About The Song
“Lady” is a soft rock song written by Graeham Goble and performed by the Australian band Little River Band. It was released in September 1978 as the third and final single from their fourth studio album, Sleeper Catcher, issued by Harvest Records in Australia and Capitol Records in the US. The album, released in May 1978, peaked at No. 4 in Australia and No. 16 on the Billboard 200, earning platinum certification from the RIAA for over one million copies sold, a first for an Australian-recorded album. “Lady” reached No. 46 on Australia’s Kent Music Report and hit No. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 in April 1979, spending 13 weeks on the chart. It also reached No. 7 on the US Adult Contemporary chart and No. 13 in Canada. The song has accumulated over four million radio plays in the US, per BMI records.
Goble, the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter, wrote “Lady” inspired by a woman he saw dancing in front of his earlier band, Mississippi, at the Matthew Flinders Hotel in Melbourne in 1973. He never met her but was struck by her presence, later channeling the moment into lyrics about longing and rekindled desire after a past love. The line “born in the winter and cooled by a warm heart” references his mother’s nurturing influence, subtly comparing the purity of his feelings for the “lady” to familial love. Recorded in Melbourne with producers John Boylan and the band, the track features Glenn Shorrock’s lead vocals, Goble and Beeb Birtles’ harmonies, and David Briggs’ distinctive guitar riff, blending pop, country, and adult contemporary elements.
Little River Band, formed in 1975 in Melbourne, took their name from a road sign near Geelong. By 1978, their lineup included Shorrock, Goble, Birtles, Briggs, George McArdle, and Derek Pellicci. Sleeper Catcher marked their commercial peak, driven by Goble’s hits like “Reminiscing” (No. 3 Billboard Hot 100) and “Lady.” The band’s smooth sound and tight harmonies, often compared to the Eagles, made them a US radio staple, though they struggled for similar success in Australia. They drew 80,000 to a free 1978 Sydney Opera House concert, surpassing Fleetwood Mac’s record. The song’s success contributed to their 2004 ARIA Hall of Fame induction.
“Lady” was not covered extensively, but artists like Emile Pandolfi, Kapena, and Tommy Tycho recorded versions. Its legacy endures on classic rock radio and streaming platforms, with a 1980 Soundstage performance highlighting its live appeal. The song’s B-sides varied, including “Happy Anniversary” and “So Many Paths.” Tensions within the band, particularly between Shorrock and Goble, led to Shorrock’s departure in 1982, though he returned later. “Lady” remains a hallmark of their yacht rock era, praised by CultureSonar for its “soulful singing” and “lilting piano riff.”
Video
Lyric
Look around you, look up here
Take time to make time, make time to be there
Look around, be a part
Feel for the winter, but don’t have a cold heartAnd I love you best
You’re not like the rest
You’re there when I need you
You’re there when I need
I’m gonna need youA long time ago I had a lady to love
She made me think of things I never thought of
Now she’s gone and I’m on my own
A love song has come into my mind
A love song, it was there all the timeSo lady, let me take a look at you now
You’re there on the dance floor, making me want you somehow
Oh lady, I think it’s only fair I should say to you
Don’t be thinkin’ that I don’t want you, ’cause maybe I doLook around, come to me
I have no answers, but know where I wanna be
I look around, play a part
I was born in the winter and cooled by a warm heartAnd I love you best
You’re not like the rest
You’re there when I need you
You’re there when I need
I’m gonna need youSo lady, let me take a look at you now
You’re there on the dance floor, making me want you somehow
Oh lady, I think it’s only fair I should say to you
Don’t be thinkin’ that I don’t want you, ’cause maybe I do
Don’t be thinkin’ that I don’t want you, lady I do