Written for Song Lyric Sunday –
“International Day of the Girl Child”
It’s time once again for Song Lyric Sunday. Jim’s theme this week is “International Day of the Girl Child” and our challenge is to write about a song that mentions girls. There’s no shortage of those, that’s for sure! This week I’ve chosen two songs I really like …. a cool one that may be new to some of you and another that’s a great oldie. OK …. let’s talk about girls!
My first featured song this week is a number by Dave Edmunds, a renowned Welsh singer, songwriter, and guitarist born in Cardiff in 1944. Edmunds started his musical trajectory in the late 1950s and first gained notice with the blues-rock trio Love Sculpture, which turned Khachaturian’s classical piece, “Sabre Dance”, into a high-speed guitar track. Often recording much of the instrumentation himself, Edmunds broke out globally with his 1970 rendition of “I Hear You Knocking”, which sold millions of copies. He teamed up with bassist/singer Nick Lowe to form the powerhouse pop-rock/roots-rock group Rockpile, producing fan favorites like my choice today, “Girls Talk”. Beyond his own performance catalog, Edmunds became a sought-after record producer, working with acts ranging from rockabilly revivalists like the Stray Cats to pop-rock icons like Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra (who, if you’ve been with me for a while, know is one of my favorites). Edmunds retired from active recording and touring after 2017.
Written by Elvis Costello and released on May 25, 1979 by Edmunds, “Girls Talk” is a power pop/new wave hit. Edmunds slowed down the tempo, added a verse line, and layered Everly Brothers-style acoustic guitar arrangements and crisp harmonies over the track. Although released under Dave Edmunds’ name, the recording features his full band Rockpile, consisting of Edmunds (lead vocals, guitars), Nick Lowe (bass guitar, backing vocals), Billy Bremner (guitars, backing vocals), and Terry Williams (drums, percussion), alongside engineer/pianist Roger Bechirian. The track was featured on Edmunds’ 1979 album Repeat When Necessary. “Girls Talk” has received critical acclaim since its release. The song centers around women’s gossip, paranoia, and the anxiety of being talked about; it treats social whispering not with anger, but with a mix of cynical fascination, defensiveness, and reluctant intrigue.
This is “Girls Talk” by Dave Edmunds
Next up is an American group from Los Angeles, California. The Turtles, originally a surf-rock group, became a major hitmaker of the 1960s sunshine pop and folk-rock movements with their original line up of Howard Kaylan (lead vocals), Mark Volman (backing vocals), Al Nichol (lead guitar), Jim Tucker (rhythm guitar), Chuck Portz (bass), and Don Murray (drums). They made their entry into folk-rock with a breakthrough cover of Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe” in 1965. The group achieved commercial peaks with melodic, vocally rich tracks like the chart-topping “Happy Together” (1967), today’s featured song “She’d Rather Be with Me” (1967), and the softer side of rock, “Elenore” (1968). Plagued by creative tensions, management disputes, and financial friction with their record label, the group broke up in 1970.
Unlike many of their other tracks which played with moody or unrequited undertones, “She’d Rather Be with Me” is an unreserved, straightforward celebration of romantic devotion and the simple joy of being in love. It has been described as a big, brassy sunshine number featuring a full orchestra, a prominent cowbell, mixed-down guitar riffs, and an exuberant vocal delivery. The track was written by Garry Bonner and Alan Gordon, the same songwriting duo responsible for penning “Happy Together”. Did somebody say “More cowbell?”
This is “She’d Rather Be with Me” by The Turtles
Big thanks to Jim Adams for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday this week and every week. Be sure to follow his link and check out his site.
Thanks for stopping by and listening to some great music. I hope you enjoyed the theme for this week as well as the information and music I featured.
That’s all she wrote, kids. See you on the flip side. 😎
NAR©2026
Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, unless otherwise indicated, and may not be used without permission. Thank you for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.
As usual, Nancy, you nailed it again this week.
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