Pretty Woman

The Candy Men, Roy Orbison

About Pretty Woman

"Oh, Pretty Woman" or "Pretty Woman" is a song recorded by Roy Orbison, written by Orbison and Bill Dees. It was released as a single in August 1964 on Monument Records and spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 from September 26, 1964, the second single by Orbison to top the US charts. It was also Orbison's third single to top the UK Singles Chart (for a total of three weeks). The record ultimately sold seven million copies and marked the high point in Orbison's career. Within months of its release, in October 1964, the single was certified gold by the RIAA. At the year's end, Billboard ranked it the number four song of 1964. "Oh, Pretty Woman" was eventually the basis for the 1990 film Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts and the 2018 Broadway musical Pretty Woman: The Musical. 


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Pretty Woman

Performer:Roy Orbison / The Candy Men
Composer :Roy Orbison / William Dees
Lyricist :Roy Orbison / William Dees

Pretty woman walking down the street
Pretty woman the kind I like to meet
Pretty woman
I don't believe you you're not the truth
No one could look as good as you
Mercy

Pretty woman won't you pardon me
Pretty woman I couldn't help but see
Pretty woman
And you look lovely as can be
Are you lonely just like me
Wow

Pretty woman stop a while
Pretty woman talk a while
Pretty woman give your smile to me
Pretty woman yeah yeah yeah
Pretty woman look my way
Pretty woman say you'll stay with me

Cause I need you
I'll treat you right
Come with me baby
Be mine tonight

Pretty woman don't walk on by
Pretty woman don't make me cry
Pretty woman don't walk away hey okay
If that's the way it must be okay
I guess I'll go on home it's late
There'll be tomorrow night but wait
What do I see

Is she walking back to me
Yeah she's walking back to me
Oh oh pretty woman

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Roy Orbison

Roy Kelton Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988), also known by the nickname 'The Big O', was an American singer-songwriter, best known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country and western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis. His greatest success came with Monument Records between 1960 and 1964, when 22 of his songs placed on the Billboard Top Forty, including "Only the Lonely", "Crying", and "Oh, Pretty Woman". His career stagnated through the 1970s, but several covers of his songs and the use of "In Dreams" in David Lynch's Blue Velvet revived his career in the 1980s. In 1988, he joined the supergroup Traveling… more »

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Written by: Joe Melson, Roy Orbison, Ray Rush

Lyrics © Orbi-Lee Music, Barbara Orbison Music Company, BMG Rights Management, R-Key Darkus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Release Date
"Oh, Pretty Woman" was released on August 29, 1964, by Roy Orbison on Monument Records.
Chart Success
The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States for three weeks, making it Orbison's biggest hit.
Songwriting
Orbison co-wrote "Oh, Pretty Woman" with his songwriting partner Bill Dees.
Inspiration
The song was inspired by Orbison's wife, Claudette, interrupting a conversation to announce she was going out. When Orbison asked if she needed any money, his co-writer Bill Dees interjected "A pretty woman never needs any money."
Musical Composition
Despite being a rock song, "Oh, Pretty Woman" uses a characteristic 'bolero' rhythm.
Film Reference
The song was notably used in the 1990 romantic comedy film "Pretty Woman" starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere.
Legacy
In 1999, BMI, a music licensing organization, reported that the song had been performed or broadcast over six million times in the 20th century.
Lawsuit
In 1989, the song became controversial after Rap group 2 Live Crew produced a parody version. Orbison's publisher sued, leading to a landmark fair use case, Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc.
Cover Versions
"Oh, Pretty Woman" has been covered multiple times, by artists ranging from Al Green to Van Halen.
Grammy Hall of Fame
In 1999, the song was included in the Grammy Hall of Fame, honoring it as a recording of "qualitative or historical significance."
Iconic Guitar Intro
The starting of the song features a distinctive guitar riff, which became one of the most recognized and iconic guitar introductions in rock music.
Humorous Note
An instance of Orbison's dark humor, the song concludes with the woman of interest walking back to him, contrary to his songs of unrequited love.
First Music Video
The song "Oh, Pretty Woman" was among the first to have a music video made, although much simpler than the videos we know today, it was just a simple recording of Orbison performing the song.

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