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The Smithereens — A Girl Like You
Album: 11
Avg rating:
6.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 509









Released: 1989
Length: 4:25
Plays (last 30 days): 0
I used to travel in the shadows
And I never found the nerve to try to walk up to you
But now I am a man and I know that there's no time to waste
There's too much to lose
Girl you say anything at all, and you know that you can call
And I'll be right there for you
First love, heartbreak, tough luck, big mistake
What else can you do

I'll say anything you want to hear
I'll see everything through
I'll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you

People talk and people stare, tell them I don't really care
This is the place I should be
And if they think it's really strange for a girl like you
To be in love with someone like me
I wanna tell them all to go to hell
That we're doing very well without them you see
That's just the way it is and they will see
I am yours and you are mine the way it should be

I'll say anything you want to hear
I'll see everything through
I'll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you, a girl like you, a girl like you, oh yeah!

Yeah!

Now if I seem a little wild, there's no holding back
I'm trying to get a message to you
I won't take anything from anyone
I won't walk and I won't run, I believe in you
London, Washington, anywhere you are I'll run
Together we'll be
Inside, outside, got my pride
I won't let him take you from me

I'll say anything you want to hear
I'll see everything through
I'll do anything I have to do
Just to win the love of a girl like you, a girl like you, a girl like you, a girl like you, a girl like you, a girl like you, oh yeah

I'll say anything (I'll say anything)
I'll take anything (I'll take anything)
I'll say anything, almost anything except goodbye

I'll say anything (I'll say anything)
I'll take anything (I'll take anything)
I'll say anything, almost anything except goodbye
Comments (96)add comment
LOVE IT..
 ick wrote:
I just like 'em... and that's that.
 
Me, too.

 alagarts wrote:
Woooooo!    Heard a long time back, don't know if true for sure but this was supposed to be for the John Cusack "Say Anything" movie that came out in 1989 as well.     Sure makes sense from the lyrics but don't think was in the movie...
 
Thank goodness it wasn't on the soundtrack.  Great soundtrack...crappy song

Woooooo!    Heard a long time back, don't know if true for sure but this was supposed to be for the John Cusack "Say Anything" movie that came out in 1989 as well.     Sure makes sense from the lyrics but don't think was in the movie...

Boooooring.  Snooze.  Yuck.  After all these years, I still can't stand the smithereens. take 'em off Bill
 bokey wrote:
This is what REM could have been like if they had an average or better singer .
 

The average REM-song is far more interesting than this cliche rocksong. 
Thought it was Robert Palmer.
MY Sha-rona!
ick wrote:
I just like 'em... and that's that.

Right on! And in the end, that's all that matters!


have to admit I've always had a bit of a soft spot for 'em (I have at least one album of theirs I'm sure).
 I'm not going to argue with anyone who says it's cheesewheel though.

Always loved this groove.
 tim_ontario wrote:
>> What a hollow and empty piece of 90's pop crap.

80s actually
 
Released October 18, 1989.  So you are correct, it did spend 2 months in existence during the 80's.

great jam!

Cowboy
great guitar line - and vocals/sentiment an awesome topper!
Pat Dinizio signed a cd for me, shortly before my move to Wyoming. He is an exceptionally nice fellow.
 ick wrote:
I just like 'em... and that's that.
 
Yep. 'nuff said.

I just like 'em... and that's that.
 passsion8 wrote:
Play Concrete Blonde next.... C'mon. Do it.
 
