me
I want to tell them all to go to hell
That we're doing very well without them you see
That's just the way it is and they will see
I am yours and you are mine, the way it should be
I'll say anything you want to hear
I'll see everything through
I'll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you
A girl like you, oh yeah
(Go!)
Now if I seem a little wild, there's no holding back
I'm trying to get a message to you
I won't take anything from anyone
I won't walk and I won't run, I believe in you
London, Washington, anywhere you are I'll run
Together we'll be
Inside, outside, got my pride
I won't let 'em take you from me
I'll say anything you want to hear
I'll see everything through
I'll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you
A girl like you, a girl like you
A girl like you, a girl like you, oh yeah
I'll say anything (I'll say anything)
I'll take anything (I'll take anything)
I'll say anything, almost anything
Except goodbye
I'll say anything (I'll say anything)
I'll take anything (I'll take anything)
I'll say anything, almost anything
Except goodbye
The lyrics to The Smithereens's song "Girl Like You" speak about a man who has grown and matured, finally ready to approach the girl he had been admiring from afar. He is willing to do whatever it takes to win her love, even if it means facing criticisms or judgment from others. The man declares his love and promises to be there for her through any rough patches. He is determined to show her that they belong together and won't let anything or anyone come between them. Overall, the message of the song is one of dedication and the triumph of love despite any external circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to travel in the shadows
I used to be shy and not confident enough to approach you
And I never found the nerve to try and walk up to you
I was always afraid of rejection and never had the courage to talk to you
But now I am a man and I know that there's no time to waste
I have grown up and realized that life is too short to waste time not pursuing what I want
There's too much to lose
I can't risk missing out on the opportunity to be with someone as amazing as you
Girl, you say anything at all, and you know that you can call
I will always be there for you and you can count on me to listen and help you with anything you need
And I'll be right there for you
I will always be by your side no matter what
First love, heartbreak, tough luck, big mistake
Relationships can be messy and difficult, but I am willing to face any challenge that comes our way
What else can you do
All we can do is try our best and hope for the best
I'll say anything you want to hear
I will do anything to make you happy and keep you by my side
I'll see everything through
I will support you and be there for you no matter what obstacles we face
I'll do anything I have to do
I am willing to make sacrifices and put in the work to make our relationship work
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you
I am determined to win your love and make you mine
People talk and people stare, tell them I don't really care
I don't care what other people think about us, as long as we are happy together
This is the place I should be
I feel like I belong with you and being with you makes me feel complete
And if they think it's really strange for a girl like you
Society may view our relationship as unusual because we may be seen as different from each other
To be in love with someone like me
They may not understand how someone as amazing as you could fall for someone like me
I want to tell them all to go to hell
I don't care about their judgement and I won't let anyone come between us
That we're doing very well without them you see
We are happy and in love, and don't need anyone's approval to validate our relationship
That's just the way it is and they will see
They will eventually realize that our love is real and that it doesn't matter what other people think
I am yours and you are mine, the way it should be
We belong together and we are meant to be together
Now if I seem a little wild, there's no holding back
I am passionate and devoted to you, and I won't hold anything back
I'm trying to get a message to you
I am trying to convey how much I love and care about you
I won't take anything from anyone
I won't let anyone come between us or interfere with our relationship
I won't walk and I won't run, I believe in you
I am committed to our relationship and believe in you and our love
London, Washington, anywhere you are I'll run
I will go anywhere to be with you and make our relationship work
Together we'll be
We are stronger together and will overcome any obstacles as a team
Inside, outside, got my pride
I am confident in our relationship and won't let anyone tear us apart
I won't let 'em take you from me
I will fight for our love and won't let anyone come between us
I'll take anything (I'll take anything)
I will do whatever it takes to make our relationship work, even if it means making sacrifices
I'll say anything, almost anything
I will always be honest and truthful with you, but I will never say goodbye
Except goodbye
I am committed to our relationship and will never give up on us
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: PAT DINIZIO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bocconom
So thankful for the internet because with the corporate driven draconic algorithms dictating the FM airwaves fantastic groups like The Smithereens would be lost forever.
@kathygrant5425
I must stand and applaud your description of radio formats these days. I was an old school dj and radio News director and, aside from a smattering of morning drive shows and live-assist programs, the magic of music and spontaneity have been sucked out of radio bu soulless ghouls
@bocconom
@@kathygrant5425 I really appreciate your response based upon your actual life work experience. I can no longer listen to FM radio. It is the same old, same old songs over and over and over.
@jackhana7374
I have no idea what you are saying…but being very old….I think you’re right…as we used to say in the 60s…right on!
@garycalvertii9491
Played way too rarely on FM radio. But listening to the right station, you can rarely.
@banjammy7367
Wha
@ig_foobar
In a lot of respects, this is the perfect rock single. The crunchy guitars, the memorable hook, the inoffensive lyrics, just the right beat.
@kurtmcclure1224
I like the way you broke that down. You’re exactly right
@twiff3rino28
Vacuum tubes are what you hear over the guitars
@YouthFreedomFighters
Listening to this in 2022, anybody else?