The group had several hit singles in the early 1970s, including the socially conscious single "Message From A Black Man" in 1970 on A&I International, "Please Make The Love Go Away" also in 1970 but on Stang Records, and their biggest success "I’ll Erase Away Your Pain" in 1971. They performed with fellow Stang Records artists The Moments for the hit single "Girls" in 1974.
The Whatnauts' music has been sampled by numerous artists including their hit "I'll Erase Away Your Pain" in Kanye West's "Late" (2005); "Why Cant People Be Colors Too?" from 1974 sampled in "Oh My God" by A Tribe Called Quest feat. Busta Rhymes (1993); and "Help Is on the Way" from 1981 in both "Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)" by De La Soul (1991), "Act Like You Know" by Fat Larry's Band (1982), "Sex With You" by Heavy D & the Boyz (1994), "Greatest Day" by Beverley Knight (1998) and "Ain't Leavin Without You" by Jaheim (2010).
One of the most consistent R&B aggregations of the '70s, the Moments enjoyed a string of major hits throughout the decade. The Hackensack, NJ, trio introduced themselves and the Stang label with "Not on the Outside" in 1968, and topped the R&B charts in 1970 with the gold-plated "Love on a Two-Way Street," produced by Sylvia Robinson (one half of Mickey & Sylvia). Other major soul smashes by the Moments included "If I Didn't Care" and "All I Have" in 1970, "Sexy Mama" in 1973, and another number one R&B item, "Look at Me (I'm in Love)," in 1975. Members Harry Ray, Al Goodman, and William Brown changed their billing to Ray, Goodman & Brown in 1978 and topped the soul lists the next year with the slickly harmonized "Special Lady" on Polydor. The renamed trio remained potent soul hitmakers through the '80s. ~ Bill Dahl, Rovi
Girls
The Whatnauts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some skinny, some small
I got to get to know them all
Girls I like them fat, I like them tall
Some skinny, some small
I got to get to know them all
Love the things they show
Have to be where they go
Pretty girls the sunshine in the air
The perfume that they wear
Girls are everywhere
I like to be on an island
With five or six of them fine ones
With one to be in good looking
And one to do best cooking
Give me one with a lot of money
Give me two with a lots of honey
Give me three to do freaky things
Give me four or five more that like to swing
Superfine mighty fine
Sugar and spice and everything nice
I like to be a magician
Then I could start wishing
I'd take a magic wand and poof I'd have me fun
If the guys could see me they'd swear I was Houdini
Before they'd count from 1, 2, 3
I'd have ten girls sitting next to me
Superfine mighty fine
Sugar and spice and everything nice
I like to be a magician
Then I could start wishing
I'd take a magic wand and poof I'd have me fun
If the guys could see me they'd swear I was Houdini
Before they'd count from 1, 2, 3
I'd have ten girls sitting next to me
The Whatnauts' song "Girls" is a playful and lighthearted celebration of women. The lyrics exude a sense of excitement and anticipation towards the idea of getting to know different types of women. The singer expresses his attraction towards women of different shapes and sizes, including those who are fat or tall, skinny, or small. The repetition of the chorus, "Girls I like them fat, I like them tall, Some skinny, some small, I got to get to know them all" reinforces his admiration for the various forms of femininity.
The song further highlights the allure of women and their impact on men. The singer describes how girls love the things they know and the things they show. He wants to be wherever they go, as if their presence alone fills the air with sunshine and their fragrance. Girls, according to the singer, are everywhere, and he seems determined to experience the many different forms of their magic.
The addition of the line "give me three to do freaky things" adds a sexual connotation to the song's lyrics. It portrays the singer as someone who isn't just motivated by the intellectual or emotional aspects of a woman, but by their sexual desires as well. The reference to having women that "like to swing" only enhances that sexual connotation.
Overall, "Girls" encapsulates the male gaze towards women and how they are viewed as objects of sexual desire. While the lyrics may seem sexist and controversial, the song's joyous melody and catchy beat make it a fun tune to listen to.
Line by Line Meaning
Girls I like them fat, I like them tall
I am attracted to girls of different shapes and sizes.
Some skinny, some small
I like girls who are petite too.
I got to get to know them all
I want to get to know each of them personally.
Girls love the things they know
Girls value their knowledge and intelligence.
Love the things they show
Girls like to share their interests and passions.
Have to be where they go
I want to be with them wherever they go.
Pretty girls the sunshine in the air
Pretty girls bring joy and light to the world.
The perfume that they wear
Girls use perfume to express their personalities.
Girls are everywhere
Girls can be found all around us.
I like to be on an island
I imagine a paradise where I am surrounded by beautiful girls.
With five or six of them fine ones
I envision a specific number of girls to join me.
With one to be in good looking
I want a pretty girl to be by my side.
And one to do best cooking
I want a girl who can cook delicious food.
Give me one with a lot of money
I also want a rich girl in my paradise.
Give me two with a lots of honey
I want some sweet and affectionate girls too.
Give me three to do freaky things
I am interested in exploring my wild side with some adventurous girls.
Give me four or five more that like to swing
I also want some girls who are open-minded and non-monogamous.
Superfine mighty fine
Girls are incredibly attractive and desirable.
Sugar and spice and everything nice
Girls are sweet, charming, and full of positive qualities.
I like to be a magician
I wish to have magical powers.
Then I could start wishing
I would use my powers to fulfill my desires.
I'd take a magic wand and poof I'd have me fun
I would use magic to have fun with the girls.
If the guys could see me they'd swear I was Houdini
Other guys would be jealous of my magical abilities.
Before they'd count from 1, 2, 3
I am so skilled that I can make things happen in the blink of an eye.
I'd have ten girls sitting next to me
I could magically conjure up ten girls to be with me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: EDWARD THEODORE RILEY, LEON F. III SYLVERS, VENUS DODSON, ALBERT GOODMAN, WALTER MORRIS, HARRY RAY, MARKELL DEMONT RILEY, ANTWONE L. DICKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alangreen1203
I just love the atmosphere that this music brings back from an era when I was the happiest in my life. I'm now 62years old I could cry how this makes me feel
@HarryFlowerrs
You know what used to make me cry?
The fact that people hate The Moments and would gladly stomp on their heads and kill them purely and simply because they have a different colour skin!
Lynched,castrated,pulled apart by horses,all manner barbaric shit at the hands of the so called ‘Master Race’!
Over 400 years of persecution yet We produced sheer genius under extreme circumstances!
I’ll await the Clowns........🤡🤡🤡
@longboardwoddy
same feeling ! such a great time, but we have the memories !!!!!!
@elmaro1609
Yes you are right! I feel the same…
@traciverhulst9163
I am only a couple of years younger than you but I too remember this song and the memories like yesterday. So young and carefree.
@jackienuttall7549
Alan yes we had the best days ever to be young
@nickpatey6349
This came to my head in September 22. Probably haven't haven't heard it since the 70s. Now 62 and still love it
@ingridvlasveld5290
Me too👍
@dwayne4576
This song is almost 50yrs old and sounds excellent in 2023
@RomanAlexander1
One of my all time favourite songs ever. Huge hit in the UK.... Spring of 75. Wonderful stuff 👍.