Last night I attended a concert. The front man is also a
phenomenal guitarist, and did an "unplugged" set. He told some
stories and stuff between songs while switching out or tuning his
guitars.

In one, he talked about the first time he and his brother played
"live" at a school talent show. He strummed monotonously and sang
the first three lines of Go Away Little Girl:

Go away little girl
Go away little girl
I'm not supposed to be alone with you

After the third line he stopped, made a funny face and asked,
"Isn't that creepy?"

I'm not sure why he thought it was creepy--he didn't elaborate--
but for me the Donny=Mormon and Mormon=Creepy connection leapt
into my thoughts immediately! And I thought it was strangely
ironic that he described it as "creepy," or, rather, asked the
audience: "isn't that creepy?"

I went to look up the lyrics to be sure I didn't botch them up
when I posted this, and to my surprise, learned the Donny didn't
write the song. Well, not really a surprise, but that's a
different topic.

Anyway, it's interesting that the Donny version was apparently
changed to say "I'm dating somebody else and I must be true." So,
a guy who's mature enough to be dating, is so tempted by a
"little girl" that he has to ask her to go away! Yeah, that's
creepy.

And, another Mormon theme: HE is the one with the problem
but SHE should go away before HE gives in to temptation...

Yikes...

Edited to add:

I forgot to say that line 3 is "Mormon-y" too: it's not just that
being alone with the girl is a bad idea; it's that he's "not
supposed to." In other words, he's breaking a rule.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2018 08:20PM by nomonomo.

I guess it wouldn't have creeped me out because I knew that Donny was not the original singer. Bobby Vee did it, Donny just covered it. And Bobby was a LOT older when he recorded it, while Donny was just a tween, if that

But I do get your point.

Donny was a teen heart throb himself when he first recorded that song. It was like the pot calling the kettle black.

It didn't seem creepy back in the day. Then I don't think it was referring to actual little girls. I also thought it was about a guy already betrothed or in a relationship, who got upended by his infatuation attraction to a younger woman.

It was very stereotypical during its hey day.

'little girl' is bad no matter if old fart Vee or tween Osmand is singing it.

That's a f-up song.

Edited to add: Carole King co-wrote it so there's that.

LOVE Donny's, 'The Wild Rover: Time to Ride' album title. Suggestive much?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2018 10:47PM by carameldreams.

Singers who covered this song

Bobby
Donny
Steve Lawrence
Johnny Mathis
Percy Faith

Plus others, and there was a version "Go Away Little Boy" sang by various female artists.

And they called it puppy lo-o-o-ve.

Oh I guess they'll never know,

how a young heart really fe-e-eels

and why I love her so-oh.

"Donny in love."

While Marie was singing Paper Roses.

Now if you want to see them perform together or solo, viva Las Vegas baby.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/17/2018 11:50PM by Amyjo.