Rhythm and Blues

Because they were under-age at the beginning of their career, their label Scepter Records held their royalties in trust. In 1963,The Shirelles learned that the trust did not exist. They filed a breach of contract suit against the company. Scepter met this with a countersuit. Both suits were withdrawn in 1965 after both sides reached an agreement. Knowing that Scepter had misrepresented the trust disappointed The Shirelles, who said they “felt like foolish little girls.” That’s a little bit of music business background.

The song, however, which was written by Helen Miller and Howard Greenfield, is about a different kind of foolishness. It tells the story of a fickle girl who broke her boyfriend’s heart and now wants him back because she loves him. Unfortunately, he’s found someone else. The song went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #9 on the R&B chart in 1963 and appeared on their 1963 album “Foolish Little Girl.”

The Shirelles formed in 1957, originally as The Poquellos (aka The Pequellos). The group consisted of schoolmates Shirley Owens, Doris Coley, Addie Harris, and Beverly Lee. Their sweet vocals and harmonies make them one of the great girl groups.

Here are the lyrics to “Foolish Little Girl” by The Shirelles:

“You broke his heart and made him cry
And he’s been blue since then
Now he’s found somebody new
And you want him back again”

Foolish little girl, fickle little girl
You didn’t want him when he wanted you
He’s found another love, it’s her he’s dreaming of
And there’s not a single thing that you can do

“But I love him”
“No you don’t it’s just your pride that’s hurt” ”
I still love him” (If you got him back again
You’d go right out and do him dirt)

Foolish little girl, fickle little girl
You didn’t want him when he wanted you
He’s found another love, it’s her he’s dreaming of
And there’s not a single thing that you can do

“But I love him”
“It’s too late to have a change of heart”
“I still love him”
(Tomorrow is his wedding day
And you’ll keep quiet if you’re smart)

Foolish little girl, fickle little girl
You didn’t want him when he wanted you
He’s found another love, it’s her he’s dreaming of
And there’s not a single thing that you can do

“Forget him ’cause he don’t belong to you”
“It’s too late he’s found somebody new”
“There’s not a single thing that you can do”

If you are interested in reading about and listening to other songs by The Shirelles: “Soldier Boy,” “Will You Love Me Tomorrow,” “Mama Said,” and “Baby It’s You.”

For More Golden Oldies Music                

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop, rock and roll, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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