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Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress Lyrics
Saturday night I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sitting in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high
Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doing wrong
Just about to call up the DA man
When I heard this woman singing a song
A pair of forty-fives made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise
She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5-9 beautiful tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
I saw her head up to the table
Just a tall walkin' big black cat
When Charlie said I hope that you're able, boy
Cuz I'm telling ya she knows where it's at
Well then suddenly we heard the sirens
And everybody started to run
Jumping under doors and tables
When I heard somebody shooting a gun
Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And she was holding my right
Well I told her, "Don't get scared
'Cause you're gonna be spared"
Well I'm gonna be forgiven
If I want to spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5-9 beautiful tall
With just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all, had it all, had it all...
BogFrog, it's set in the Prohibition era (1920's-30's) in the U.S. The singer is working undercover for the FBI at a speakeasy. He's about to call the District Attorney to blow the whistle on some illicit activity when he hears/sees a tall beautiful blonde woman in a black dress singing. After she finishes the song she heads toward his table. Just then the police raid the place (how they found out about it, when our hero never placed his call, and why he gets the credit from the D.A. for the successful bust, is not explained). No matter, our hero winds up with a medal and the girl. Kinda reminds me of that fantastic movie, L.A. Confidential (even if that took place in the 1950's) where Russell Crowe's hardboiled cop character ends up with Kim Bassinger.
@tigger2006 - Where does he say her hair was blonde?
@tigger2006 - Where does he say her hair was blonde?
Wanted to add, I don't think this song has any deeper meaning. Whoever wrote it probably just liked those old 20's-30's detective novels and movies where some hardboiled gumshoe solves a case and gets the girl. The song draws a picture and creates a certain atmosphere in a few broad strokes and leaves the listener to fill in the details according to his/her own perception of that era.
why hasnt anybody commented on this song, its amazing, it roxs my socks haha
Terrific song. The way Allan Clarke's voice trails off at the end of most lines give it such a distinct mood. They say they were imitating CCR, but this song sticks out in my mind as being unique and completely ground breaking.
Actually when I first heard this song, "CCR" instantly flashed into my mind. It's hard NOT to draw the parallel - it sounds very much like a CCR song.
Great song though - I thought it was some gumshoe-theme song too :-)
@mobileinfantry I’m pretty sure that was intentional.
@mobileinfantry I’m pretty sure that was intentional.
@mobileinfantry They intentionally tried to sound like CCR. The Hollys were struggling for a hit and tapped CCR’s style. Thanks to the Fab 4, CCR’d had more #2 hits than anyone in rock..
@mobileinfantry They intentionally tried to sound like CCR. The Hollys were struggling for a hit and tapped CCR’s style. Thanks to the Fab 4, CCR’d had more #2 hits than anyone in rock..
When he says 'A pair of 45s made me open my eyes', he isn't talking about guns.
I didn't see anyone had mentioned that.
I think it's easy to figure out what he is talking about, though...
@reciprocityx yes I'd say she was well endowed 🤣
@reciprocityx yes I'd say she was well endowed 🤣
@reciprocityx - Those lyrics surprised me. I could understand 38s. Back in the day, that was considered a big...um, caliber. But 45s? Unbelievable!
@reciprocityx - Those lyrics surprised me. I could understand 38s. Back in the day, that was considered a big...um, caliber. But 45s? Unbelievable!
Isn't it "Well, I gotta be forgiving if I wanna spend my living . . ."?
Besides CCR, there are echoes of Johnny Rivers and Duane Eddy in this song. One of the greatest opening riffs in rock and roll.
I can picture a black & white thirties film on prohibition - what a guitar sound - rumbles along
one the best songs ever, great guitar love the lyrics!