Today’s song is “Carrie Anne”, recorded by The Hollies in 1967. This is another one from the summer I was 14. It made it to number 9 in the Billboard pop charts and placed at 64 on the annual chart. Their previous single “On a Carousel” beat this one and placed 42nd on the annual chart. I prefer “Carrie Anne”.
I don’t have any specific memories of the song, but I liked it and sang along when it came on the radio. It seemed a happy song to me.
I guess that at 14 I wasn’t always aware of the underlying sexual tension in pop songs. I remember once my Mom found the lyrics to “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tommy James and the Shondells on my dresser. I got in trouble for having pornographic material, but to me it was just words to songs that we passed around. The only way to get lyrics was to listen over and over and write them down, compare with others, argue about details, and pass them around.
Anyway, Carrie Anne had apparently moved on from the innocent games of childhood with her fellow students to some more adult games with the the teachers and big boys. Today, it’s a scandal. In 1967 it was a pop song. And I was blissfully ignorant of the meaning. Wish I still were.
Lyrics are easier to come by today, but not as much fun. We never knew what “Louie Louie” was all about.
Carrie Anne
Hey Carrie Anne Hey Carrie Anne When we were at school, our games were simple I played a janitor, you played a monitor Then you played with older boys and prefects What's the attraction in what they're doing? Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play? Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play? You're always something special to me Quite independent, never caring You lost your charm as you were aging Where is your magic disappearing? Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play? Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play? You're so, so like a woman to me So, so like a woman to me Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play? Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play? People live and learn but you're still learning You use my mind and I'll be your teacher When the lesson's over, you'll be with me Then I'll hear the other people saying "Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play? Hey Carrie Anne What's your game now can anybody play?" Carrie Anne