You Are the Woman - Firefall (1976) 2/6/21

Jock Bartley of the group Firefall called today's “Great Song of the '70s, a “singing version of a Hallmark card” with lyrics that said what men weren't quite sure how to vocally express to their wives or girlfriends.

“You Are the Woman” is exactly that, and the evidence was clear. When the song was released in 1976, radio station request lines rang off the hook as guys across the US and Canada asked deejays to dedicate the song to their better halves. (It's a good bet they got a few hints along the way!)

It's a pretty little tune featuring the flute of group member David Muse. The music and lyrics were written by Rick Roberts, but in the “art imitates life” department, Rick had one heck of a time writing those lyrics.

The tune and chorus came to him quickly, but the lyrics took several months to write, simply because—like a man struggling for the right words to say to his love—he put too much pressure on himself to come up with the perfect song. Once he relaxed and let it flow, the song was finished quickly.

Chart-wise, the guys in the radio audience helped take the song to #6 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart and #9 on the Hot 100. In Canada, the matching chart numbers were 16 & 6.

“You Are the Woman:” a musical Hallmark card from Firefall, and a “Great Song of 1976!” (When you care enough to request the very best!)