About the song
The O’Jays, renowned for their soulful harmonies and heartfelt lyrics, have gifted us with countless timeless classics throughout their illustrious career. One such gem is “You Got the Hooks in Me”, a captivating track that showcases the group’s enduring talent and ability to create music that resonates deeply with listeners.
Released in 1973 as part of their album Survival, “You Got the Hooks in Me” is a quintessential example of the O’Jays’ signature sound. The song’s smooth production, coupled with the group’s emotive vocals, creates a captivating atmosphere that draws listeners in from the very first note.
The talented songwriting duo of Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff, known for their work with Philadelphia International Records, crafted “You Got the Hooks in Me”. Their ability to pen lyrics that capture the essence of love and longing is evident in this heartfelt ballad. Gamble and Huff played a significant role in shaping the sound of soul music during the 1970s, and their influence is clearly felt in this timeless track.
While “You Got the Hooks in Me” may not have achieved the same level of commercial success as some of The O’Jays’ earlier hits, it remains a beloved song among fans of the group and soul music enthusiasts. The song’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to evoke emotions and connect with listeners on a personal level.
The O’Jays’ “You Got the Hooks in Me” is a testament to their enduring talent and their ability to create music that transcends time. This timeless classic continues to resonate with audiences, proving that the O’Jays’ legacy will live on for generations to come.
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Lyrics
I just can’t understand for the life of me
What I see in you
Yet every time you talk of leaving me
I get so shook up I don’t know what to do
Oh, oh, baby,
I guess you got your hooks in me
And i, oh, i,
Oh, I’m caught like a fish
And baby, I just can’t break free
You know this thing is killing me
(Ooooooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh)
I must like it (oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh)
Or, or I wouldn’t be here, baby
Every time I get behind your back
I tell my friends I’m leaving you
No
And when you question me about it, baby
I swear, what they’re saying just ain’t true no, no
Aw, aw, aw, baby,
I guess you got your hooks in me
And i, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, I’m caught like a fish, y’all
And baby, I just can’t break free
You know this thing is killing me, killing me
oh, oh, baby, i-i
(I guess) I guess (you got your hooks in me)
I’m gonna keep on loving you, loving you, loving you
Oh, oh hey, hey, heh, eh
(Oh, oh, oh, baby, ) baby, baby, baby, I guess
I guess, I guess you got your hooks in me, woman and I must like it
I must, I must like it, like it
(Oh, oh, oh, baby, ) baby, baby
Baby, what you do to me, what you do to me,
(I guess you got your hooks in me) I said woman, it’s good to me good to me
So good to me
And I like it, I like it
(Oh, oh, oh, baby, ) oh, oh, oh, baby
I guess I’m in love with you, woman (i guess you got your hooks in me)
And I don’t wanna quit, I just don’t wanna quit
I wanna hold ya, I wanna hold you close to me, woman
(Oh, oh, oh, baby, ) heh, eh, baby
Hey, hey, sweet woman, (i guess you got our hooks in me)
I’m loving, loving you
And I’m hooked, I’m hooked, I’m hooked, baby, baby
ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
(Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh) I gotta
I’m gonna get away
You got poor me hanging on a string, darling
(Well) oh, I must like this thing
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh
I said woman, woman
You do the things that you do
The way you, the way you call my name, woman
I like it
I’ll be going around telling all my friends that I’m leaving
No, but I ain’t never going nowhere, no, no
I said woman, I said woman,
The way, the way you love me, way you love me,
I feel, feel, feel, feel like I need you, I want you, got to have it
oh, oh
Oh, oh, baby, baby, (oh baby)
(I guess you got your hooks in me) I guess you got, you got my hooks in around, in around
(I think you’ve been somewhere and you had me thinking about it, )
Around
I said woman (’cause I like it)
(Oh, oh, oh, baby, ) little girl, little girl, you got me, you got me
(I guess you got your hooks in me) you got me hooked, child
Hooked, child, and I like it
I like it, I like it, I like it
(Oh, oh, oh, baby, ) aw, baby
Heh, heh, ay (oh honey)
(I guess) I guess (you got your hooks in me) you got your
You got your hooks in me