{#Lol}

chair dancing!
Tipsy.......party.....Dancin'......Awesome!
CafeRacer wrote:
Misterfixit wrote:
hoo, sue, moo, due, do, do-do, foo, foo-foo, boo, ewwwww
poo
healyf52 wrote:
Love the drums on this one..
nice rockin guitar solo too!
johnleesandiego wrote:
Aren't these guys from Jersey? So much great rock comes from Jersey....
Pat lives in my town. I've never bumped into him though.
Phil Collins in the song Against All Odds rhymes "with yooo" and "ooo ooo" and you cant do that. No way.
This is fun, and confounds expectations - it starts off like grunge or even standard heavy metal and you half-expect lyrics about devil worship or defiling virgins or biting the heads off hamsters, then you get a sweet song about innocent lurve. Very nice :). 7 from the Nottingham jury, with the potential for growth.
Misterfixit wrote:
hoo, sue, moo, due, do, do-do, foo, foo-foo, boo, ewwwww
didgeridoo Timbuktu sacre bleu Kalamazoo ingenue this is something all day I could do
Cool. Let's hear some Blood and Roses!
Misterfixit wrote:
hoo, sue, moo, due, do, do-do, foo, foo-foo, boo, ewwwww
poo
HA, have not heard this for a long time. I have 11, the album which this was originally on. Awesome!
papaman wrote:
Words that ryhme with you: two, flue, true, blue, clue,... try using them next time.
hoo, sue, moo, due, do, do-do, foo, foo-foo, boo, ewwwww
shakitten wrote:
We cornered Pat Dinizio and got to shake his hand...very nice and funny guy. One of the best memories of my youth, too.
Had to second this one. Saw him play a solo acoustic thing at the Sapphire in Orlando several years back and we ended up going to a record shop with him before the show. Supremely nice guy.
I have heard this before, but assumed it was a 70's arena rock band. This is a catchy tune, but it's parody. Isn't it?
Still waiting for the next release from these guys??
Words that ryhme with you: two, flue, true, blue, clue,... try using them next time.
bokey wrote:
This is what REM could have been like if they had an average or better singer .
Hmm. That's really the main thing I dislike about the Smithereens. Like them though, especially their hooks.
Pleasant memories with this band. Back in '88, '89...I went to school in New Haven, CT, and they were palying at the local dive, Toad's Place. It was prior to the show, and my friend Chrissy and I were hanging out downtown talking to another friend via payphone. When we looked up, four guys in black walked into the Store 24 across the street....hell, we beat it over there and watched the guys buy various items like toothpaste, etc. Kinda goofy now, but big at the time for 19 year old groupies. We cornered Pat Dinizio and got to shake his hand...very nice and funny guy. One of the best memories of my youth, too.
These guys are still very much alive and well. Two shows tomorrow night in Sellersville, PA. Celebrated their 27th anniversary this year with the release of "Meet The Smithereens" - an authentic and heartfelt 're-imagining' of the original 1964 "Meet The Beatles" who were and continue to be profound influences on all. Highly recommended.
Xeric wrote:
Bad. Babbadbadbadbad. Vapid. Boring. Sucko-freakin'-barfo defined.
Let's not mince words, tell us how you really feel!
fretman wrote: Ever wonder why "smithereens" is plural always? No one ever mentions "a smithereen". Notwithstanding, these guys rock. darrell711 wrote:
kinda like "blown to bits"
I once saw an adult smither & it's offsring - a smithereen
This is an excellent "best of" CD. Have had it in the car for the past week or so and its pretty much solid from start to finish.
Love the drums on this one..
Rockin good!
fretman wrote:
Ever wonder why "smithereens" is plural always? No one ever mentions "a smithereen". Notwithstanding, these guys rock.
kinda like "blown to bits"
wally42 wrote:
Simple, Pure, Unfettered Rock 'n Roll. Love it. Saw these guys open for Loe Reed. Awesome!
Gotta agree. Always liked this band (especially Green Thoughts and 11), loved some of their songs, but for a live show, they blew the roof off the place when I saw them (Warfield Theater, SF, 1991).
Ever wonder why "smithereens" is plural always? No one ever mentions "a smithereen". Notwithstanding, these guys rock.
A girl like me says its really great to hear the Smithereen's on RP
Play Concrete Blonde next.... C'mon. Do it.
Solid, kick ass, rock and roll band. They're like the greatest, simple bar band ever.
This is what REM could have been like if they had an average or better singer .
lily34 wrote:
love this band!
Ditto Simple, Pure, Unfettered Rock 'n Roll. Love it. Saw these guys open for Loe Reed. Awesome!
love this band!
Not Blood and Roses for Halloween? I suppose this is suitably stalkerish!
Tarquin wrote:
I'm such a dope. There's that handy Wikipedia link on the song page. A couple clicks later and sure enough, Belinda Carlisle is credited on the album.
Don't trust anything you read on Wrongapedia. According to the album's liner notes, the backup vocals on this song are courtesy of Maria Vidal. Belinda Carlisle did sing on "Blue Period", a different song from the album 11, but that's definitely not her on this song. I hope that answers your question. I look forward to the vast majority of RP listeners not bothering to read this and posting comments like "Isn't that Belinda Carlisle?"
