Repetune - The Songs of our Heads

Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her?

Writing by richard on Wednesday, 17 of October , 2007 at 4:02 pm

Is it strange MC Hammer’s greatest contribution to music, in my mind, is introducing the Chi-Lites to the rest of the world? Then again, in thinking about how the world tends to accept covers, most of the people listening to it probably had no idea it was a cover to begin with. The chorus is the primary repetune in my head.

Much like the earlier post this week about Baby Come Back, this song is about lost love. And in deeper examination, it is a song about obsession.

The song starts with the following spoken line

One month ago
I was happy as a lark

At this point, the singer identifies happiness as being with the girl. And now, after separation, every activity from walking, movies, and watching children play bring back her memory. But, perhaps the singer is simply trying to relive the exact same moments he used to share with her, only this time, without her. And since he continues placing himself in these situations

I know I can’t hide from a memory
‘Though day after day I’ve tried
I keep sayin’ she’ll be back
But today again I lied

He knows he cannot hide from a memory so he keeps running with it. He keeps trying every day to hide from the memory, and I believe it is his attempts to hide from the memory he is lying about. The method by which the verses are performed are of a man hiding something deeper. It as if he wishes to hide the emotional impact of the woman.

But the obsession is best displayed by the chorus. The chorus repeats over and over and finally the speaking stops as the Chi-Lites with their big afros keep in perfect harmony asking

Have you seen her?
Tell me, have you seen her?

The question is asked multiple times, but without an answer.

And in closing, the song displays the true obsession with the following:

As another day comes to an end
I’m lookin’ for a letter or somethin’
Anything that she would send
With all the people I know
I’m still a lonely man
You know, it’s funny
I thought I had her in the palm of my hand

In the palm of his hand. He wanted this girl. He wanted her under control and now she is gone. And he is left waiting for a letter or something. He drove her away, if she can no longer be found. He is left to ask around, “Have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her?”

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Category: Chi-Lites

What is a repetune?

It has happened to us all. For any reason, and sometimes for no reason at all, some obscure song we have heard but try to avoid manages to sneak itself into our head. It does nothing but repeat in our head over and over until one day, we realize it is gone. Then it only comes back again. These are those songs. These are repetunes.