Young girl, get out of my mind/
My love for you is way out of line/
Better run girl.

In my opinion, not only does “Young Girl” by Gary Puckett and The Union Gap sound great, this song is one of the most honest looks into the psyche of a man. Puckett tells a girl that she’s much too young for him and she needs to stay away from him cause his thoughts are way out of line. He is not certain he can control himself around this beautiful younger woman. So, he pleads with her to leave and get out of his mind before he does something stupid. Because he knows he is not to be trusted.

Puckett sings the song in a bluesy tone: he is sad at the circumstances he finds himself in. Here this young woman is giving him looks. “Why can’t she be older?” “Where was she when I was that age?” These counterproductive thoughts run through his head.

Ultimately, he is honest with the girl and tells her to leave. He’s no good for her, and only bad things can come if she stays. But it tears at his heart to have to be in this position. But he is a moral man, and she is underage, so there is nothing he can do. Impure thoughts don’t make someone immoral, immoral actions do. And he avoids them.

Young Girl Lyrics

Young girl, get out of my mind,
My love for you is way out of line.
Better run girl,
You’re much too young girl.

With all the charms of a woman,
You’ve kept the secret of your youth.
You led me to believe you’re old enough
To give me love.
And now it hurts to know the truth.

Young girl, get out of my mind,
My love for you is way out of line.
Better run girl,
You’re much too young girl.

Beneath your perfume and your make-up.
You’re just a baby in disguise.
And though you know that it’s wrong to be
Alone with me,
That come-on look is in your eyes.

Young girl, get out my mind.
My love for you is way out of line.
Better run girl,
You’re much too young girl.

So hurry home to your mama.
I’m sure she wonders where you are.
Get out of here before I have the time
To change my mind,
‘Cause I’m afraid we’ll go too far.

Young girl, get out my mind.
My love for you is way out of line.
Better run girl,
You’re much too young girl.

written by jerry fuller

Oh girl, you really got me now/
You got me so I can’t sleep at night.

The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” came out in 1964. At the time, the only genre of music that was producing great lyrics was folk and blues. These lyrics slightly advanced the basic rock themes of The Beatles and The Stones of that time. The Beatles were still playing “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. When The Kinks talked about a girl that had him so messed up he couldn’t sleep at night, that was quite a bit more risqué. Within the next two years rock lyrics would explode with themes of every variety.

But the real advancement from The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” isn’t in the lyrics it is in the sound. Listen to the guitar. The Kinks are playing power chords with slight distortion coupled with raw vocals. Heavy metal would adopt this technique almost exclusively. I believe this is the first time anything like this had been done. This would also influence punk music. This list isn’t about influence: this is a genuinely great song.

Check out the guitar solo, it has to be top 10 all-time guitar solo. It comes out of nowhere and just sounds like they are trying to jam two solos worth of music into one song…and it works amazingly. All you can think is “what did I just hear”? And play it back and listen again.

You Really Got Me Lyrics

Girl, you really got me goin’
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’ now
Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’ now
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me

See, don’t ever set me free
I always want to be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’ now
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
Oh no

See, don’t ever set me free
I always want to be by your side
Girl, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

Yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I don’t know what I’m doin’ now
Oh yeah, you really got me now
You got me so I can’t sleep at night

You really got me
You really got me
You really got me
written by Ray Davies

To feel you all around me/
And to take your hand/
Along the sand.
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind.

Donovan’s “Catch the Wind” is a very accessible folk song: if you are trying to introduce someone to folk music show them this song. If they don’t like it, they might never get it. “Catch the Wind” has all the elements of a great folk song, plus one of the more universal themes: love. Perhaps infatuation is a better description. Donovan plays the song with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica and creates a great sound with a lovely melody.

The sentiment Donovan expresses in the song is great too: he sees a girl he is infatuated with and he wants to be with her, but he doesn’t know where to start. To him, it’s as difficult as trying to catch the wind. Phrases like that come along once in a lifetime.

Note his guitar picking in “Catch the Wind”. It is so clean. Every plucked note is distinct and strong. If you are wondering how that sound is achieved, it is with two guitars. You can play the song with one, but he uses a second guitar to accentuate the base notes of the chords.

Catch The Wind Lyrics

In the chilly hours and minutes
Of uncertainty
I want to be
In the warm hold of your loving mind

To feel you all around me
And to take your hand
Along the sand
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind

When sundown pales the sky
I want to hide a while
Behind your smile
And everywhere I’d look, your eyes I’d find

For me to love you now
Would be the sweetest thing
T’would make me sing
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind

Diddy di dee dee diddy diddy
Diddy diddy diddy dee dee dee

When rain has hung the leaves with tears
I want you near to kill my fears
To help me to leave all my blues behind

For standin’ in your heart
Is where I want to be
And long to be
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind
Ah, but I may as well try and catch the wind