Tarquin wrote:
I could look it up, but if memory serves me correctly, that's Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's on the backing vocals.
I'm such a dope. There's that handy Wikipedia link on the song page. A couple clicks later and sure enough, Belinda Carlisle is credited on the album.
johnleesandiego wrote:
Aren't these guys from Jersey? So much great rock comes from Jersey....
They are. Pat Dinizio, the lead singer, ran for Governor there too. Or for the Senate, I forget now.
We did it too back in the eighties but I loved doing this tune (I play bass) but then I got to do the chick's backup vocals Thistle wrote:
My band covered this once or twice. Man is it boring to play. I would much rather listen to it.
AphidA wrote:
Still can't believe that's a dude singing those falsetto harmonies.
I could look it up, but if memory serves me correctly, that's Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's on the backing vocals.
Bad. Babbadbadbadbad. Vapid. Boring. Sucko-freakin'-barfo defined.
jbtidwell wrote:
The Smithereens - A Girl Like You Belly - Dusted Matt Pond PA - Last Song Trail of Dead - Let It Dive Great Friday Afternoon rock set! -- everyone is listening from my cube
Ditto
My band covered this once or twice. Man is it boring to play. I would much rather listen to it.
Oh I LOVE this song!
Aren't these guys from Jersey? So much great rock comes from Jersey....
Still can't believe that's a dude singing those falsetto harmonies.
Gaylord_Meatface wrote:
No kidding eh, this one creeped out of the vault. Good to hear. I think I have this on tape somewhere, I believe it was on the album '11'. Anyone know for sure?
That would be the one. This use to be a regular on my car tape player (pre-CD's).
It's like 80's hair rock without the hair. Which makes it JUST ROCK.
plutodazed wrote:
Great groove from my college days.
No kidding eh, this one creeped out of the vault. Good to hear. I think I have this on tape somewhere, I believe it was on the album '11'. Anyone know for sure?
The Smithereens - A Girl Like You Belly - Dusted Matt Pond PA - Last Song Trail of Dead - Let It Dive Great Friday Afternoon rock set! -- everyone is listening from my cube
macz wrote:
Good good good!
Agreed. Excellent Friday afternoon tune.
Just saw these guys 2 weeks ago. That's right. Weeks. Still rock. Nice bridge between BritPop and Facemeltin Rock. F-U-N. (burp)
Good good good!
Girl, you really got me now, you really got me goin...
newwavegurly wrote:
The Smithereens always rope me in with their base lines. Glad to hear this in rotation.
Yeah love this, and love your location(see location of newwavegurly below)...Jane...stop this crazy thing!
Such a totally rockin' song!
Great groove from my college days.
This is the way guitar rock should sound.
MrGreg wrote:
What a hollow and empty piece of 90's pop crap.
80s actually
What a hollow and empty piece of 90's pop crap.
Dotman wrote:
dot saw the smithereens. wanting to hear blood and roses. instead the singer circused the guitar player into the "beer trick". junk band. dot.
B-N-R is a Rrrrawkin' tune! *good to see the dot back in form...long time no see.*
Dotman wrote:
dot saw the smithereens. wanting to hear blood and roses. instead the singer circused the guitar player into the "beer trick". junk band. dot.
Looks like "Physics Genius" has a new friend....
have good, get give babyarm
dot saw the smithereens. wanting to hear blood and roses. instead the singer circused the guitar player into the "beer trick". junk band. dot.
Just about anything by the Smithereens hooks me immediately. They should have been bigger...much bigger.
What an amazing band.
newwavegurly wrote:
The Smithereens always rope me in with their base lines. Glad to hear this in rotation.
Yup! That is so true.
The Smithereens always rope me in with their bass lines. Glad to hear this in rotation.

I actually won the favor of "A Girl Like You" when I played this song for her in high school.....OH The Memories this brings back! :sunny.gif:
Always liked The Smithereens. BTW, That's Belinda Carlisle of the Go-Go's on backing vocals, I believe. And I voted for Pat DiNizio when he independently ran for the US Senate.
scooz wrote:
Saw the Smithereens at a small bar in Detroit back in the 80's and it is a memory that always brings a smile to my face :)
I was a big fan at the time - especially "Green Thoughts"! And definitely a GREAT live show! Some of their songs still sound great, while some haven't aged quite as well. Pat DeNizio is a smart guy, really into art and philosophy as I recall, which is funny when you consider how simple and basic some of his lyrics are. ("Girl in Room 12" comes to mind).
Classic guilty pleasure. Hard to call it a great song and yet I can never resist it. Kelli's right, ya gotta turn it up :nodhead:
Smokin' tune, great band - very underated. I wish RP would rock out a little more often.
Saw the Smithereens at a small bar in Detroit back in the 80's and it is a memory that always brings a smile to my face :)
remember loving those smithereen guys in college. this song was a "turn that up!' tune for sure.