When She Was My Girl

The Four Tops

About When She Was My Girl

"When She Was My Girl" is a 1981 single released by American vocal group the Four Tops. The song, their first release off Casablanca Records, helped to return the former signature Motown act to the American pop Top 40 charts, peaking at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 10 on the Cashbox chart, and reaching number one on the R&B charts. Internationally, it reached number nine in Canada, number six in New Zealand, and also became their first top ten hit in the UK in nine years, reaching number three. Their top 40 showing made the group one of the few acts to have top 40 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in three consecutive decades. "When She Was My Girl" was a Grammy nominee for best R&B song. 


Year:
1999
5:57
99 
#1

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

She used to be 
Everything to me
When she was my girl
When she was my girl

I held her near
Told her how much I cared
When she was my girl
When she was my girl

When she was my girl
There was laughter and loving in my world
Everyday
When she was my girl
Oh what joy she would bring
Now I've lost everything
She's gone, gone, gone gone, gone!

I spend the night 
Dreaming how she used to be
When she was my girl
When she was my girl

When she was my girl
There was laughter and loving in my world
Yes it was
'Cause she was my girl
Oh what joy she would bring
Now I've lost everything
She's gone, the big legged girl is gone

She used to be
Everything to me
When she was my girl, yeah
My girl

She, she's my girl
She's so foxy baby and this girl belongs to me
She's my girl
When we walk down the street
I would tell everyone we meet
This is my girl
She, she was my girl

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


The Four Tops

The Four Tops are a vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan, USA, who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes. more »

6 fans

Written by: LAWRENCE B. GOTTLIEB, MARC BLATTE

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"When She Was My Girl" falls under the genre "R&B" and "Soul". It perfectly exemplifies The Four Tops' vocal harmony style which made them a significant player in the Motown music revolution.
Chart Success
The song peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart in 1981. It also made it to number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, thereby gaining significant commercial success.
International Recognition
"When She Was My Girl" didn't just find success in the U.S. charts. It reached inside the top 10 in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number 3, showcasing The Four Tops' international appeal.
Album Association
The song is associated with the "Tonight!" album, released in 1981, marking the return of the Four Tops to the Motown label.
Noteworthy Comeback
"When She Was My Girl" marked a significant comeback for The Four Tops. It was their first top 20 hit in the U.S. in over a decade and their biggest hit since 1968.
Song Writers
"When She Was My Girl" was written by renowned songwriters Larry Gottlieb and Marc Blatte, which added to the song's distinct appeal.
Grammy Recognition
The Four Tops' performance of the song at the Grammy Awards in 1982 was a significant highlight of their career, further piquing interest around the song.
Evergreen Appeal
Even decades after its release, "When She Was My Girl" remains a popular choice in the R&B/Soul genre and continues to be played on relevant radio stations and music platforms around the world.
Contribution to Diskography
This song is one of the standouts in The Four Tops' extensive discography, displaying the uniquely emotive and harmonic qualities characteristic of their music.
Music Video
The music video for "When She Was My Girl" further elevating it in the public eye. It was a high-rotation video on the newly minted MTV, reaching new audiences who were quick to embrace the R&B group.

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