“Girl” is a song about a man’s search for the one true love of his life.
There’s a moment in every fan’s life when the familiar becomes something else entirely. For those of us who grew up with the wholesome, family-friendly harmonies of The Osmonds, that moment might have arrived in 1972 with the album Crazy Horses. It was a departure, a loud and defiant shift from the bubblegum pop they were known for. Among the hard-rocking tracks on this record, “Girl” stands out as a curious, introspective piece that hinted at the maturity and complexity the group was capable of, even as they navigated the tumultuous waters of teen stardom.
While Donny Osmond was busy topping the charts with his solo ballads like “Go Away Little Girl,” his older brothers were charting a different course, one that would cement their reputation as more than just a boy band. Released in October 1972 on the album Crazy Horses, “Girl” showcased a more experimental side of the group. The song itself is a mid-tempo rocker, with lead singer Merrill Osmond‘s powerful vocals searching for a girl to give him “love today.” The lyrics are straightforward, a simple plea for genuine connection in a world that, for them, must have been a whirlwind of manufactured moments and fleeting attention. But it’s the arrangement that tells the true story. The psychedelic flourishes, the layered background chatter that gradually takes over the vocals, the raw, almost chaotic energy—it all reflects a band pushing against the confines of their image. It’s a sonic representation of a search for something real amidst the noise.
“Girl” was never released as a single, and thus didn’t have a chart position, but its inclusion on Crazy Horses is significant. The album itself peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Top LPs chart, a testament to the fact that even as they embraced a harder sound, their loyal fan base followed. This song, in particular, with its blend of yearning lyrics and avant-garde production, was a signpost of their artistic growth. It’s a song for anyone who’s ever felt lost in a crowd, who’s searched for a singular, meaningful connection. It’s the sound of a band, and perhaps a generation, moving from the innocence of youth to the complicated, messy reality of adulthood. For those who remember the days of the Donny & Marie Show, hearing “Girl” now is a nostalgic jolt, a reminder of a time when music was an evolving conversation, and even the squeaky-clean Osmonds could surprise us all. It reminds us that behind the polished image were musicians with a message and a restless creative spirit. It’s a testament to the fact that you can, indeed, go home again, but sometimes you find it’s not quite as you left it—it’s a little bit wilder, a little bit louder, and all the better for it.