Meaningful songs #28 - THE CHI-LITES

This  is the twenty-eighth in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "Have You Seen Her?", released in 1971, is by a group called The Chi-Lites.

Hear the song here

Have You Seen Her? is a plaintive reflection by a man bereft of meaningful life without his wife/girlfriend, for having  thought he had her, "in the palm of his hand", she left him (for unknown reasons). It happens, it's not nice and some chaps never get over it.

HAVE YOU SEEN HER?

 

One month I was happy as a lark
But now I go for walks
To the movies, maybe to the park

I have a seat on the same old bench

To watch the children play, huh

You know, tomorrow is their future

But for me just another day

They all gather 'round

They seem to know my name

We laugh, tell a few jokes

But it still doesn't ease my pain

I know I can't hide from a memory

Though day after day I've tried

I keep sayin' she'll be back

But today again I've lied

Oh, I see her face everywhere I go

On the street and even at the picture show

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Oh, I hear her voice as the cold winds blow

In the sweet music on my radio

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Why, oh why, did she have to leave and go away?

Oh-oh, I've been used to havin' someone to lean on

And I'm lost

Baby I'm lost, oh

Pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa),pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa)

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa),pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa)

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her (have seen her?)

She left her kiss upon my lips

But left that break within my heart

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Oh, I see her hand reaching out to me

Only she can set me free

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Why, oh why, did she have to leave and go away? Oh yeah

Oh-oh, I've been used to havin' someone to lean on

And I'm lost

Baby I'm lost, oh

Pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa),pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa)

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her (seen her?) Oh

As another day comes to and end

I'm lookin' for a letter or somethin'

Or anything that she would send

With all the people I know, I'm still a lonely man

You know, it's funny

I thought I had her in the palm of my hand

Tell me have you seen her (tell me have you seen her?

Oh yeah,

Pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa),pa-pa-pa (pa-pa-pa)

Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Have you seen her?

Tell me, have you seen her?

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in this series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.