Z.Z Hill ( born Arziel Hill September 30, 1935, Naples, Texas — died April… Read Full Bio ↴Z.Z Hill ( born Arziel Hill September 30, 1935, Naples, Texas — died April 27, 1984, Dallas, Texas) was a popular charting southern blues singer and guitarist from the late 60's until his death in the mid 1980s. He made recordings released on a variety of labels, including Kent, M.H, Capricorn, Quinvy, Atlantic, Mankind, Hill, United Artists Columbia and later Malaco.

He started his career as a gospel singer touring Texas with The Spiritual Five in the 1950's but started gigging solo in Dallas in local R&B clubs with the bands of Big Bo Thomas and Frank Shelton. By the mid 60's he was recording soulful rock n roll with an emphasis on bluesy balladry. Z.Z Hill's style is somewhat reminiscent of other southern blues & soul singers like Percy Sledge, Bobby Bland and his biggest influence B.B King, which is supposedly where he got the idea to shorten his name to Z.Z.

He started hitting his commercial stride with early 70's hits including Chokin' Kind, Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes, and Faithful and True. While signed to Columbia, "Love Is So Good When You're Stealing It," spent 18 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart in the summer of 1977. Cheatin' In The Next Room was released in early 1982 and broke into the top 20 nationally, spending a total of 20 weeks on the charts.

His song Down Home Blues helped propel a 1982 album of the same name to stay on the Billboard soul album chart for nearly two years. Songs like "Someone Else Is Steppin In" and "Open House" have become R&B/Southern soul standards. During his career his songs were generally produced, arranged and/or provided by other talented writers and R&B legends including Lamont Dozier, Swamp Dogg, Dan Penn, Gary U.S Bonds, Denise LaSalle and Allen Toussaint.

Z. Z Hill's career was cut short when he died suddenly of a heart attack, after a road accident in 1984[ at the age of 48.

My Girl
Z.Z. Hill Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got so much honey the bees envy me

I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooh

I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
With my girl

I've even got the month of May
With my girl

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Z.Z. Hill's song "My Girl" express the deep love and affection the singer has for his girl. He describes how the presence of his girl fills his life with joy and makes him feel contented no matter the situation. He demonstrates how he is blessed to have her in his life and how her love has enriched his world. The first stanza, "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day, when it's cold outside I've got the month of May," emphasizes the happiness his girl brings him even when he's going through hard times. He boasts he has everything he needs to feel good because of her, which is communicated in the lyric, "I've got so much honey the bees envy me, I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees."

In the second stanza, he continues to highlight the things he has since he's met his girl, saying that he doesn't need wealth, fame, or material possessions because his girl's love is greater. He concludes the song repeating the first stanza and emphasizing his love, "I've got sunshine on a cloudy day, with my girl. I've even got the month of May, with my girl," indicating that she brings endless joy to his life.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
Even when things aren't going well, I'm happy because of my girl.

When it's cold outside I've got the month of May
Even when the weather is bad, I feel like it's spring because of my girl.

I guess you'd say
I suppose you could ask

What can make me feel this way?
What could possibly make me feel so happy?

My girl (my girl, my girl)
My significant other who means everything to me

Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)
I'm referring to the woman who makes me happy.

I've got so much honey the bees envy me
I have a lot of sweetness and joy in my life, which is enviable.

I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees
Even nature can't compare to the beauty and love I have in my life because of my girl.

Hey hey hey
A vocalization expressing excitement and joy

Ooh
A sound of pleasure or contentment

I don't need no money, fortune, or fame
I don't require wealth, riches, or fame to feel like I have everything I need in life.