The Hollies — Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)
Album: Distant LightAvg rating:
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Length: 3:14
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Saturday night I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sittin' 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 sing a song
A pair of 45's 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 heading to the table
Like a tall walking big black cat
When Charlie said I hope that you're able boy
'Cause I'm telling you she knows where it's at
Then suddenly we heard the sirens
And everybody started to run
A-jumping out of doors and tables
When I heard somebody shootin' a gun
Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And a-she was a-holding my right
Well I told her don't get scared
'Cause you're gonna be spared
I've gotta be forgivin' if I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5'9 beautiful tall
Yeah, with just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all
Had it all
Working for the FBI
Sittin' 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 sing a song
A pair of 45's 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 heading to the table
Like a tall walking big black cat
When Charlie said I hope that you're able boy
'Cause I'm telling you she knows where it's at
Then suddenly we heard the sirens
And everybody started to run
A-jumping out of doors and tables
When I heard somebody shootin' a gun
Well the DA was pumping my left hand
And a-she was a-holding my right
Well I told her don't get scared
'Cause you're gonna be spared
I've gotta be forgivin' if I wanna spend my living
With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5'9 beautiful tall
Yeah, with just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all
Had it all
Had it all
Comments (26)add comment
Always loved this song - probably knew less than 10% of the lyrics
always loved this song! (psd gift thank you, yoo-hoo!!! : )
ernieleaf wrote:
DITTO
The radio station where I used to live played this song so often that it became a punchline among my friends my family—every time I hear it again I groan. The sort of song I come to Radio Paradise to avoid.
DITTO
Best songs for ever
Any relation to Denis?
Blackjack wrote:
Me too.
I always felt a little bad for the Hollies, with respect to this song. It's a bonafied classic, but most casual music listeners think it's Creedence. Credit where credit is due: 
Me too.
The radio station where I used to live played this song so often that it became a punchline among my friends my family--every time I hear it again I groan. The sort of song I come to Radio Paradise to avoid.
will always love this one : )
Can't believe this is the only Hollies on RP. Great song from the post-Nash group
From the period before Graham Nash left how about: Bus Stop, Carrie Anne, Stop, Stop Stop, On a Carousel and of course Graham's great King Midas in Reverse.
From the later group He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, The Air That I Breathe
From the period before Graham Nash left how about: Bus Stop, Carrie Anne, Stop, Stop Stop, On a Carousel and of course Graham's great King Midas in Reverse.
From the later group He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, The Air That I Breathe
calypsus_1 wrote:
Cool photo, but Graham Nash was long-gone from the band by the time this tune was released. I always liked the guitar sound in this tune.
Cool photo, but Graham Nash was long-gone from the band by the time this tune was released. I always liked the guitar sound in this tune.
Always fun memories with this one; Junior High; must have been '76 or 7. A new SkateLand opened in the neighborhood, and we were in there skating almost every night, and even though this song was played every hour or so, it never failed to get us all rocking and rolling!
"Lonely Boy" followed by "Long Cool Woman"--lovely bit of sequencing there, Bill.
The Hollies - "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress" Live (1972):
"It was released soon after Allan Clarke, who was featured on lead guitar as well as lead vocal had left the group, from their album "Distant Light" (1970). As the group had just left EMI/Parlophone and signed with Polydor, they did not promote the song. However it became a No. 2 hit in the United States, their greatest ever singles success there. It was inspired and in the style of the rock and roll group Creedence Clearwater Revival, and on being reactivated by EMI in Britain a few months later, it reached No. 32.
The song is notable in that it features Clarke playing rhythm guitar, something he rarely did (Clarke came up with the song's signature guitar rhythm that opens the song)."
The Hollies - (Rare) Live:
Look through any window performed live by the Hollies on US TV. The host is Frankie Avalon. Notice also Graham Nash in the line-up - prior to Crosby Stills, Nash and Young.
Thanks to my mate Chris who loaned me this film and now I am loaning it to you!
Who can forget mr Clarke's distinct voice also! Good stuff.. deeply missed today! Long live Rockn' 60's!"
"Just saw Graham Nash with Crosby & Stills in concert. He looks& sounds brilliant for 67 !!!! " squirrel1612
Leslie wrote:
GEEZ I loved this song as a kid and still love it.
Ab-so-lutely! How can you not smile at those immortal lyrics which start out this song, "Saturday night, I was downtown. Workin' for the FBI..."
How about some Hollies B-sides or other tracks that arenât overplayed on oldies stations?
This is a strange selection for Radio Paradise since it's played very often on a local classic rock station.
By the way, I can't listen to this song without picturing seals and walruses playing plastic guitars ever since I saw this happen at sea World as a kid to this song.
Blackjack wrote:
I always felt a little bad for the Hollies, with respect to this song. It's a bonafied classic, but most casual music listeners think it's Creedence.
Credit where credit is due:
It's clearly a tip of the hat to CCR, but Allan Clarke can't come close to that Fogerty growl. This is just another example of British bands "honoring" American music and Americans just eat it up. 'S okay with me tho. 10.
makes me feel like riding or driving with full blast music on...
GEEZ! Count me in as another ignoramus who didn't know this was the Hollies! I loved this song as a kid and still love it.
Blackjack wrote:
I always felt a little bad for the Hollies, with respect to this song. It's a bonafied classic, but most casual music listeners think it's Creedence.
Credit where credit is due:
Being mistaken for Creedence could be one of the greatest backhanded compliments ever given. 8)
As for being overplayed on oldies stations, then don't listen to oldies stations. I've never gotten tired of this song
Sorry guys...way, way, way too overplayed on yer regular oldies stations these days. How about a very underplayed, but cool Hollies song, I Can't Let Go. Now try that one on for size.
I always felt a little bad for the Hollies, with respect to this song. It's a bonafied classic, but most casual music listeners think it's Creedence.
Credit where credit is due: