This tune, a big hit for The Hollies, fascinated me back in 1972. I loved the two-guitar break halfway through, but the lyrics puzzled me -- partly due to the echo applied to Allan Clarke's vocals, but also because the lyrics seemed to mention working for the FBI, the DA man and a tall walking big black cat. Was that really what he was singing? Why would an English pop group would want to give us something so American?
Recently I found a video of The Hollies performing it live. Sadly, that video has vanished from YouTube, but while extant it swept away all doubt. We clearly hear Clarke's vocal without the echo. And he's actually singing, not miming the words. So now, before it escapes my feeble mind, I offer the world what I believe to be the definitive lyrics to "Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress." Read while listening to Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress - Official Audio (YouTube):
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 D.A. man
When I heard this woman singing a song.
(Chorus)
A pair of 45s 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
Well, a tall walking big black cat
Charlie said, I hope that you're able, boy
'Cause I'm telling you she knows where it's at
Well, suddenly we hear the sirens
And everybody started to run
Jumping under doors and tables
I heard somebody shooting a gun.
The D.A. was pumping my left hand
She was holding my right
Well, I told her, don't get scared
'Cause you're gonna be spared
I've gotta be forgiven if I wanna 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.
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