My Girl

Song Meaning of My Girl by The Temptations

It was the Temptations' first U.S. number 1 record and is currently their anthem, written and produced by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White of the Miracles. Robinson's wife, Claudette Rogers Robinson, a member of the Miracles, served as the inspiration for "My Girl."

At Harlem's Apollo Theatre, Smokey Robinson and his band the Miracles were on the same bill as The Temptations, but Robinson took a break to record the rhythm track for a brand-new song.

The Tempts heard it and asked him to let them record the song instead of the Miracles as he had originally planned.

Robinson gave in and decided to let another singer sing lead for the first time with the band, selecting the throaty tenor David Ruffin. The Tempts practised the song for a week and then recorded it in Detroit.

The opening bass notes are recognized around the world. As Smokey Robinson says, "I can be in a foreign country where people don't speak English and the audience will start cheering before I even start singing "My Girl."

My Girl lyrics by The Temptations

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day

When it's cold outside I've got the month of May

I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got so much honey the bees envy me

I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees

Well, I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

Hey hey hey

Hey hey hey

Ooooh

I don't need no money, fortune or fame

I've got all the riches, baby, one man can claim

Well, I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl (my girl, my girl)

Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl)

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day

With my girl

I've even got the month of May

With my girl

Talkin' 'bout

Talkin' 'bout

Talkin' 'bout

My girl

Ooooh

My girl

As long as I can talk about my girl...