Love of men for young girls remains so universal that it finds its way in popular music, despite the immense stigma attached to it by current morality. In the freer atmosphere of the 1960’s, it could be more easily expressed, as in the song “Younger Girl” by John Sebastian.

The song “Young Girl,” written, composed, and produced by Jerry Fuller, and performed by the American pop rock group Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, was released in 1968. It hit number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, also number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and the US Cash Box listing. It is about a man who discovers that the girl he loves is younger than he thought, she is in fact under legal age; so he asks her to leave him before they go too far. According to Songfacts:

Jerry Fuller explained the inspiration for “Young Girl” in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: “I was on the road a lot as an artist, fronting various groups for many years. I guess every entertainer goes through a time when 14-year-olds look like 20-year-olds. That’s somewhat of an inspiration not from my own experience, just knowing that it happens.”

Here is the video from YouTube:

And here are the lyrics from Google Play:

Young Girl
words & music by Jerry Fuller

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You’re much too young, girl

With all the charms of a woman
You’ve kept the secret of your youth
You led me to believe you’re old enough
To give me love
And now it hurts to know the truth

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You’re much too young, girl

Beneath your perfume and make-up
You’re just a baby in disguise
And though you know that it’s wrong to be
Alone with me
That come on look is in your eyes

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You’re much too young, girl

So hurry home to your mama
I’m sure she wonders where you are
Get out of here
Before I have the time
To change my mind
‘Cause I’m afraid we’ll go too far

Young girl, get out of my mind
My love for you is way out of line
Better run, girl
You’re much too young, girl

(repeat to fade)

Thanks to ‘Tina Willis (For The Children)’ for drawing my attention to this song.

This is a revised version of the first part of a post previously published on Agapeta, 2016/11/12.