“Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)” is a 1972 hit by the British rock band The Hollies, written by lead singer Allan Clarke alongside songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway. The song was released as a single from their album Distant Light and became the group’s biggest commercial success in the United States, peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
The track was originally intended as a solo record for Clarke, which led to band tension and his temporary departure before the single’s release; he rejoined the group after the song’s massive success. Musically, it marked a departure from The Hollies’ signature harmonies, featuring a swamp rock sound influenced by Creedence Clearwater Revival and a lead vocal performance that is the only Hollies single without backing vocals.
The lyrics tell a Prohibition-era story from the perspective of an FBI agent infiltrating a speakeasy who becomes entranced by a mysterious singer in a black dress and lets her escape during a raid. The song was written in just five minutes in a London office after the writers had been drinking, drawing inspiration from Hollywood gangster films and the blues-rock style of John Fogerty. Despite modest success in the UK (peaking at number 32), it sold over 1.5 million copies in the US and remains a classic rock staple.
[Intro]
[Verse 1]
Saturday night, I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sittin’ in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high
Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doin’ wrong
Just about to call up the DA man
When I heard this woman sing a song
[Pre-Chorus]
A pair of 45s made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise
[Chorus]
She was a long, cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5’9 beautiful tall
With just one look, I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long, cool woman had it all
[Instrumental Interlude]
Woo!
[Verse 2]
I saw her heading to the table
Well, a tall walking big black cat
A-Charlie said, “I hope that you’re able, boy
‘Cause I’m telling you she knows where it’s at”
Well, suddenly, we heard the sirens
And everybody started to run
A-jumpin’ out of doors and tables
When I heard somebody shootin’ a gun
[Pre-Chorus]
Well, the DA was pumping my left hand
And a-she was a-holding my right
Well, I told her, “Don’t get scared
‘Cause you’re gonna be spared”
I’ve gotta be forgiven if I wanna spend my livin’
[Chorus]
With a long, cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5’9 beautiful tall
Yeah, with just one look, I was a bad mess
‘Cause that long, cool woman had it all
[Outro]
Had it all
Had it all
Had it all
Had it all
Had it all
Ooh
Had it all
Ah, she had it all
Yeah
