This one’s dedicated to Clair
One of my co-workers, Clair, is a senior in high school. I made a fool of myself (nothing new) when I began serenading her with Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Clair”. Ummmmm, yeah, I felt a leeeetle old when my outburst was met with a quizzical look.
Yeah, granted, the 45 record (black vinyl, not shiny CD!) of it I listened to as a kid was my mother’s, but still.
That said, this is dedicated to you, Clair! You have to hear it, girl.
Lyrics:
By Gilbert O’Sullivan
Clair, the moment I met you I swear
I felt as if something somewhere
Had happened to me
Which I couldn’t see
And then
The moment I met you again
I knew in my heart that we were friends
It had to be so
It couldn’t be no
But try as hard as I might do I don’t know why
You get to me in a way I can’t describe
Words mean so little when you look up and smile
I don’t care what people say
To me you’re more than a child
Oh Clair, Clair
Clair, if ever a moment so rare
Was captured for all to compare
That moment is you
In all that you do
But why in spite of our age difference do I cry
Each time I leave you I feel I could die
Nothing means more to me than hearing you say
“I’m going to marry you
Will you marry me Uncle Ray?”
Oh Clair, Clair
Clair, I’ve told you before
Don’t you dare
Get back into bed
Can’t you see that it’s late
No you can’t have a drink
Oh, all right then but wait just a bit
While I, in an effort to baby sit
Catch of my breath what there is left of it
You can be murder at this hour of the day
But in the morning this hour
Will seem a lifetime away
Oh Clair, Clair
“Clair” was written for Gilbert’s former manager Gordon Mills and his wife Jo about their youngest daughter, for whom Gilbert occasionally babysat. The harmonica solo is played by Gordon (former U.K. harmonica champion), and the laugh at the end of the record is Clair herself.
The above is from his website’s FAQ.